Ultimate guide to mousing your way across multiple Windows 10 desktops with ease for an instant productivity boost

Train your Logitech mouse to do new tricks!

Logitech SetPoint can allow mouse button controls instead of awkward multi-key shortcuts, for instantly navigating among multiple desktops

Prerequisites

• An experienced Windows User with intermediate PC troubleshooting skills
• Windows 10
• Logitech Mouse (I tested with model M705)
• Logitech SetPoint Version 6.x (I tested with 6.67.83)

If a new version of SetPoint gets released, it's possible you won't need these instructions any more. Hopefully a new release will include the capability to learn desktop navigation combo shortcut keystrokes that include the Windows key. For now, we have this article, a workaround that's done by simply altering a few lines of the mouse preferences file called user.xml. No messing around in the Windows registry required.

Short Instructions - Experts Only

If you already know this SetPoint thing, here to configure another PC in seconds, just:
a) exit SetPoint
b) make a backup copy of your user.xml file in this Windows 10 directory:

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint

c) right click and "Save link as.." on the user.xml file you want to use:
Mapping 1 user.xml
Mapping 2 user.xml
and download it to the same directory indicated in step b above
d) start SetPoint by pressing Win+R and typing "setpoint" then hit Enter

Table of Contents

To jump past this explanation section, right to one of the two mouse button layout change procedures down below, use these links:

Mouse wheel/button Mappings #1:

• Wheel spin/tilt for browser Nav, left side buttons for selecting multiple desktops

Mouse wheel/button Mappings #2:

• Wheel spin for browser Scrolling, wheel tilt for selecting multiple desktops

I personally recommended the first layout that one of my sons recommended I try, as seen in the video above. He's a PC and a Mac user, and has used multiple desktops for years on OS X where he trained his Razer Orochi mouse to swiftly move among them. Figured I'd give it a go with my mouse on my Windows 10 PC. Glad I did. This is a big step forward to me, given how much I do with so many windows open on any given day. Moving to a single-button-click to change among my desktops at will is something you have to try for yourself for a few days to really know how it all feels. Pairing single click easy movement between multiple desktops with the silky smooth variable speed web page scrolling you get with the Logitech Smooth Scrolling extension, and you have all the fixings of a more productive workstation environment, at little cost.

For more information on Logitech Mice and mouse pads, see also:

• Logitech M705 and M560 mice offer smooth scrolling and excellent wireless performance

• Logitech Marathon Mouse M705 Product Page

Mouse Mapping Diagrams

Explanation

Yes, the Logitech M705 mouse is supported under Windows 10, as are many other Logitech mice. But unlike it's relative, the Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse, you can't train this animal to do those multiple desktop navigation tricks that Logitech boasts about here:

• Time-saving Shortcuts with Logitech and Windows 10

Who doesn't feel the need for more monitors. Using the new Windows 10 multiple desktops feature that's built-in helps you feel like you have more elbow room to work, by giving you more easy to access space to work with. Whether you have one or more physical monitors, it's beneficial to have separate desktops for your stuff.

But wow, it sure is clumsy to use those crazy Ctrl+Win+Left/Right arrow keyboard shortcuts, just to do the basic navigation between them. What if I could do these switches with my mouse?

What was holding us back is that the current Logitech SetPoint 6.67.83 can't be convinced to learn keystrokes that include the Windows key (aka WINKEY). If you press the Windows key when focus is on the Keystroke box, it just won't learn this new trick. Instead, your Windows Start menu comes up. Oops. Too bad, because Button 8 (that left thumb button, down low) already does a great job of bringing up Task View (Win+TAB), which is a bit like OS X/Yosemite's Mission Control.

Read more about how many keyboard shortcuts there are at Microsoft and in Paul Thurrott's Windows 10 Tip: Use Multiple Desktops.

I use a legacy Windows 7 VM over RDP a lot during the workday. With multiple monitors, and Windows 10 on my primary workstation since summer of 2015, I've always thought it'd sure be great to be able to instantly toggle between these OSs at will, with a single click. Each space in it's own world, with all its windows staying right where I left them, typically spread across the two monitors.

If you regularly toggle among multiple VMs or RDP sessions throughout your workday, wouldn't it be great to mouse click to bring up those sessions, instantly? Just follow these mouse button/wheel re-mapping instructions, set up a VP or RDP session in each of your multiple desktops, making sure and you're in business. Getting work done faster.

