How to use Universal Control on iPad and Mac – Wingdings Translator Online

We indicate all the instructions on the operation of Universal Control.

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Very recently along with the latest software update macOS 12.3 for Mac and all iterations are now available for download on the corresponding compatible devices. in these new updates the bitten apple logo signature has incorporated news very interesting such as the inclusion of more emojis, the function, the possibility of and the big star: UniversalControl.

Universal Control is an extremely useful feature that takes full advantage of compatibility with mouse and trackpad of the iPad, allowing users of Mac control your screen iPad or from another Mac from macOS. It is very easy to use! But it is possible that many users are unaware of how it works since it is a very recent novelty in macOS and iPadOS. In fact, at the time of writing this article it is currently in beta phase.

Therefore, in this guide we will not only explain how to use UniversalControl on your Mac and your iPad in great detail, but we will also talk about all compatible devices and the Apple ecosystem.

Guide Contents Index

Universal Control: what it is and how it works

Before beginning with the Universal Control user guide, let’s clarify the operation of this tool available in the Mac operating system for all those users who do not know what it is about.

Universal Control is a function present in macOS 12.3 that is used to control the iPad screen from the Mac through the keyboard, the mouse and/or of trackpad. It only works in that direction, that is, it does not allow you to control a Mac from the iPad. Although with Universal Control you can control a Mac from another Mac.

They exist on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, but Universal Control is different. Instead of mirroring the screen, it creates a shared system through which to run a hybrid control between macOS and iPadOS.

In a way, Universal Control is very similar to Universal Control since it also offers the ability to move the mouse pointer from one screen to another, but it doesn’t provide the option to turn the iPad into an external macOS display.

Universal Control Compatible Devices

Universal Control works on virtually all iPad and Mac models, plus you don’t need to download any packages, just download the latest updates.

This is the list of devices compatible with Universal Control:

MacBook from 2016 or later
MacBook Pro from 2016 or later
MacBook Air from 2018 or later
Mac mini from 2018 or later
iMac from 2017 or later
2017 iMac Pro
iMac Pro from 2019 or later
iPad Pro
iPad 6th generation or later
iPad Air 3rd generation or later
iPad mini 5th generation or later

Other system requirements: Universal Control works solely and exclusively on macOS 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4, the latest versions of the Mac and iPad operating systems, respectively.

It is imperative to note that for Universal Control to function properly, both devices (iPad and Mac) must have the same Apple ID session started through .

How to activate Universal Control on Mac and iPad

Enabling Universal Control from a Mac is super easy, but first you need to make sure your Mac and iPad are turned on, Wi-Fi turned on, Bluetooth turned on, screen unlocked, and in close proximity to each other. Universal Control has a range of 10 meters.

Turn on the Universal Control feature on your iPad:

1. Open Settings.

2. Go to the General section.

3. Access the AirPlay and Handoff section.

4. Activate Handoff.

5. Activates the Cursor and keyboard function.

Follow these steps to turn on Universal Control on macOS 12.3:

1. Activate the Control Center from the menu bar.

2. Then click on “Duplicate screen”.

3. The next thing you should do is click on “Screens preferences panel”.

4. Then click on Universal Control.

Finally enable the functions you want convenient:

Make the cursor and keyboard usable on any nearby Mac or iPad.
Move your cursor across the edge of a screen to connect to a nearby Mac or iPad.

This is another more accessible method to activate the function from the Control Center:

1. Enable the Control Center in the menu bar.

2. Click on the monitor-shaped icon in the “Display” panel.

3. Select your iPad in the “Pair keyboard and mouse to:” section.

On the other hand, you can also access the Displays preferences from the menu bar by clicking on the Apple logo () > System Preferences > Displays.

How to Disconnect Universal Control on Mac and iPad

When you lock the iPad screen, the Universal Control feature is temporarily disabled but not indefinitely. To completely disconnect Universal Control you must follow the following steps:

1. Enable Control Center in the menu bar of your Mac.

2. Then click on the Screen panel.

3. Disable your iPad in the “Pair keyboard and mouse to:” section.

Additionally you can also disconnect all devices with the key combination “control + option + delete”.

How Universal Control works

The operation of Universal Control is quite simple, it does not have a very complex mechanics of use. Or, at least, it’s not as complex as turning it on, which is somewhat tangled up among the screen mirroring features in macOS Control Center.

Be that as it may, to use Universal Control you simply have to “hover” the mouse pointer from one screen to another, sliding it to the edge until you see how the cursor crosses from one screen to another. It is as simple as it is fun to use.

Once you’ve connected your Mac and iPad with Universal Control, you’ll be able to choose which side of the screen you can hover from macOS to iPadOS, and of course you’ll also be able to use the keyboard for typing and arrow navigation in the iPad’s (or another Mac’s) operating system. It’s super useful!

Other Universal Control Features

There are a few noteworthy little utilities within the Universal Control feature, such as the ability to automatically connect your keyboard and mouse to any nearby iPad or Mac, and the option to use touch gestures on the trackpad Mac to control an iPad or another Mac.

Touch gestures in the use of Universal Control

One of the most pleasant surprises of the arrival of Universal Control to iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 is the support for touch gestures. Mac and iPad users will be able to perform touch gestures on the trackpad to control the mechanics of iPadOS.

In this way it is possible swipe three fingers up or down to enable or disable the Control Center, swipe two fingers Swipe up and down in Control Center to adjust volume or screen brightness or close apps by swiping up with two fingers on the trackpad.

How to drag files between Mac and iPad

Another of the possibilities that Universal Control leaves us is transfer files in a very comfortable way from one screen (Mac) to another (iPad). Unfortunately, for obvious incompatibility reasons, not all files can be dragged from macOS to iPadOS, in which case a forbidden symbol will appear on the cursor.

But, for example, Universal Control allows you to transfer photos from macOS to the Messages app on the iPad or from the Finder app on the Mac to the Files app on the iPad with drag and drop.