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If you use Microsoft mice or keyboards like the new Surface Arc Mouse you will want to get the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center app. It's free and adds some key features to this – and other – mice and keyboards.
What is Mouse and Keyboard Center?
Think of the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center as advanced settings for some Microsoft-branded peripherals. It's a classic Windows app that comes in 32- and 64-bit versions (most of you will opt for 64-bit).
Unfortunately, if you are running Windows 10 S like on the new Surface Laptop, you cannot download and install this Microsoft app. As to when Microsoft decides to port it over to Windows 10 natively, or, use the Desktop Bridge to put it in the Windows Store is unclear.
In Windows 10 users can find many of the mouse options under Settings > Devices > Mouse. These settings include primary button assignment, how many lines to scroll, and how the mouse wheel scrolls.
Some mice – like Microsoft's new Surface Arc Mouse – have additional abilities like enabling 'Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them,' which is not found with other mice.
The Mouse and Keyboard Center, however, adds even more options to Microsoft mice that many users will appreciate. You don't even need to be a power user to leverage these.
What can Mouse and Keyboard Center do?
After running the install for the Mouse and Keyboard Center, the app should automatically recognize a supported mouse or keyboard. Interestingly, the new Surface Ergonomic Keyboard is not yet supported, but the older Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard does work.
There is even a massive list of all the Microsoft peripherals that do work with the Mouse and Keyboard Center:
As examples, I'll demonstrate a few of the advanced features this app can accomplish with two Microsoft Surface mice – the new Surface Arc Mouse and the older Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition (SE).
There is also a UWP version the Windows Store, but it does not yet support the new Surface Arc Mouse, but it does support the older Arc Touch Bluetooth Mouse and Arc Touch Mouse SE making it less interesting (or useful).
Surface Arc Mouse features
The Mouse and Keyboard Center was updated recently to support the new Surface Arc Mouse. Under the Surface Arc Mouse, a user can now control things like:
- Reverse scrolling option for vertical and horizontal scrolling.
- Three-finger click.
- Scroll sensitivity.
- Disable smooth scroll mode.
The three-finger tap is not found in the default Windows 10 Settings. It's a whole new function that you would never know about without running the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center.
While not quite the same as Windows 10 Gestures found with Precision Trackpads, it does let you assign your favorite task, such as:
- Add new desktop.
- Previous desktop.
- Next desktop.
- Snap Window left/right/down.
- Search/Cortana.
- Show Action Center.
- Show/hide desktop.
- Reveal Task View.
Those are important options for users and is something the older Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE cannot do. To use them the user just taps their three fingers on the top of the Arc Mouse.
Another ability of the new Surface Arc Mouse is to identify programs that don't scroll correctly. According to Microsoft, this is what that feature does:
If you are working in a program that doesn't support scrolling for anything less than a full line at a time, scrolling won't function properly. It may scroll too quickly, barely scroll, or lurch forward while you are scrolling.
You can resolve this by selecting the program from a list that alerts Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center to modify the scrolling instructions for that program so that it sends only full lines of scrolling. If your program is not on the list, you can add it.
Certainly, those are some fantastic features that many new owners will want to leverage if buying the new Surface Arc Mouse or Microsoft Arc Mouse.
Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE features
Regarding the older Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE, one of the biggest issues people had with that peripheral is the simulated scroll wheel via the touch strip. The Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE makes noise and even vibrates a little when scrolling and some people just do not care for it. Using the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center, you can control the volume/vibration of that feature or disable it altogether.
While there is no three-finger tap for the Arc Touch Mouse SE, there is a middle tap for the touch strip that does the same thing. Users can opt to enable Windows Start, Open Action Center, Open Cortana, and much more found under 'view all commands.'
Unfortunately, there are not any advanced scrolling options similar to what the new Surface Arc Mouse contains.
Wrap Up – Get this app
I only covered two of Microsoft's many mice that they sell in this article, but the Mouse and Keyboard Center works with a massive amount of Microsoft's offerings.
Overall, the Mouse and Keyboard Center is one of those hard to find apps you may never know about but is hard to live without once you do. Just adding the three-finger tap function to the new Surface Arc Mouse can dramatically change what you think of it. Likewise, for those scrolling features and options.
