A Clever Little Tool for Using Multiple Mice on the Same Computer

If a lefty lives in your house who wants a separate, properly configured mouse, then give the free AutoHotkey EitherMouse a try. You can even use two separate cursors.

EitherMouse highlights one of the reasons I feel that AutoHotkey represents “absolutely the best free Windows utility software ever!” While anyone can add power to their Windows computer by writing simple, quick one-line scripts, many AutoHotkey users produce tools which compete with any professionally marketed software. In this blog, I highlight one such utility program. However, you don’t need to use or understand AutoHotkey to make good use of this tool. Just download the EXE file and run it.

EitherMouse for Lefties or Two Mice

The script EitherMouse offers a tool for people who want to get more out of their mice on a Windows PC. It’s either for lefties wanting to quickly switch mouse buttons when moving a mouse to the left side or for users who want to plug in more than one mouse on a single Windows computer. As the name states, with EitherMouse loaded, you can use either of two mice (one for each hand) on your Windows computer. Move the right mouse and it takes over the cursor. Move the left mouse and it assumes control—even swapping the left and right buttons. (If you only use one mouse, you can still quickly swap the right and left button functions when switching sides.) Who needs this type of Windows utility?

As the name states, with EitherMouse loaded, you can use either of two mice (one for each hand) on your Windows computer. Move the right mouse and it takes over the cursor. Move the left mouse and it assumes control—even swapping the left and right buttons. (If you only use one mouse, you can still quickly swap the right and left button functions when switching sides.) Who needs this type of Windows utility?

Most of today’s Windows computers recognize when two mice are plugged in at the same time and allow swapping of the buttons through the mouse control panel. But Windows doesn’t automatically swap those button functions when the alternative mouse moves. Suppose you have more than one person using the same computer. Now you can attach two mice (one for the leftie and one for the rightie). No need to move one mouse from the right side to the left, then swapping the button functions. It’s automatic with EitherMouse. Or, maybe you prefer to use two mice at the same time, either because you’re ambidextrous or you want to minimize the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. Now you have two mice to spread the load (one for each hand). The primary click remains under your index finger on either hand.

Or, maybe you prefer to use two mice at the same time, either because you’re ambidextrous or you want to minimize the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. Now you have two mice to spread the load (one for each hand). The primary click remains under your index finger on either hand.

Add a Second Cursor

One cool feature of EitherMouse adds a second cursor for the second mouse (see Figure 1). You might find this convenient when using multiple monitors—or if you prefer not to drag the cursor across a huge screen. Perhaps you’re playing a game with a child—each using a separate mouse.

In reality, EitherMouse only activates one mouse at a time. Control instantly swaps to the mouse most recently moved. (It’s easy to see how mouse wars could start.)

To access EitherMouse settings, click the little wrench icon in the upper right-hand corner (see Figure 2). Notice that you can open the Mouse Control Panel through these settings. The mouse settings can be a little difficult to find in some versions of Windows.

I originally found EitherMouse on the old AutoHotkey forum. First posted in 2009 by gwarble, you can find the latest version on the current AutoHotkey site forum. I see a number of ways to take advantage of the app. As mentioned in a past update, “New features mean EitherMouse isn’t just for lefties anymore!”

While in this blog I don’t include any discussion of how the script works here, I do plan a few comments for Jack’s AutoHotkey Blog. EitherMouse uses AutoHotkey techniques which access the inner workings of Windows. The script acts as an important demonstration of what else AutoHotkey can do—not merely Hotkeys and Hotstrings. (To access the AutoHotkey code, download the ZIP file which includes both the EXE file and AHK source code file.)

EitherMouse comes in compiled versions which you can download and run with either a double-click or set up to automatically load with Windows. The automatic features built into the Settings menu no doubt do the same things as the EitherMouse Setup.exe program. I’ll leave it to you to decide if you need EitherMouse. I’m right-handed, don’t have a separate monitor, nor any lefties in the house, but I still think it’s a really cool app.