Tools I Actually Use: MX Master 3 and MX Keys

This setup helps me move faster, stay focused, and eliminate small daily tasks that waste time. These tools aren’t just nice to have. They’re essential to how I work.

The mouse: set up for speed and context

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The Logitech MX Master 3 is the most useful mouse I’ve ever used. I don’t use it as-is. I’ve configured it to match how I work. The goal is simple: fewer clicks, less switching, more flow.

Here’s how I have the buttons mapped:

• Forward button → Copy
• Back button → Paste
• Thumb button → Gesture menu for window navigation
• Top button → Opens Downloads folder
• Thumb wheel → Horizontal scroll
• Middle button → Standard middle click

That layout lets me do everything with a flick or tap. Copy and paste with my thumb. Jump between apps with a gesture. Open a folder instantly instead of clicking through Finder. None of this feels flashy. It just works.

Raycast clipboard makes it even better

I use Raycast’s clipboard history feature alongside the mouse. That combination is the real workflow upgrade. Every time I copy something, Raycast saves it. When I need to reuse something I copied a few steps ago, I don’t dig around. I trigger the gesture menu and pull it up.

This saves time when I:

• Transfer IDs or reference numbers between systems
• Write documentation with repeated boilerplate
• Respond to tickets or emails using saved text snippets
• Move between apps without using the keyboard at all

I don’t lose time repeating actions. I don’t stop to think about what I just copied. Everything stays accessible. The mouse helps me act fast. Raycast helps me remember what I did.

The keyboard: invisible and reliable

The MX Keys keyboard doesn’t try to stand out. It’s quiet, solid, and reliable. That’s why I keep using it. The keys feel consistent. The backlighting comes on when my hands approach. It switches between my laptop and desktop with one tap.

Key features that matter:

• Smart backlighting saves power and feels responsive
• Low-profile layout is fast and easy to use
• Multi-device switching lets me use one keyboard across three machines
• Battery life lasts long enough to forget it’s wireless

There’s nothing clever about it, and that’s exactly the point. I never have to think about this keyboard. I just type.

Small gains that stack up

Most of what these tools do comes down to one thing: eliminating friction. Not dramatic changes. Just small, steady improvements that add up. A faster paste here. One less window switch there. Multiply that by every interaction in a workday, and it starts to matter.

What improves:

• Fewer clicks
• Less keyboard repetition
• Better focus
• Less time spent on transitions
• Fewer chances for errors

I don’t need a bigger system or more software. I just need my tools to remove the slow parts. These two do that.

What could be better

The Logitech software is slow. It occasionally forgets custom button mappings after a system update. I’ve had to reapply settings more than once. The keyboard’s device switch can also lag slightly when moving between machines. None of this is a dealbreaker. It’s just the cost of using a tool that relies on its own drivers.

Final thoughts

I use the MX Master 3 and MX Keys every day because they help me work faster without more effort. I don’t like wasting time on things I’ve already done. I don’t like clicking through folders or hitting keyboard shortcuts all day. These tools solve that problem.

If you spend a lot of time at a computer and want fewer slowdowns, this setup is worth trying. It’s not about making things fancy. It’s about making work cleaner and faster.