What Is Apple Universal Control & How to Use It (Mac and iPad)

Ever wanted to use the same mouse and keyboard on both your Mac and iPad without dealing with wires or juggling extra apps? That’s exactly what Universal Control lets you do. I’ll walk you through how I set it up, how it actually works day to day, and a few weird things I ran into.

What Is Universal Control?

Universal Control basically turns your Mac into a remote control station for up to two other Apple devices nearby. For me, that’s usually my iPad and sometimes a second Mac. Here’s what I can do with it:

• Move my cursor between screens like they’re one big display.
• Type on my iPad using my Mac’s keyboard.
• Drag files across devices like they’re butter.
• Copy something on one, paste it on the other.

Each device still runs its own thing: macOS is still macOS, iPad is still iPadOS.

Heads-up: this isn’t the same as Sidecar. Universal Control doesn’t make your iPad a second display. It’s more like a remote-control setup.

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System Requirements for Universal Control

This part tripped me up the first time. If it’s not working, it’s probably because one of these boxes isn’t checked:

• macOS Monterey 12.4 or later
• iPadOS 15.4 or later
• Devices within 30 feet of each other
• Same Apple ID on everything with two-factor authentication
• Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff all on

Here’s what devices it works with:

Supported Macs	Supported iPads
MacBook (2016+)	All iPad Pro models
MacBook Pro (2016+)	iPad (6th gen and later)
MacBook Air (2018+)	iPad Air (3rd gen and later)
iMac (2017+ or 27″ Retina 5K Late 2015)	iPad mini (5th gen and later)
Mac mini (2018+)
Mac Pro (2019+)
iMac Pro
Mac Studio

How to Turn On Universal Control

Setup only takes a couple minutes, assuming your devices are already on the latest software.

On Mac

Here’s what I did on my Mac:

1. Opened System Settings (or System Preferences if I was still on Monterey)
2. Go to Displays > Advanced
3. Enable Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad.
   

Optionally, you can also turn on Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad and Push through the edge of the display to connect a nearby Mac and iPad

On iPad

Then I had to flip the switch on my iPad:

1. Open Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity.
2. Turn on Cursor and Keyboard (This option will be visible when Handoff is enabled).
   

How to Use Universal Control

Once it’s turned on, using it is super easy. Here’s how I usually get things going.

Connect Your Devices

I just line my devices up on my desk and push the Mac cursor toward the iPad. If it’s working, the pointer kind of melts onto the second screen.

1. Position your devices close to each other.
2. Move your cursor to the edge of your Mac screen toward the other device.
3. Once you see the pointer appear on the second screen, push through to connect.

If it doesn’t connect: Open Displays > Add Display (+) and select your device under Link Keyboard and mouse to option.

Arrange Your Display

This part matters more than I thought. If you skip it, your cursor might jump in weird directions.

1. Open Displays > Arrange on your Mac.
2. Drag the device icons so they match their physical placement on your desk.
3. Test moving the pointer between screens to confirm alignment.
   

Use Your Keyboard, Mouse, or Trackpad Between Devices

Once linked, you can:

1. Move the cursor to the iPad—turns into a dot (until iPadOS 26 keeps it as a cursor)
2. Type straight into iPad apps with your Mac keyboard
3. Use gestures (see trackpad gestures for iPad) to scroll, access the Dock, or open Control Center.

Disconnect Your Devices

When I’m done, I usually just put the iPad to sleep. But you can also:

1. Go to Displays > Add Display (+) > Unlink.
2. To disconnect all devices: Press Control + Option + Command + Delete.
   

Tips to Get the Most Out of Universal Control

Some random tricks I’ve picked up:

• Use Sidecar on one iPad and Universal Control on another. Yes, you can do both.
• Keep secondary stuff like reference notes or timers on the iPad to stay focused.
• Add gestures or shortcuts with BetterTouchTool if you’re picky like me.
• Use the Display icon in the Mac’s top bar to check what’s connected.
• If the connection’s flaky, turning off Personal Hotspot helped me.

Troubleshooting Universal Control Not Working

If it’s acting weird, first check your OS version and make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are happy. VPNs can mess things up too. I had to disable mine once to get it working again.

Still stuck? There’s a whole Universal Control not working guide worth checking.

Universal Control vs. Sidecar: What’s the Difference?

These get lumped together, but they’re totally different tools.

• Sidecar makes your iPad an extra Mac display. You get more screen space, and Apple Pencil works with macOS apps. It hides iPadOS while active.
• Universal Control keeps each device doing its own thing, but you get to steer them all from one place. It’s more about controlling than extending. Great for file drops, typing everywhere, or using your Mac setup without juggling keyboards.

Final Thoughts

Once I got used to Universal Control, it felt like something that should’ve existed years ago. I don’t use it every day, but when I do, it’s a game-changer for juggling work across multiple Apple devices. Totally worth setting up if you’ve got the gear.

Got a favorite Universal Control tip? Drop it in the comments.

Related articles worth reading:

• How to Copy and Paste Between iPhone and Mac with Universal Clipboard
• A complete guide to AirDrop on iPhone and iPad
• How to Use FaceTime Handoff Across iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple TV