It would be good for Microsoft to get the Mouse and Keyboard Center into the Windows Store at some point, or at least prompt users to download the app once a compatible device is paired. Even better would be to build these features into Windows 10 itself, but all good things take time.
As pointed out in comments, there is the UWP app Arc Touch Bluetooth Mouse , but it only supports the older Arc Touch Bluetooth Mouse and Arc Touch Mouse SE peripherals and not the newer Surface Arc Mouse (2017) yet.
For now, get the Mouse and Keyboard Center and unleash the power of your Microsoft hardware.
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Microsoft has been making computer mice for many years and is considered one of the top peripheral manufacturers. The Arc Mouse series has seen many revisions, which I pointed out in a recent article highlighting Microsoft's convoluted naming scheme.
The new Surface Arc Mouse is part of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro (2017) wave and brings a hardware redesign, some new colors, and a few changes. I spent the last month with it, and this is what I think.
Microsoft Arc Mouse Macos App Free
What is the Surface Arc Mouse?
The new Surface Arc Mouse ($79.99) is the latest revision to the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition (SE) ($69.99), which is still available from Microsoft. I'm a huge fan of the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE, so the new Arc Mouse has a high bar to cross to win me over.
The main feature of the Arc Mouse remains unchanged: the mouse lays completely flat when not in use, which also disables the Bluetooth. Folding the mouse into the arc position enables Bluetooth and gives it an ergonomic grip that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. It's a brilliant design.
Arc Mouse is best thought of as a travel mouse, hence the co-branding with Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. Of course, you could just as easily use it with the Surface Studio or any Windows 10 PC desktop or laptop that has Bluetooth 4.0.
At just 14 mm thin at its thickest point, the flat Arc Mouse easily slips into a bag making it the best travel mouse around, because there is no rounded bulge. The ability to bend it to an arc is bizarre yet awesome since no other mouse does this trick.
Surface Arc Mouse design
Coming in three colors – cobalt, burgundy, and light gray – the Arc Mouse is just as stylish as the Surface PC lineup. There is also a Microsoft Arc Mouse ($79.99), which is the same hardware, but in matte black and without the Surface branding.
The Arc Mouse is very minimalist. The top button area is just a large, single surfce that resembles a trackpad. There are right- and left-click abilities as expected, but there is unfortunately no gesture support, which would have been a killer feature.
Surface Arc Mouse technical specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Interface | Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Wireless frequency | 2.4 GHz |
| Buttons | Two buttons: right and left click |
| Design | Bendable tail |
| Scrolling | Full scroll plane, horizontal and vertical scrolling |
| Compatibility | Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8.0 PC must support Bluetooth 4.0 or higher |
| Weight | 2.91 ounces (82.49 grams) including batteries |
| Battery | Two AAA alkaline batteries (included) |
| Available colors | Burgundy, light gray, cobalt |
| Warranty | One-year limited hardware warranty |
Powered by two AAA batteries, the Arc Mouse should last up to six months depending on usage. There is a small door with a latch in the head of the mouse for the batteries on the underside.
Also on the bottom is the Bluetooth pairing button. You simply hold the button for about 10 seconds, and the Bluetooth light will blink rapidly. Just pair the Arc Mouse to Windows 10 using Settings > Devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth. The system downloads a small driver from Windows Update.Then the mouse is all set, with no OS restart required. The mouse can be paired to only one PC at a time.
The bottom houses the battery compartment and Bluetooth sync button.
The Arc Mouse is smooth and lacks the tackier grip of the all-black Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. There is still the soft-touch rubber in the bendable tail, but it is more muted this time with a silkier feel.
The Surface Arc Mouse looks fantastic, has no creaks, and feels substantial, but it is also extremely light and portable. It accurately matches the look and feel of the Surface PC line.
Surface Arc Mouse: What's different?
Microsoft ditched the scroll strip from the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. That strip is used for navigation and acted as a particular point on the mouse head for that function. There was an ingenious haptic feedback system where that scrolling activated a tiny speaker and motor to simulate a physical scroll wheel. It's a weird but satisfying experience.
