A very common two-Mac desk: a MacBook from work next to a Mac mini or iMac at home, sharing one Magic Keyboard and Mouse. When you close the MacBook, the keyboard and mouse stay paired with a Mac that's asleep, and the other Mac can't use them until you move them over.
LinkFlick 1.11 fixes this with one setting. Turn on Send devices when this Mac sleeps, and when the MacBook goes to sleep, it hands your keyboard, mouse and trackpad to your other Mac.
How to turn it on
- Install LinkFlick on both Macs and link them (see how to set up LinkFlick on two Macs).
- On the Mac you close or put to sleep, click the LinkFlick icon in the menu bar and open Settings.
- Under Docking Automation, turn on Send devices when this Mac sleeps.
It's off by default, so nothing changes until you turn it on.
What happens when the Mac sleeps
- Any sleep counts: closing the lid, choosing Sleep from the Apple menu, or the Mac going to sleep on its own. A display that only turns off isn't sleep, so nothing moves.
- Where the devices go: the same Mac as the Send Devices to Next Mac shortcut. With two Macs, that's simply the other one.
- If no linked Mac is online: nothing moves, and your devices stay paired with this Mac.
- Speed: LinkFlick holds sleep for a few seconds at most while it hands the devices over. The other Mac finishes connecting them while this one sleeps.
When you open the MacBook again
Your devices stay on the other Mac. LinkFlick never takes them back on its own, because you might still be using them there. To bring them back, press Move Devices Here (⌥⌘L by default) on the MacBook, or click them in the LinkFlick menu.
If the MacBook fell asleep before the other Mac confirmed the handover, LinkFlick checks on wake. If a device ended up on no Mac, it reconnects it.
Using clamshell mode?
If your MacBook is connected to power and an external display, closing the lid doesn't put it to sleep (macOS keeps it running in closed-display mode), so nothing moves. That's usually what you want: you're still working on that Mac.
Pairs well with docking automation
In the same section, LinkFlick can also bring your devices to a MacBook when you plug it into a display or power. Together: dock the laptop and the keyboard comes to it, close it and the keyboard goes back.
More setups: Multi-Mac desk setup · Work and personal Mac · Home office
Frequently asked questions
Can my Magic Keyboard switch to my desktop Mac automatically when I close my MacBook?
Yes, with LinkFlick on both Macs. Turn on Send devices when this Mac sleeps in LinkFlick's settings on the MacBook. When it goes to sleep, it sends your Magic Keyboard, Mouse and Trackpad to your other Mac.
What happens if my other Mac is off?
Nothing moves. If no linked Mac is online when this Mac goes to sleep, your devices stay paired with it, just like without LinkFlick.
Do my devices come back when the MacBook wakes up?
Not automatically. LinkFlick never takes devices back from another Mac on its own. Press the Move Devices Here shortcut (⌥⌘L by default) on the MacBook to bring them back.