Synergy for Mac: A Detailed User Guide

Source: Love Mac  |  Software download link: Synergy for Mac

Synergy is an innovative software tool that allows users to control multiple computers (including those running different operating systems) with a single keyboard and mouse. It seamlessly connects the desktops of multiple machines into a unified virtual workspace and shares the clipboard over the local network, greatly improving the efficiency of collaborative work across multiple devices. This article focuses on the Mac version and provides a detailed introduction to its usage.

I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace

Synergy features a clean interface design, mainly divided into the Server mode configuration interface and the Client mode connection interface.

1. Main Control Panel: After launching Synergy, the first thing you see is the mode selection panel. The tabs at the top allow you to switch between “Server” and “Client”.
2. Server Configuration Workspace:
   • Grid Map: The core area, where squares represent screens. You can drag and drop the screen icons to arrange their layout (e.g., top, bottom, left, right) to correspond with their actual physical positions.
   • Screen List: Displays the configured client computers and their identifiers.
   • Settings Panel: Contains advanced options such as “Server Name” (local machine name), network port (default 24800), etc.
3. Client Workspace:
   • Simply enter the IP address or hostname of the server computer to initiate a connection.
4. Log Window: Located at the bottom of the interface, it displays connection status, error messages, etc. in real time, and is a key area for troubleshooting.

II. Complete Workflow: From Configuration to Use

Assume you have two computers: one Mac (as the server, connected to keyboard and mouse), and one Windows/Linux/Mac (as the client). Below is the complete setup process.

Step 1: Configure the server on the Mac acting as the primary controller

1. Open the Synergy application.
2. Click the top tab and select “Server”.
3. In the grid, the screen representing the local machine (usually displayed with your computer name) is already fixed. Drag the “+” (Add Screen) button on the right or bottom into the grid, and place it in the actual position of your client screen (for example, to the right of the main screen).
4. After releasing the mouse, a dialog box will pop up asking you to enter the identifier for the client screen. This identifier must be the “Screen Name” displayed by Synergy on the client computer (usually found at the top of the Synergy interface on the client). Enter it accurately and click “OK”.
5. (Optional) Click “Settings” to confirm the “Server Name” and “Port” settings. Usually, keeping the defaults is sufficient.
6. Click the “Start” button in the lower right corner of the interface. The status should change to “Server is running,” and the log will show that it is waiting for client connections.

Step 2: Configure and connect on the client computer being controlled

1. Open Synergy on the client computer.
2. Select “Client” mode.
3. In the “Server IP address or hostname” input field, enter the local network IP address of the server Mac (you can find it in the server Mac’s “System Settings” > “Network”).
4. Click the “Start” button. The client will attempt to connect to the server.

Step 3: Verify and use

1. After a successful connection, the log windows on both the server and client will display “connected to server” or a similar message.
2. Move the mouse pointer out from the edge of the server Mac’s screen (corresponding to the position you set in the grid diagram) to “cross over” to the client screen.
3. Keyboard input and clipboard (supporting text and files) will follow the screen where the mouse pointer is located.

Step 4: Stop and exit

• Click the “Stop” button in the Synergy interface on either endpoint to disconnect.
• Close the Synergy window or quit the application from the menu bar.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

1. Use Configuration Files: In the server interface, for complex multi-screen layouts, you can click “File” > “Save Configuration” to save as a .synergy file. Next time, you can directly “Load Configuration” without having to drag and drop the layout again.
2. Launch on Startup: In the dropdown menu of the Synergy menu bar icon, check “Launch on Startup” to ensure the service runs automatically with the system.
3. SSL Encryption: In “Settings” > “Advanced”, you can generate and use SSL certificates to encrypt network data transmission and enhance security.
4. Switch Between Server/Client Mode: No need to restart the software; simply switch between “Server” and “Client” modes in the tab to quickly change roles.
5. Verify Screen Names: When the client cannot connect, make sure the screen name entered in the server configuration exactly matches the actual screen name of the client (case-sensitive).

IV. Common Issues and Solutions

1. Unable to Connect (Connection Refused/Timeout)
   • Check Firewall: Ensure that the firewalls on both the server Mac and the client computer allow incoming and outgoing connections on TCP port 24800.
   • Verify IP Address: The IP entered on the client must be the correct local network IP of the server at that time, and both devices must be on the same subnet.
   • Confirm the Server Is Running: The server must first click “Start” and be in a running state.
2. The mouse can cross over, but the keyboard does not work
   • This is usually related to system accessibility permissions. Go to Mac “System Settings” > “Privacy & Security” > “Accessibility”, and make sure Synergy is listed in the permissions list and checked. After making changes, you need to fully restart Synergy.
3. Unstable connection, frequent disconnects
   • Check the network status and try using a wired network (Ethernet) instead of Wi-Fi for a more stable connection.
   • In the server’s “Settings,” try increasing the “Delay” parameter (for example, from 0 to 5), which may improve performance in some cases.
4. Screen position “jumping” does not match expectations
   • Return to the server grid and check whether the physical arrangement order and orientation of the screens are correct. The mouse moves from the “edge” of one screen to the adjacent screen.

V. Synergy for Mac Shortcuts Summary

The following shortcuts are mainly effective when the Synergy interface is active.