What Is Apple Universal Control, All You Need to Know

What Is Apple Universal Control

Apple introduced support for Universal Control when iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 were released, allowing users to control multiple Macs and iPads with a single mouse or trackpad. macOS Monterey 12.3 were both in beta. Apple Universal Control Universal Control allows users to control their Mac and iPad with a single keyboard and mouse setup, enabling a seamless workflow between the two devices. This feature allows Macs and iPads to be controlled with a mouse and keyboard of each device.

With Universal Control, you can control multiple Macs or Macs and iPads with one cursor or keyboard, as long as they're signed into the same iCloud account and within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other.

Sure, what situations are those?

• Apple Universal Control is only compatible with Mac and iPad devices, and does not allow iPhone control with a single mouse or keyboard for Mac/iPad use.
• Universal Control allows users to control multiple Apple devices with a single mouse, keyboard, or trackpad, excluding Apple Pencil.
• Unfortunately, Universal Control does not work on Windows systems, but you can search for alternative solutions to find a suitable replacement. alternative applications to Universal Control on Windows.

Universal Control Supported Devices [Macs and iPads]

Apple Universal Control only works with specific devices and operating systems, requiring one Mac and up to two other Mac or iPad devices. It requires macOS Monterey 12.4 or later on the Mac, and compatible devices include Macs and iPads. No other devices or operating systems are supported.

• MacBook published in 2016 or later
• MacBook Pro published in 2016 or later
• MacBook Air published in 2018 or later
• Mac Mini published in 2018 or later
• iMac The iMac (21.5-inch, 2017) and iMac (27-inch, 2017) were published in 2017 or later, or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), iMac Pro.
• Mac Pro published in 2019 or later
• Mac Studio

Universal Control on iPads must be compatible with devices running iPadOS 15.4 or later, including.

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

How to Use Apple Universal Control

When using Universal Control, you can work across multiple devices by controlling your Mac's keyboard, mouse, or trackpad with one device, and each device shows its screen and apps, allowing you to easily move the pointer, type, and copy content between devices.

Note: If you want to mirror the desktop of your Mac or extend your iPad, use Sidecar instead.

To enable Apple Universal Control, follow these steps:

Turn on Apple Universal Control

To turn on Universal Control, ensure each device meets the system requirements and is signed in with the same Apple ID. Then, go to System Preferences on your Mac, click on Displays, and select the "Use as Separate Display" option.

Turn on Universal Control on Mac:

Step 1. Go to the Apple menu, and find System Settings/Preferences.

Step 2. Click Displays.

Step 3. If using macOS Ventura or later, click "Advanced" at the bottom of Settings.

Step 4. To enable the feature of allowing your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad, select the "Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad" option and toggle it on.

Turn on Universal Control on iPad:

Step 1. Open the Settings app.

Step 2. Tap General, then tap AirPlay & Handoff.

Step 3. To support Universal Control, turn on "Cursor and Keyboard", available only on iPad models.

Connect Your Mac and iPad

To connect devices to Universal Control, turn it on and follow the steps to connect devices nearby. This involves selecting the devices you want to use, such as a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad, and pairing them with Universal Control.

Step 1. Put your devices near each other when they're unlocked.

Step 2. To move the pointer past your screen's left or right edge, use your mouse or trackpad to drag it across the screen's edge. This action will cause the pointer to reappear on the opposite edge of the screen, allowing you to continue using your device as needed.

Step 3. Make the pointer through all screens.

If a prohibitory icon appears when you're dragging, you can't drop the item at the current location. Instead, use the keyboard to copy the object with "Command + C" and then paste it with "Command + V" on the other device, eliminating the need to remove it. This functionality is available when using any connected device's keyboard, mouse/trackpad while devices are connected with Universal Control.

Disconnect Your Mac and iPad

To disconnect a specific device from your Mac, you can take the following actions. First, click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.

• Put the device you want to divorce in sleep mode.
• To connect a Mac or iPad to your keyboard and mouse, go to the Control Center, click on "Display," and then select the device you want to link your keyboard and mouse to.

To disconnect all devices, you can press Control+Option+Command+Delete on your Mac keyboard. This will disconnect all devices and free up system resources.

Automatically Reconnect to a Nearby Device

To connect to nearby Mac/iPad devices, push the trackpad/mouse cursor to the edge of the display towards the other device. This will establish a connection, and after the first connection is made, you can automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad.

To enable automatic reconnections on Mac, go to System Preferences, choose Display Settings, and click Advanced, then check the box next to "reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad Automatically" and click Done.

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How to Fix Universal Control Not Working on Mac/iPad

To get Universal Control working, ensure your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and that the Universal Control app is installed on both the Mac and iPad. Also, check that the devices are discoverable and that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings are enabled on both devices. If you're still experiencing issues, try restarting both devices and the Universal Control app.

• To check the compatibility of the devices referred to Universal Control's Supported Devices, please visit the link mentioned before.
• Ensure all devices are signed in with the same Apple ID.
• Ensure that your Mac and iPad are within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other, and that Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff are enabled on both devices.
• To check if iPads and Macs share a cellular and internet connection, go to System Preferences on your Mac, click on Sharing, and then select Internet Sharing. If the iPad is connected to the Mac via Wi-Fi, it should show up in the list of devices.

Here are the problems that may happen when using Universal Control and their solutions:

• The issue with Drag and Drop on iPad is that you need to open the app compatible with the file type first, whereas on Mac, you can directly drag and drop files of different types onto the desktop. This limitation is due to the fact that the iPad's Home Screen only supports specific file types.
• Some multitouch gestures on an iPad are unavailable or slightly different from those on other devices, such as Mission Control.
• The "copy and paste" feature on apps like Safari still needs to be improved to prevent issues and inconsistencies.
• The cursor exits one display and appears on another, but its position doesn't align with the physical arrangement of both presentations. To fix this, go to your Mac's System Preferences and use the Displays section to rearrange your devices.

Apple Universal Control VS Sidecar

Sidecar, developed by Apple, allows users to use an iPad as an external display for a Mac, introduced as part of macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13. This feature enables users to either mirror their Mac's display to their iPad or use it in "extended mode" for an additional screen.

Differences Between Universal Control and Sidecar

The key difference between Sidecar and Universal Control lies in their functionality. Sidecar transforms your iPad into an external display for your Mac, essentially turning it into a second screen. In contrast, Universal Control allows you to use your Mac's trackpad, mouse, or keyboard to control your iPad, without mirroring the Mac's display. Instead, it enables you to utilize the full potential of your iPad with the added resources of your Mac.

Use Universal Control or Sidecar

If you frequently use Apple Pencil, consider using Sidecar. This feature allows you to utilize powerful Mac apps like Photoshop on your iPad with the Apple Pencil, making it an ideal choice for those who want to extend their Mac desktop space to their iPad's screen and don't require the features of iPadOS.

If your workflow involves using multiple Macs or you want to utilize the power of your iPad and Apple's creativity apps, consider using Universal Control. This feature allows you to use one keyboard/mouse for all devices, eliminating the need to manually switch.

Conclusion

Apple's Universal Control feature allows seamless control of multiple Macs and iPads using a single mouse, trackpad, or keyboard. To use it, simply turn on Universal Control on all devices, ensure settings are correct, and connect them. This enables effortless control of all devices with one input device.

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