Pro Tip - Remote Desktop Connection

If an RDP session is using one of your desktops in fullscreen mode, you will need to be sure that session's configuration is set so the "Local Resources" tab has the "Keyboard" "Apply Windows key combinations" set to "On this computer."

Now that I got this all working, I don't have to wait for Logitech to update their SetPoint version for full Windows 10 support. Here's what Logitech Support has to say:

Hi AndyCalling,

Our product specialists are currently in the process to start and finish a Windows 10 compatibility project and not restricted to any product line, however, we do not have any update yet on its release date.

I suggest you subscribe to the Newsletter and check the Logitech Blog and Press Center to get updates on the new product and software release.

Please feel free to post back for other concerns.

Logi_Greiz
Support Specialist

In that thread, I came up with the below procedure by following along with the advice of MyGoMyGo and oliver253, taking notes on the steps as I was trying to make it easier for me to do this tweak on other systems in the family I'll be configuring the same way. I have a bunch of these same comfortable/affordable/widely available M705 mice since, June 2014, when I wrote:

• Logitech M705 and M560 mice offer smooth scrolling and excellent wireless performance

MAPPING 1

• Wheel for Browser Navigation
  Smooth Scroll Up/Down, Tilt Right Forward, Tilt Left Back

• Left Side Buttons for Navigating Multiple Desktops
  Left-side front button for Next Desktop
  Left-side rear button for Previous Desktop
  Left-side bottom button left as-is, brings up Task View (All Desktops)

MAPPING 1 - Easy Implementation Method

If you haven't done any customizations in SetPoint, then you might not mind simply downloading my XML file for use on your system. Understand that I can offer you no free support, and Logitech Support might not be able to help you either, so it's your responsibility to be sure you keep a backup copy of your original user.xml file, just in case.

1. Exit Logitech SetPoint

2. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to your SetPoint settings folder
   Here's the path for your SetPoint user.xml file:
   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint\user.xml
   So we'll need to get your Windows Explorer to that folder by copying the following line into your Windows clipboard

   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint

3. Make a backup copy of your existing user.xml file

4. Save the already-customized user.xml file into your SetPoint folder

5. Launch SetPoint

You're done! Go ahead and test things out. If after a few hours or days some or all of the custom mappings to those buttons and/or the wheel seem to stop working, no need to reboot, just exit SetPoint and start it up again, that seems to do the trick.

MAPPING 1 - Manual Implementation Method - manually edit user.xml

For advanced PC users only. These instructions assume you have the skills, thus, no detailed screenshots.

The basic idea is to reset SetPoint to defaults, then remap using the SetPoint UI to these settings
Name="6" is Wheel tilt left
Name="7" is Wheel tilt right
Name="4" is Forward button Right Desktop
Name="5" is Back button Left Desktop

the way we get there is by leaving a breadcrumb of sorts, a Tab character to find (and replace) in our user.xml file.

Here we go, step-by-step, done completely at your own risk, with no official support from me or Logitech:

1. Right click on SetPoint in your system tray, choose exit
2. Navigate to the user.xml folder by pressing Win+R, then paste in the following path sentence

   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint\

3. Right-click on user.xml, choose Copy, then choose Paste, to be sure you have a backup, in case things don't work out, so you can then easily revert.
   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint\user.xml
4. Launch SetPoint (Win+R, type setpoint)
5. Train SetPoint buttons to the following new settings:
   (Button 4) "Forward" to "Keystroke Assignment (Tab)"
   (Button 5) "Back" to "Keystroke Assignment (Tab)"
   (Button 6) "Left Scroll" to "Back"
   (Button 7) "Right Scroll" to "Forward"
6. Click Apply
7. Click OK
8. Exit SetPoint
9. Here's the edits you'll need to now manually make to your user.xml file.

