Logitech Mouse Open-Source Configuration Guide

I used Logitech MX Master mice for 3 years and was frustrated by three problems with Logitech Options+: mandatory cloud account to save settings, background telemetry eating resources, and configurations that don't sync across platforms. When I found OpenLogi (macOS) and logiops (Linux) on GitHub in late 2025, I switched immediately. Six months later, this is how I manage my Logitech mouse the right way.

Background: The 3 Real Problems with Logitech Options+

Logitech Options+ is the official Logitech driver, but it has three problems that developers find unbearable:

1. Mandatory cloud account to save configurations

Options+ versions after 2024 require a Logitech account to sync settings to the cloud. On a company computer without internet access, you can't even log in, and configurations reset every time you reinstall the OS.

2. Background telemetry process

Logitech Options+ runs a persistent LogiOptionsPlusService process. In practice, it consumes about 80-120MB of RAM. More annoying: during Xcode compilation, this process occasionally spikes CPU usage, adding 2-3 seconds of compilation delay.

3. Cross-platform configs don't sync

My work machine is macOS; my laptop for travel is Windows. Options+ cloud sync is essentially unusable on Chinese networks, so my two machines often have different mouse configurations. Switching devices means re-adapting every time.

These three problems pushed me to find open-source alternatives.

OpenLogi: The Rust Native Replacement for macOS

Core Information

OpenLogi (github.com/AprilNEA/OpenLogi) is developed by AprilNEA, written in Rust, with v0.6.2 released on June 8, 2026. At search time, approximately 4,400 GitHub stars, 98.4% Rust code. Dual-licensed under MIT and Apache-2.0.

Supported systems and mice:

• macOS 12+ (Linux and Windows versions in development, expected 2026)
• Supported models: MX Master 4 (86% support rate), MX Master 3S, MX Master 3, MX Anywhere 3S, and other HID++ protocol mice
• Connection: Logi Bolt receiver, Bluetooth, or USB cable

Installation

The recommended method is Homebrew:

brew install --cask aprilnea/tap/openlogi

After installation, drag OpenLogi.app to /Applications. On first launch, the app requests Accessibility permissions (for global key capture).

Core Features

OpenLogi's main interface is a clickable mouse diagram. After launching, it shows a top-down view of your connected mouse — click any button to rebind it. Built-in supported actions include:

• **Button remapping**: Map any button to keyboard shortcuts, mouse buttons, or shell commands
• **DPI adjustment**: Switch between multiple DPI levels on demand
• **SmartShift**: Customize gesture/scroll wheel acceleration
• **Per-app profile switching**: Detects the foreground app and automatically loads the matching config

Configuration File Structure

OpenLogi stores its configuration in ~/.config/openlogi/config.toml (TOML format). Example configuration for MX Master 4:

# Global DPI settings
[dpi]
default = 1000
min = 200
max = 8000

# Button remapping examples
[[devices]]
name = "MX Master 4"
hidpp_version = 4

[[devices.profiles]]
name = "Terminal"
app = "Terminal|iTerm2|Alacritty"
[[devices.profiles.bindings]]
button = "back"
action = "key:Cmd+Left"

[[devices.profiles.bindings]]
button = "forward"
action = "key:Cmd+Right"

[[devices.profiles.bindings]]
button = "smartshift"
action = "key:Alt+Left"

[[devices.profiles]]
name = "Browser"
app = "Chrome|Firefox|Safari"
[[devices.profiles.bindings]]
button = "back"
action = "key:Alt+Left"

[[devices.profiles.bindings]]
button = "forward"
action = "key:Alt+Right"

Changes take effect immediately after saving — no restart required.

Pitfalls: Real Issues I Hit with OpenLogi

Pitfall 1: Bluetooth less stable than Bolt receiver

When I connected MX Master 4 via Bluetooth, DPI commands occasionally dropped — especially during rapid DPI switches. Switching to the Logi Bolt USB receiver fixed this immediately. If your configured DPI shortcuts don't work, try the Bolt receiver first.

Pitfall 2: macOS 14 Sonoma permission issue

On macOS 14, after installing OpenLogi, the first launch may fail to capture keys. Fix: manually enable OpenLogi in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Symptom: remapped keys do nothing, but the mouse itself works fine.

