The Two-Screen Disconnect
You have a MacBook Pro sitting on your desk, and you just propped up your new iPad Pro right next to it. You want to drag a photo from your iPad’s camera roll directly into a document you are editing on your Mac. Historically, this meant AirDropping the file to yourself, waiting for the notification, accepting it, and then moving it to the right folder.
Furthermore, if you want to type an email on the iPad, you have to take your hands off your Mac’s premium keyboard, reach over to the iPad, and awkwardly tap on the glass screen. The two devices sit inches away from each other, yet they exist in entirely separate software universes.
Apple completely eradicated this physical barrier by introducing a feature called Universal Control. When activated, the operating systems of the Mac and the iPad fuse together. You can physically push your Mac’s mouse cursor off the edge of your laptop screen, and it will magically appear on the iPad screen. You can then use your Mac’s trackpad and keyboard to control the iPad, drag files directly between the two screens, and type on both devices seamlessly without any cables or third-party apps.
Hardware and Software Requirements
Because this feature relies on complex Bluetooth and Wi-Fi handshakes, it requires relatively modern hardware.
- Mac: Must be a 2016 model or newer, running macOS Monterey 12.4 or later.
- iPad: Must be an iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd gen+), iPad (6th gen+), or iPad mini (5th gen+), running iPadOS 15.4 or later.
- Crucial Requirement: Both devices MUST be signed into the exact same Apple ID using two-factor authentication, and they must be within 10 meters of each other with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on.
Enabling Universal Control
The beauty of Universal Control is that it usually requires zero setup; it is often enabled by default if you meet the requirements. However, if it isn’t working, check the settings on your Mac.
- On your Mac, click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner and select System Settings.
- Click on Displays in the sidebar.
- Click the Advanced… button at the bottom of the window.
- Ensure the toggle for “Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad” is turned On.
Also, ensure the companion setting, “Push through the edge of a display to connect,” is checked.
Breaking the Screen Barrier
To use the feature, simply place your iPad next to your Mac and wake up both screens.
- Using your Mac’s trackpad, move your cursor all the way to the edge of the screen (in the physical direction where the iPad is sitting).
- Keep pushing the cursor against the invisible wall. You will feel a slight “resistance,” and a small grey bar will appear on the edge of the iPad screen.
- Push one more time, and the cursor will “pop” through the barrier, landing directly on the iPad.
How to Use It
Now that the cursor is on the iPad, your Mac’s keyboard and trackpad are completely slaved to the tablet.
- Typing: Open the Messages app on the iPad and start typing. The text will appear instantly, using your Mac’s physical keyboard.
- Gestures: You can use two fingers on the Mac trackpad to scroll through iPad web pages, or three fingers to swipe up and go to the iPad’s Home Screen.
- File Transfer: The most powerful feature. You can click and hold an image in the iPad’s Photos app, drag it all the way across the iPad screen, push it through the barrier, and drop it directly onto your Mac’s desktop. The file transfers instantly over Wi-Fi Direct.
Conclusion
Stop treating your Mac and iPad as isolated islands. By utilizing macOS Universal Control, you can fuse your Apple devices into a single, unified workstation, controlling everything with one keyboard and mouse.