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Mouse Without Borders fails to connect between two laptops #43274

Description

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.95.1

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Area(s) with issue?

Mouse Without Borders

Steps to reproduce

Try to connect one computer to another via the secret key and device name

✔️ Expected Behavior

Successful connection of the 2 laptops

❌ Actual Behavior

Endless connection attempts with a Yellow square around the computer I'm trying to connect to. Several attempts to connect with the yellow square appear around the 2 computers in the 2 PowerToys Mouse Without Borders on the laptops.

Additional Information

Issue Summary:
Issue: Mouse Without Borders fails to connect between two

laptops. The error shown is: "Cannot resolve IP Address of the remote machine TR-JITQG3. Please fix your DNS or use the Mapping option in the Settings form." Please see the screenshot:

Image

PowerToys Version: 0.95.1
Windows Version: Windows 11 on both laptops.
Network: Both laptops are on the same Wi-Fi network. Tested with Zscaler VPN enabled and disabled (exited).
Behavior: Devices appear in the layout, but the connection never completes. The encryption key is set and matches on both machines.
Ping Test: Both laptops can successfully ping each other by hostname.
No other error messages except the DNS resolution failure.

I have attempted the following without success:

  • Deleting the %localappdata%\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders folder
  • Reinstalling the application
  • Installing the version from GitHub
  • Verifying that IP addresses match
  • Adding a firewall rule
    Despite these steps, the bug persists.

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    Issue-BugSomething isn't workingNeeds-TriageFor issues raised to be triaged and prioritized by internal Microsoft teamsProduct-Mouse Without BordersRefers to the Mouse Without Borders module

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