How to use Universal Control for Apple devices – Easy Steps

This article explains how to use Universal Control for Apple devices, allowing you to use the same mouse and keyboard on your Mac and iPad.

How to use Universal Control for Apple devices

To use Universal Control, you need a Mac with at least macOS Monterey (11.7) and an iPad with iPadOS 15.4 or later. The feature is not available with earlier versions of any of the operating systems. If you have a compatible Mac and iPad, you can enable universal control by adjusting the settings for both.

Important : Mac and iPad must use the same iCloud account. If they use different iCloud accounts, Universal Control won’t work. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must also be enabled on both devices.

Here’s how to enable and use Universal Control:

1. On your Mac, select System preferences on the menu Apple.

2. Click Points of view.

3. Choose Control universal.

4. Check the box next to Let your cursor and keyboard move between any nearby Mac or iPad.

Note: If this box is already checked, you do not need to click it.

5. On your iPad, open settings.

6. Press General.

7. Select AirPlay and Transfer.

8. Touch switch cursor and keyboard to activate it.

9. Put your iPad near your Mac.

10. On your Mac, move the mouse pointer to an edge of the screen and keep moving it in that direction.

11. A bar will appear on the side of the screen, indicating that a connection has been established.

12. Keep moving the mouse in the same direction until it appears on the iPad screen.

13. When the mouse cursor is present on the iPad screen, your keyboard and mouse will work on the iPad.

14. To use your mouse and keyboard with your Mac, move the mouse cursor to the edge of the screen and keep moving it in the same direction until it appears on your Mac screen.

15. Repeat this process for up to two additional iPads.

Universal Control can remember up to three iPads, and moving the cursor off your Mac’s screen will automatically move it to the most recently used iPad.

What is Universal Control?

Universal Control is a feature based on the Continuity and Carryover features that were present in macOS and iOS for some time. In addition to the existing functionality of these features, Universal Control allows you to share a single mouse and keyboard between a Mac and one or more iPads.

You can share the built-in keyboard and trackpad from a MacBook to your iPad, wireless Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2 from your iMac to your iPad, or any other keyboard and mouse combo connected to a compatible Mac.

How does Universal Control work on Apple devices?

Once you’ve enabled Universal Control on your Mac and at least one iPad, moving the iPad closer to the Mac will cause the two to connect behind the scenes. At this point, you can move your mouse cursor to the side of the screen and keep moving it until it appears on your iPad. It works similar to moving your mouse between screens if you have multiple monitors, except it’s wireless and automatic.

Once the mouse cursor appears on your iPad, you can also use your Mac keyboard with iPad. Then, when you’re ready to start using your Mac again, simply move your mouse cursor to the edge of your iPad’s screen and keep moving until it reappears on your Mac’s screen. The mouse and keyboard will begin to work with the Mac again.

Note: Universal Control is not the same as extending your Mac screen to iPad using the Sidecar feature. Instead, Universal Control lets you use your existing mouse and keyboard to control Mac and iPad.

Dragging and dropping files between devices works the same way, except you have to click and drag a file before you move your mouse to the edge of the screen. Then when the mouse appears on the other device, you can drop the file and a copy will appear on the other device.

Universal Control uses proximity to determine connectivity and can have multiple devices connected. When you have multiple devices configured to use Universal Control, it will move the cursor to the most recently used device. So if you have multiple iPads connected to the same Mac via Universal Control, you can choose which one to send the mouse cursor to when you wake it up or press the touchscreen before moving the mouse.

conclusion

In this guide, you have learned how to use Universal Control for Apple devices. If you have any questions or suggestions, let us know in the comments. Also check this guide if you want to learn how to change your apple id profile picture.