How to connect two mice to a computer

Typically, one mouse is used to control a computer. But there are situations when an additional device is needed. In this case, it is not difficult to connect a second mouse.

Is it possible to connect two mice to a computer and why is this necessary?

Modern computers with several USB connectors can connect two or more mice. An additional connection is needed if:

1. One mouse has high precision and is used in games, and the second with simple technical characteristics is used to control other programs.
2. Two users work at the computer simultaneously, each of whom needs a separate cursor.
3. The computer is used in a school or student classroom.

IMPORTANT! Usually, when connecting several mice, the control arrow remains common. But there are special programs that allow you to install a separate cursor for each device.

How to connect two mice to a PC

If both mice are used to control a common cursor, the connection is no different from installing one device - each of them is connected to the computer via a separate USB port. In most cases, the computer itself recognizes the new device. If the system “does not see” the mouse, then you will need to install the appropriate driver.

IMPORTANT! Some old mice cannot work simultaneously with new ones, so it is better to connect devices that were released recently.

It is impossible to use two cursors at once without additional programs. When using two mice at the same time, the arrow will either freeze in place, or will oscillate and move in the direction in which it is pulled more strongly. Programs created to solve this problem are mainly used for educational purposes. Here are some of them:

1. Peanut Butter Pointer. This program is designed for a PC with up to three users working simultaneously. After installation, an additional cursor appears on the screen, which can be moved independently of the first one. But it is impossible to perform two different clicks with the arrows - while one mouse is pressed, the second is inactive.
2. Mouse Mischief. Official add-on for Microsoft PowerPoint. Designed for showing presentations to an audience of up to 25 people. Each user gets the opportunity to use their own mouse, but only the main cursor, intended for the teacher, can switch slides.
3. MultiMouse. This program from German developers provides the ability to remotely control a central PC for work or educational groups. A personal cursor with a signature appears on the screen. A total of up to 50 cursors can be used, but they cannot be used simultaneously. But it is possible to work with several keyboards at once, which is convenient when editing a text file together.

Programs that would allow different mice to perform actions independent of each other have not yet been developed. Moreover, all the above programs are paid.The Multi-Mouse Toolki library is freely available, created in Japan for programmers who want to develop applications in C++ and C# with the ability to connect multiple cursors. This library has not yet been translated into English and is only suitable for users who speak Japanese.