If you work from home like I do, you likely have to deal with a company-issued laptop that makes your life difficult in one way or another. Maybe you aren’t allowed to install Spotify for background music, or maybe the PC is just so old and slow that it’s a nightmare to use. Maybe you love using multiple monitors, but your work laptop has just one video output.
Whatever your issue, there are plenty of ways to make a work laptop less annoying. Over time, I’ve figured out a few key products and some simple strategies that make life with them easier. You might work differently than I do, of course, but the tips I outline below can at least be a starting point for better productivity and device organization.
1. Rely on Your Own Devices as Much as Possible
First and foremost, I try to use my own devices whenever I can since I have already configured them with my favorite accessories, apps, and customizations. For security reasons, you might not be able to make the same changes to a work laptop. Although being familiar and comfortable with your setup might just save you a few seconds here and there, that can add up over time.
This might sound like obvious advice, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to implement. I employ two strategies to focus my time on the devices that help me work the most effectively.
For one, I turn my phone into my assistant. I used to spend a lot of time on my work laptop getting meeting reminders, looking out for Slack pings, and monitoring my email, but I now get these notifications on my phone, where I can deal with them more easily. By offloading these lighter tasks, I can minimize the time I spend opening up my work laptop to glance at something.
I also try to leverage cloud storage whenever possible. If the task in front of me is to whip up a presentation that I need my work computer to send off, for example, I make the presentation on my personal computer first. Then, I upload it to a cloud storage service (for me, that’s Google Drive) and download it to my work laptop so I can send it off. The same process can easily apply to editing documents, touching up graphics, or anything else that requires a bigger screen than your phone.
2. Invest in a Good KVM or USB Switch
If you want to integrate your work laptop directly into your home setup, spending a little money can make a major difference in efficiency. Setting up multiple monitors is a classic way to amp up productivity when you are working between more than one computer, but that requires a meaningful investment on top of ample desk space. And besides, it’s not your only option.
(Credit: Kyle Cobian)
KVM (short for keyboard, video, mouse) switches, like this one, are game changers. These hardware hubs enable you to swap between showing your personal and work computer on a single display with the press of a button—all while using the same USB devices. This won’t work for everyone, though, especially if you use a ton of USB devices or need multiple specific video connections (such as DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, USB-C, or VGA). You also need an external display for a KVM to be useful, so this won’t help if your personal setup consists of just another laptop.
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For those reasons, I prefer USB switches like this one. USB switches are similar to KVM switches, but they swap which computer your USB devices connect to and nothing more. So, if you have an external display, you can use whatever inputs work best for you across multiple computers. Even if you use two laptops, a USB switch can eliminate the hassle of unplugging a mouse from one computer to plug it into another: Instead, you just need to press a button on the switch.
Alternatively, some wireless mice and wireless keyboards allow you to switch between computers with a dedicated button, too.
3. Use Software to Get More Out of Your Hardware
Jobs are for making money, not spending it, so it’s totally understandable if you don’t want to pay for any accessories that make your work computer more palatable. Plenty of software options can reduce the friction of switching between machines and help you organize your tasks better.
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Instead of a KVM or USB switch, for example, you can download an app that lets you use the same mouse and keyboard without any wires across multiple computers. Many of these apps are free, so you don’t have to spend anything to try one out. However, they can sometimes lag or stutter, making a hardware switch the better choice if you need consistently flawless performance.
What if you want the larger screen real estate of an external display without paying for one or permanently giving up desk space? If you have an iPad or Android tablet lying around, chances are you can turn it into a display with an app such as DuetDisplay. You can also control one computer with another via a remote access tool such as TeamViewer. Alternatively, you can set up wireless displays with Windows 11.
The above solutions can be great, but your company might not allow you to install programs on your work laptop. Luckily, there’s another option: virtual desktops. If you don’t mind doing everything on your work computer but just want a better way to organize your open windows, virtual desktops can get the job done. You can set up Spaces on macOS and multiple desktops on Windows and easily switch between them.
For example, you can put all the open windows for a certain project on one desktop, and your calendar, email, and Slack windows on another. This mimics the experience of using multiple monitors on a single display.
It Won’t Be Perfect, and That’s OK
No matter what you do, a work laptop likely won’t match the ease of use of your personal devices. But these tips aren’t about perfection; they’re about simple, effective ways to make using a work laptop just a bit better. For how much of our lives we spend working, even small improvements are worth it.
About Ruben Circelli
Analyst, Software
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-06-26 14:40:00
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