How to Use Universal Control Across Macs and iPads

Connet to iCloud

Both your devices must be signed in to iCloud and share one Apple ID using two-factor authentication. It won’t work across devices signed into separate ‌Apple ID‌ accounts. For wireless use, you must enable Bluetooth, WiFi, and Handoff on both devices. They should be within 10 meters (30 feet) of one another and connected to the same network. The ‌iPad‌ and Mac must not share a cellular and internet connection. So the Mac can’t be tethered to the ‌iPad‌). Using a USB connection, the Mac must be trusted on the ‌iPad‌.

Adjust the settings

To set up Universal Control on your Mac, go to the Apple icon → System Preferences. Choose Displays. Click on Advanced to access Universal Control’s settings. 

 Use the Displays section12 of the Mac’s System Preferences to ensure Universal Control is working correctly. 

On the ‌iPad‌, if you go to Settings -> General -> AirPlay & Handoff, you can toggle off Cursor and Keyboard if you don’t want to use Universal Control.

Operate multiple devices

If, for instance, you are using an iPad Pro and a MacBook Pro, you can set them up next to each other and use the MacBook Pro’s keyboard and trackpad to work on the ‌iPad‌. You can also switch the devices’ roles by using the Magic Keyboard on your iPad‌, for example, to control and work on the Mac. Each device will still be running its respective operating system (macOS on the Mac and iPadOS on the ‌iPad‌), but you can use the same keyboard and mouse to work on both devices.

Using Universal Control

You can use one keyboard for both devices to type into text input fields like Notes or Safari. Best of all, you’ll be able to move material from one desktop to the other by simply dragging and dropping it. BUT, you’ll have to have an app open that’s compatible with the file type you are using on an ‌iPad‌ and a Mac. For example, if you want to transfer a picture from the Mac to the ‌iPad‌, ensure you first open the Photos app on the ‌iPad‌. It’s similar if you want to move a document: First open the iPad’s Files app.

Format support

The Mac’s desktop supports different file types, so dragging a file or photo from the ‌iPad‌ to the Mac is easy. The home screen on the iPad‌ does not support different file types. But the three-finger swipe between pages, and other macOS gestures, are compatible on the ‌iPad‌ since the Magic Keyboard supports these features. Some of the multitouch gestures (like Mission Control) aren’t available on iPad‌s. So, if, for instance, you open an app on the ‌iPad‌ and want to exit using the Mac’s trackpad, you can use a three-finger swipe. Or you can move across the dock with your mouse and swap apps.