The design of the new Surface Arc Mouse has more rounded corners than the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. Additionally, the Surface Arc Mouse is symmetrical whereas the previous version was larger at the top compared to the tail. These changes make the Surface Arc Mouse slightly wider in the tail where the palm of your hand is placed. The arch is also a smidge higher compared to the older version. Both changes make it feel significantly different compared to the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE.
The original Arc Touch Mouse SE (left) versus new Surface Arc Mouse (right).
Finally, on the bottom, Microsoft hid the ribbed nature of the bendable tail. That was an excellent choice as there was something kind of creepy and reptilian about the ribbed tail with the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE.
Surface Arc Mouse: Mixed feelings
For design, the Surface Arc Mouse looks fantastic. However, compared to the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE I don't care for the performance. The original Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE fits better in my hand, and I was a huge fan of the haptic scroll strip. The right and left click buttons are also more discernable on the original, whereas the Surface Arc Mouse is one big button with left and right pressure points.
To be fair, you can get used to the new Surface Arc Mouse. Also, by removing that haptic strip, Microsoft can now include horizontal scrolling, which is significant. Nonetheless, that horizontal scrolling gets mixed reviews due to some responsiveness issues.
The original Arc Touch Mouse SE (left) versus new Surface Arc Mouse (right).
Vertical scrolling is neat. You can use one, two, or even three fingers anywhere in the top half for scrolling and it works well. The action is smooth and responsive. Users can adjust the settings for scrolling under Windows 10 settings.
My biggest issue with the Surface Arc Mouse is that I just didn't immediately love when I started using it. I did, however, have that reaction to the original Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. From that perspective, I have a tough time recommending the Surface Arc Mouse as an 'upgrade' if you are enjoying the older version. If, however, the haptic scroll strip and lack of horizontal scrolling drove you nuts, it could be worth the investment.
Contoured edges and a thin design make the Surface Arc Mouse very unique.
There are also the usual potential issues with Bluetooth. Some people detest Bluetooth mice and keyboards due to signal interference that can cause noticeable lag on some PCs. I did not notice that issue with the Surface Pro or Surface Laptop, but I am sympathetic to the complaint. Still, the convenience of 'click and go' and no wires using the Surface Arc Mouse is desirable.
Arc Mouse App
The Surface Arc Mouse also feels less precise than a wired mouse, and sometimes I felt I had to re-click to enable an action.
Surface Arc Mouse review: Concluding thoughts
The Surface Arc Mouse is likely the best travel mouse you can get if you want the most compact, no-fuss setup. The design and colors are outstanding, the build quality is fantastic, and it's just a very cool device. The design is an improvement over the original Arc Touch Mouse SE - it's smoother, cleaner looking, and more elegant.
I think the overall experience is above average, but I'm not ready to give up my Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. I find its performance and ergonomics are just better. The good news is that mouse is still available, and I may pick up another since mine is getting long in the tooth.
The new Surface Arc Mouse (front) has a higher arch than the older version.
Microsoft played it safe with the Surface Arc Mouse and missed an opportunity to try something new. It's very minimal and conservative. Had the top of the Arc Mouse acted as a Precision touchpad with gesture support, I would have been more intrigued.
Pros:
- Brilliant design.
- Super portable and convenient.
- Comfortable to use with smooth navigation.
- Matches new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop.
Cons:
- Not as good as Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE.
- Accuracy seems off at times.
- Right and left click buttons take time to get used to.
Related tip – Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center
Windows 10 lets you do some basic configurations for the Surface Arc Mouse and other Microsoft Arc mice, but there is a separate Win32 application you can download for free from Microsoft that enables even more features.
This app has a bevy of options not found in the default Windows 10 settings.
The Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center provides advanced settings that many users will want, including:
- Reverse scrolling option for vertical and horizontal scrolling.
- Three-finger click (new Surface Arc Mouse).
- Scroll sensitivity.
- Disable smooth scroll mode.
- Touch Strip – turn down or disable vibration/sound (Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE).
I consider the app a must-download if you want to tweak your Arc mouse. Ironically, those on the Surface Laptop who are using Windows 10 S cannot install this application unless they switch to Windows 10 Pro.
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