How to use Universal Control on Mac and iPad

Before you try to use Universal Control, it’s important to note the requirements and devices you need.

Once you meet the above requirements, you’ll need to turn on Universal Control on your devices. Starting with MacOS, follow these steps.

Step 1: Open your System preferences using the Apple icon in the menu bar or the System preferences icon in your Dock.

Step 2: Select Displays.

Step 3: Pick Universal control to display its settings.

Step 4: Check the first box to allow your pointer and keyboard to move between your devices, along with the second box to push through the edge of the display to connect.

Optionally, select the final checkbox to automatically reconnect the same devices in the future.

Step 5: Select Done.

Turning on Universal Control on your iPad takes only a few taps.

Step 1: Open Settings and select General.

Step 2: Choose AirPlay and handoff.

Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Cursor and keyboard.

Whether you’re planning to use Universal Control between two Macs or one Mac and an iPad, you’ll need to link them to each other.

Step 1: Make sure both devices are awake, unlocked, and near each other.

Step 2: Use your mouse or trackpad to move your cursor from your Mac to the second device by sliding it to the furthest right of your screen.

Step 3: You should see the cursor on the second device on the left side of its screen. Continue moving the cursor to the right until it fully displays on the second device.

After you link your devices, you’ll see the cursor display on iPad as a small dot.

Step 1: Press your mouse button or trackpad on an item or app to open it the same as if you were to tap it. You can also press and hold the same way you would normally tap and hold on iPad to select and move items.

Step 2: In addition, here are several common tasks using your Mac’s mouse or keyboard on your iPad.

• Go to the home screen: While in an open app, move the cursor past the bottom of the screen and continue until you see the home screen.
• Open the App Switcher: Move the cursor past the bottom of the screen and continue until you see the App Switcher.
• Open the Control Center: Select the Status icons in the upper-right corner.
• Open the Dock: Move the cursor to the bottom of the screen.
• Open the Notification Center: Select the Date and time in the upper-left corner.
• Open the Search: Scroll down on the home screen.

Step 3: To use your Mac’s keyboard to type in an app like Messages, Notes, or Reminders, simply begin typing.

Step 4: To return to your iPad’s keyboard, select the Keyboard icon in the bottom-left corner and pick Show keyboard.

You can drag and drop between two Macs or a Mac and iPad with Universal Control, making it a multitasker’s dream. You can use this action with the mouse or trackpad just like dragging and dropping items on the device itself.

Here are a few examples for using this feature:

• Drag a file from Finder on Mac to the Files app on iPad.
• Drag an image from Mail on iPad to your Mac desktop.
• Drag a photo from Mac to the Messages app on iPad.
• Drag a sketch from Notes on iPad to a document on Mac.

If you want to stop using Universal Control on one device, you can simply put that device to sleep. Alternatively, you can disconnect all devices using Control + Option + Command + Delete.

To disconnect your iPad from your Mac specifically, follow these steps.

Step 1: Open your Mac’s Control Center.

Step 2: Select Display.

Step 3: Choose your iPad to deselect it.