Pitfall 3: Config file path doesn't exist by default

OpenLogi v0.6.2 reads ~/.config/openlogi/config.toml by default. If this directory doesn't exist on first install, create it manually:

mkdir -p ~/.config/openlogi
touch ~/.config/openlogi/config.toml

If you write the wrong path (e.g., ~/.openlogi/config.toml), the app silently uses defaults — no error message.

logiops: The Linux Open-Source Alternative

Core Information

logiops (github.com/PixelOne/logiops) is developed by PixlOne for Linux, written in C++, communicating with Logitech devices over HID++. Supports MX Master 3, MX Master 3S, MX Anywhere 3, and other mainstream models. Configuration is stored in /etc/logid.cfg (JSON format).

There's also logiops-rs (github.com/aydiler/logiops-rs), a Rust rewrite with the same functionality but lower memory footprint (~5MB vs logiops' ~15MB).

Practical note: logiops relies on an older codebase, and some newer mouse models may not be detected properly. If your mouse isn't recognized, try logiops-rs or use HID++ raw commands directly.

Installation (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt install logiops

For Fedora/RHEL-based systems, build from source:

git clone https://github.com/PixelOne/logiops.git
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make
sudo make install

Configuration File Structure

logiops uses JSON format at /etc/logid.cfg:

{
  "devices": [
    {
      "name": "MX Master 3S",
      "vendor": 1133,
      "product": 53075,
      "buttons": {
        "1": "left",
        "2": "right",
        "3": "middle",
        "8": "forward",
        "9": "back",
        "17": {
          "type": "key",
          "action": ["KEY_LEFTALT", "KEY_LEFT"]
        },
        "18": {
          "type": "key",
          "action": ["KEY_LEFTALT", "KEY_RIGHT"]
        }
      },
      "dpi": [
        800,
        1600
      ],
      "smartshift": {
        "on": true,
        "threshold": 15
      }
    }
  ]
}

Find your vendor and product values by running sudo logid — it outputs the detected device IDs.

Pitfalls: Real Issues I Hit with logiops

Pitfall 1: HIDraw device permission denied

The error [WARN] Error adding device /dev/hidraw2 is common. Fix by adding your user to the hidraw group:

sudo usermod -aG hidraw $USER
# Then log out and log back in, or reboot

Pitfall 2: Bolt receiver not detected as a mouse

Some distributions recognize the Bolt receiver as a keyboard rather than a mouse. To diagnose:

ls /dev/hidraw*
sudo logid -v

If the receiver is recognized as a keyboard, logid shows No DJ reports after detecting the receiver — this means the receiver uses DJ protocol, not HID++, and is not supported by logiops.

Pitfall 3: Config format errors are silently ignored

If your JSON has a syntax error, logid silently fails to start rather than reporting the error. Diagnose with:

systemctl status logid
journalctl -u logid -n 50

Common mistakes: trailing commas in JSON, misspelled key codes.

OpenLogi vs logiops Comparison

Real Programmer Setup: How I Configured Mine

On macOS, I use OpenLogi with two profiles:

Terminal/IDE Profile (auto-loaded when Terminal/iTerm2/Alacritty is active):

• Scroll wheel in line-mode (precise scrolling for code navigation)
• Thumb back/forward buttons mapped to Cmd+Left/Right (terminal directory navigation)
• Middle button mapped to Ctrl+C (copy, paste selected text with middle-click)

Browser Profile (auto-loaded when Chrome/Firefox is active):

• Scroll wheel restored to normal mode (fast web scrolling)
• Thumb buttons mapped to Alt+Left/Right (browser back/forward)
• SmartShift enabled for gesture-controlled acceleration

The profile switching is fully automatic — I switch between these scenarios dozens of times daily, and not having to manually toggle anything saves real friction.

Conclusion

If you're on macOS with a Logitech mouse, OpenLogi is the best open-source alternative available. One brew command to install, TOML config that's easy to read, no account, no telemetry.

If you're on Linux, logiops (C++ original) or logiops-rs (Rust rewrite) are your options. The C++ version is more battle-tested; the Rust version uses less memory. Both require comfortable command-line operation.

Windows users currently have no mature open-source alternative (OpenLogi's Windows version is in development, expected sometime in 2026).

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