How to Manage Logitech Unifying Receiver and Devices on Linux
Reading Time: 2 minutesIt’s convenient to use a single receiver to control all your Logitech devices. But how do you get the unifying receiver to work on Linux?
Do you have a Logitech device and want to use a unifying receiver instead of Bluetooth but struggle to manage it on Linux?
Solaar is a great tool for managing Logitech devices on Linux. You can use the Logitech Unifying or Bolt Receiver and connect up to six devices on a single unifying receiver.
What Is Solaar?
Solaar is a Linux tool for managing Logitech devices such as keyboards and mice. It allows you to pair and manage Logitech unifying devices with a unifying receiver on Linux.
With Solaar, you can view the battery status of your devices, rename them, and perform other tasks. It is a useful tool for anyone who uses Logitech unifying devices on a Linux system and wants an easy way to manage them.
Developed and maintained by the community, Solaar is available for free under an open-source license.
Logitech Unifying Receivers do not require Bluetooth to function. You can therefore turn off the Bluetooth on your laptop and improve battery life.
Step 1: Install Solaar on Linux
On a Debian-based distro such as Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, etc., you can install Solaar using APT:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install solaar
Alternatively, simply download the Solaar TAR package from the project’s GitHub Releases page.
Download: Solaar
Once downloaded, extract it using the tar command.
tar xvf solaar-*.tar.gz
Go into the extracted folder using the cd command and then install it:
cd solaar-* && sudo python3 setup.py install
Step 2: Connect Your Dongle and Launch Solaar
Next, connect your unifying receiver or dongle to your PC. Newer Logitech devices such as the MX Mechanical Keyboard use a Bolt Receiver. Solaar supports both.
As long as your device has the unifying receiver symbol, you can connect it to any receiver.
Start the Solaar app from the terminal using:
solaar
Alternatively, press the Super key on your keyboard and search for Solaar then launch it using your applications launcher.
Step 3: Pair a Device
Click the Pair new device button and follow the on-screen instructions for pairing a Logitech device. Usually, it involves pressing and holding the Connector button on your device or switching your device off and then on again.
Once connected, the device will be listed under your Bolt or Unifying Receiver.
Managing Your Logitech Devices Using Solaar
Apart from just pairing your Logitech devices, the Solaar app gives you so many possibilities. You can check your battery status at a glance. No longer surprises when your battery dies. Solaar allows you to rename your devices and perform a whole host of configurations.
Customize Your Logitech Device for Improved Performance
Solaar is a great tool for managing Logitech devices on Linux. It’s easy to install and use regardless of the distro you’re using.
Using Solaar to manage your Logitech devices can help you be more productive by introducing a seamless Logitech ecosystem in your workflow.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/manage-logitech-unifying-devices-on-linux/