I built CrossDesk to move my Magic Keyboard, Mouse, and Trackpad between Macs

Hi r/macapps, I'm Eugene, the developer of CrossDesk.

I built CrossDesk for the setup I use every day: a work Mac and a personal Mac on the same desk, with one Magic Keyboard and Trackpad.

CrossDesk Demo

Problem

Apple's Magic devices normally connect to one Mac at a time. Universal Control is useful, but it still relies on the Mac that owns the devices staying awake, and it does not fit every work/personal or different-Apple-ID setup.

When I wanted to shut down my work Mac and continue on my personal Mac, I was back to connecting cables or going through the Bluetooth pairing routine.

CrossDesk runs on each Mac. From the menu bar, you move the selected devices to another Mac. The destination becomes their actual Bluetooth host, so the previous Mac can be shut down.

Comparison

Universal Control is the built-in option, and it is probably the better choice if it works for your setup and you’re ok to keep both Macs awake.

Synergy is a more established commercial alternative. It keeps your keyboard and mouse connected to one computer and sends their input to the others. That is better if both Macs stay awake and you want seamless cursor movement, clipboard sharing, or Windows and Linux support.

CrossDesk is for a different workflow. It transfers supported Magic devices to the destination Mac instead of relaying their input. The destination becomes the actual Bluetooth host, and the previous Mac can be shut down.

If you want to work across several active computers at once (especially a Mac-Windows setup), Synergy is likely the better fit. If you want to hand the devices over and be done with the previous Mac, that is the gap CrossDesk is built for.

Current beta details

Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad are officially supported
The app is signed and notarized
Touch ID keyboards are supported
macOS Ventura or later, on Intel and Apple silicon
both Macs must be on the same local network
Bluetooth and Local Network permissions are required
CrossDesk does not read or relay keystrokes, pointer movement, clipboard contents, or files

Pricing

The public beta is free. After beta, CrossDesk will likely be a one-time $14.99 purchase for up to three Macs. No subscription.

I would especially appreciate feedback from people with a work Mac and personal Mac on the same desk:

Was linking the Macs understandable?
Did your first transfer complete without intervention?
Was it reliable enough across a normal workday?

Website and download: https://crossdesk.app/

Compatibility: https://crossdesk.app/compatibility/

Privacy: https://crossdesk.app/privacy/

Terms: https://crossdesk.app/terms/

Developer: Eugene Myasyshchev

Contact: support@crossdesk.app

I'll be around to answer questions and hear the unflattering feedback too.

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