While purchasing a mouse is a very basic decision for many and most would settle with whatever they can get their hands on, for many, including editors, designers and gamers, buying the perfect mouse for their needs could be hard. And that makes it more of a challenge when you own different systems, namely a pc and a mac and has to switch between those two systems frequently.
While Logitech MX Master series of mouse has been loved and applauded for years for the awesome feel and functionality they provide, many people still has the confusion whether the MX Master 3 they have bought for their mac would work just fine on their pc or not, or do they need to buy one for it separately.
The answer to that question is, Yes, the Logitech MX master 3 for mac is compatible with windows. In this article we explain how to set them up for a seamless user experience.
What Logitech says
According to Logitech official website Logitech MX Master 3/3s for mac has only Bluetooth connectivity whereas the PC version can be connected both via Bluetooth and Logitech Unifying Receiver that comes with the package or can be bought separately. the website also says the Mac version of the mouse is only compatible with macOS and iPadOS whereas the pc version can be connected to any of the Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux or iPadOS devices.
What’s the Difference
The only noticeable different between the two versions is that the mac version comes in space grey color while the PC version has pale grey, graphite and black versions to choose from. As many users have pointed out it makes no sense why a mouse with a slightly different color won’t be compatible with PC or surface devices while the PC version can connect to any mac devices without any hassle. Although the mac version doesn’t come with an unifying receiver, almost all the laptops come with Bluetooth functionalities nowadays and if you are using a desktop or laptop computer without Bluetooth connectivity you can easily buy an adapter or even better, an unifying receiver which is still better than buying a whole new mouse (or a keyboard) for that matter.
The Unifying Receiver
So, what’s the fuss about Logitech Unifying Receiver? It’s a piece of tech that Logitech has developed to make connecting a large array of wireless keyboards and mouse to your computer as easy as just plugging it in. When I first bought my MX master 3 mouse I expected primarily setting it up to be a hassle. To my surprise, I just plugged the receiver in USB port and switched on the mouse and it started working just like any wired mouse would right after plugging it in.
The unifying receiver is as tiny as any USB receiver can get and can connect with upto 6 devices (keyboards and mouse) from Logitech without needing to have a separate receiver for each of them. And contrary to Logitech’s claim we have found it to be working with both mac and pc versions of each of the devices while they can be plugged into and used with all of the iOS, Windows and other devices. In my usages I have found the MX Master 3 to work much better and smoother with the Logitech Unifying Receiver compared to connecting it via Bluetooth.
The receivers come bundled with the pc versions of several Logitech products namely MX master 3, MX anywhere 3, MX Vertical mouse, MX keys, MX keys mini, MX master 2s, the newer products like MX mechanical keyboard, MX Master 3s and so on. You can also buy one separately if you already own Mac versions of any of the devices and need to connect it to you pc that doesn’t seem to have Bluetooth functionalities or in some rare case scenarios as some users faced, you just can’t seem to connect it to your PC via Bluetooth.
Logitech Unifying Software
To make using same keyboard and mouse in different computers a smooth experience, Logitech has developed it’s unifying software. Logitech MX lineup of devices can switch between 3 devices at the same time with the help of the unifying software at the press of a button. It also helps you to connect upto 6 devices with a single unifying receiver connected to a computer.
The only way to connect your mac version of MX master 3 seems to be this software as of now as it won’t connect to a pc by default is this 4 mb software as it is designed to connect to a mac or iPad device.
You can download the software here for free.
My Take on This
Logitech MX Master 3 is a mouse that gives an immensely satisfying experience to its users. It is not geared towards gaming, rather it’s an unique take on traditional mouse with a highly ergonomic design. Especially the rubberized texture gives a a feel like no other and that horizontal scroll gives it the tiny bit of versatility it needs to make the experience even more appealing. I have been using Logitech MX master series mouse for years and it never fails to surprise me just how awesome this is whenever I use it at home after a long day of working in the office with a regular mouse.
As for the original question that brought you here, there is no reason why a just differently colored mouse wouldn’t work with one device or the other. As per my experience, Logitech MX Master 3 for Mac works just fine in any windows device. You just have to properly set it up via Bluetooth or unifying receiver whichever works along with the unifying software and spare yourself a bit of money from buying one for each of your computers.
With new Logitech MX Anywhere 3 launched, if you are confused between that and MX Master 3, you can read this article here.