   FORWARD BUTTON NEXT DESKTOP TO THE RIGHT

   CTRL+F FOR

   <Button Number="5" Name="4">

   a few lines down, REPLACE

                    <Handler Class="KeystrokeAssignment">
                       <Param DisplayName="Tab" LParam="983041" Modifier="0" VirtualKey="9"/>

   WITH

                    <Handler Class="KeyStroke">
                       <Param KeyName="^*{RIGHT}"/>

   BACK BUTTON NEXT DESKTOP TO THE LEFT

   CTRL+F FOR

   <Button Number="4" Name="5">

   a few lines down, REPLACE

                    <Handler Class="KeystrokeAssignment">
                       <Param DisplayName="Tab" LParam="983041" Modifier="0" VirtualKey="9"/>

   WITH

                    <Handler Class="KeyStroke">
                       <Param KeyName="^*{LEFT}"/>

10. Start SetPoint
11. Test that everything works as expected.

MAPPING 2

• Wheel spin for Browser Scrolling
  Smooth scroll Up/Down

• Wheel tilt for Navigating Multiple Desktops
  Tilt Left for Next Desktop to Left
  Tilt Right for Next Desktop to Right

• Left side Front and Back buttons for Browser Navigation (Logitech Defaults)
  Front button for Forward
  Rear button for Back

MAPPING 2 - Easy Implementation Method

If you haven't done any customizations in SetPoint, then you might not mind simply downloading my XML file for use on your system. Understand that I can offer you no free support, and Logitech Support might not be able to help you either, so it's your responsibility to be sure you keep a backup copy of your original user.xml file, just in case.

1. Exit Logitech SetPoint

2. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to your SetPoint settings folder
   Here's the path for your SetPoint user.xml file:
   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint\user.xml
   So we'll need to get your Windows Explorer to that folder by copying the following line into your Windows clipboard, to paste into "Run" then press Enter

   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint

3. Make a backup copy of your existing user.xml file

4. Save the already-customized user.xml file into your SetPoint folder

5. Launch SetPoint

You're done! Go ahead and test things out. If after a few hours or days some or all of the custom mappings to those buttons and/or the wheel seem to stop working, no need to reboot, just exit SetPoint and start it up again, that seems to do the trick.

MAPPING 2 - Manual Implementation Method - manually edit user.xml

For advanced PC users only. These instructions assume you have the skills, thus, no detailed screenshots.

The basic idea is to reset SetPoint to defaults, then remap using the SetPoint UI to these settings
Name="6" is Forward button Right Desktop
Name="7" is Back button Left Desktop
Name="4" is left at defaults (browser forward)
Name="5" is left at defaults (browser back)

the way we get there is by leaving a breadcrumb of sorts, a Tab character to find (and replace) in our user.xml file.

Here we go, step-by-step, done completely at your own risk, with no official support from me or Logitech:

1. Right click on SetPoint in your system tray, choose exit
2. Navigate to the user.xml folder by pressing Win+R, then paste in the following path sentence

   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint\

3. Right-click on user.xml, choose Copy, then choose Paste, to be sure you have a backup, in case things don't work out, so you can then easily revert.
   C:\Users\%USERNAME%\appdata\Roaming\Logitech\SetPoint\user.xml
4. Launch SetPoint (Win+R, type setpoint)
5. Train SetPoint buttons to the following new settings:
   (6) "Left Scroll" to (6) Keystroke Assignment (Tab)
   (7) "Right Scroll" to (7) Keystroke Assignment (Tab)
6. Click Apply
7. Click OK
8. Exit SetPoint
9. Here's the edits

   LEFT TILT WHEEL NEXT DESKTOP TO THE LEFT

   CTRL+F FOR

   <Button Number="7" Name="6">

   REPLACE

                    <Handler Class="KeystrokeAssignment">
                       <Param DisplayName="Tab" LParam="983041" Modifier="0" VirtualKey="9"/>

   WITH

                    <Handler Class="KeyStroke">
                       <Param KeyName="^*{RIGHT}"/>

   RIGHT TILT WHEEL NEXT DESKTOP TO THE RIGHT

   CTRL+F FOR

   <Button Number="8" Name="7">

   REPLACE

                    <Handler Class="KeystrokeAssignment">
                       <Param DisplayName="Tab" LParam="983041" Modifier="0" VirtualKey="9"/>

   WITH

                    <Handler Class="KeyStroke">
                       <Param KeyName="^*{LEFT}"/>

10. Start SetPoint
11. Test that everything works as expected.

See Also at TinkerTry

• Use all your monitors for Remote Desktop to Windows 7 PCs or VMs by sidegrading from Professional to Ultimate, getting past Pro's one-monitor restriction

• Logitech M705 and M560 mice offer smooth scrolling and excellent wireless performance