How to use Universal Control on your Mac and iPad

Universal Control is one of the The coolest software tricks Created by Apple years ago, it’s a perfect example of what’s possible when a company has complete control over both the hardware and software that runs on those devices. There are similar concepts, such as Logitech FlowThere is, however, nothing quite as polished or fully integrated at the OS level as Universal Control.

When using Universal Control, you can use your Mac’s keyboard and cursor to control the iPad next to it – and the opposite scenario works, too. If you have a Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, you can use this extension’s keyboard and trackpad to control your Mac.

To use Universal Control, your Mac must be running macOS 12.3 or later, and your iPad must be running iPadOS 15.4 or later. You can find out which devices are supported at the bottom of this page.

Before using Universal Control, make sure both your Mac and iPad are registered with the same Apple ID. Devices must be within 30 feet of each other with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff turned on. (Handoff can be enabled from the General section of Settings on both macOS and iPadOS.) Up to three devices can be used with Universal Control.

How to set up Universal Control on your Mac

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
2. He chooses Displays.
3. Click universal control at the bottom of the Displays existing.
4. Check the box for Allow the cursor and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad.
5. Check the box for Push across the edge of the screen to connect a nearby Mac or iPad.

How to set up Universal Control on iPad

1. Open Settings.
2. He chooses general.
3. He chooses Broadcast and delivery.
4. maybe Cursor and keyboard.

How to get started with Universal Control

1. Once the feature is enabled on both your Mac and iPad, place the two devices next to each other.
2. Move the pointer beyond the left or right edge of your screen in the same direction as the iPad or Mac you want to link to.
3. You should see an animation on this other device showing your Mac cursor “progressing” on its screen. Keep moving the cursor in the same direction, and Universal Control will be activated.

How to make Universal Control work better

If your mouse doesn’t line up where you want it while navigating between your Mac and iPad (or another Mac), you can adjust the position of the secondary device in macOS System Preferences.

1. Open System Preferences and click Displays.
2. Move your iPad or Mac’s secondary screen up or down (or left to right and vice versa) until you get exactly what you want.

Once you’re all set up, it’s time to start using Universal Control. You can use each device’s physical keyboard and pointer to control any Mac or iPad connected via Universal Control. It is also possible to seamlessly drag and drop files between macOS and iPadOS.

Macs that support Universal Control

• MacBook released in 2016 or later
• MacBook Pro released in 2016 or later
• MacBook Air released in 2018 or later
• Mac mini released in 2018 or later
• iMac introduced in 2017 or later, plus iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
• iMac Pro
• Mac Pro released in 2019 or later
• Mac studio

iPads that support Universal Control

• iPad Pro (all models)
• iPad (6th generation) or later
• iPad Air (3rd generation) or later
• iPad mini (5th generation) or later