Universal Control is a powerful feature for Mac and iPad that enables you to use the same keyboard and mouse or trackpad across multiple devices. While sharing input devices is already quite convenient, there are several additional tips and tricks available within Universal Control that you may not be aware of. In this article, we’ll explore some of those useful features.

From copying and pasting content between devices, dragging and dropping files, using keyboard shortcuts seamlessly, adjusting display arrangements to match your physical setup, utilizing gestures, reconnecting devices automatically, and more—read on to discover a variety of handy tips and tricks for Universal Control on both macOS and iPadOS.

Assuming you've already enabled Universal Control on your compatible Macs and iPads, you're ready to dive in. Let’s take a look at some of the more advanced capabilities beyond just sharing a keyboard and mouse.

1: Copy & Paste Between Macs and iPads

Copying and pasting between connected devices is as simple as selecting the desired text or image and then pasting it onto the target device.

Just move your cursor to the source device, select what you want to copy, then move the cursor to the destination device and paste. Whether it's text or an image, this function works smoothly.

2: Drag & Drop Files Between Macs and iPads

You can easily drag and drop files between Macs, or from a Mac to an iPad (and vice versa), particularly within the Files app.

Dragging files to a Mac is very straightforward—you can place them directly on the desktop or into any folder.

However, when transferring files to an iPad, you must be inside the iPadOS Files app or the Photos app for images and videos.

3: Keyboard Shortcuts Work Across Devices

Need to use a keyboard shortcut like opening Spotlight or launching an app? No problem—the keyboard shortcuts follow your cursor.

Simply move your cursor over to the desired Mac or iPad and execute the shortcut as usual. Even volume controls work across devices—for the most part. For example, you can adjust the iPad’s system volume via the Mac keyboard or Touch Bar while on the Home Screen, though some apps like Spotify may not yet support this functionality. These issues are likely to improve over time.

4: Many Gestures Work Across Mac and iPad

Many familiar iPad gestures also work with Universal Control when using a trackpad from a Mac. These include three-finger swipes to switch apps, two-finger scrolls, three-finger swipe up to go to the Home Screen, and three-finger swipe up and pause to open Mission Control. Give them a try!

5: Arrange Display Orientation to Match Your Setup

To make navigation intuitive, it's highly recommended to arrange the displays in Universal Control to reflect your physical layout. This can be done easily in the Displays System Preferences panel on your Mac. Simply click and drag each display icon to match their real-world positions. If you have a Mac to the right and an iPad to the left, just reposition them accordingly.

6: Quickly Disconnect Devices from the Menu Bar

You can disconnect a device from Universal Control quickly by clicking the Displays menu bar icon on your Mac and choosing which device to disconnect.

Additionally, devices will automatically disconnect when moved far enough away from the primary Mac, so you don’t need to manually disconnect them if you're taking your laptop or iPad elsewhere.

7: Devices Reconnect Automatically When Nearby

Macs and iPads will automatically reconnect to Universal Control once they’re back within range, provided that setting is enabled.

To enable this, go to ? Apple menu > System Settings / Preferences > Displays > Advanced / Universal Control, and ensure the option 'Automatically reconnect any nearby Mac or iPad' is turned on.

Here’s how the Universal Control settings appear in macOS Ventura and later versions:

And here’s what they look like in macOS Monterey:

This feature is especially helpful if you frequently take your laptop or iPad away from your main workstation, as they'll reconnect automatically when you return.

8: Use an iPad with Magic Keyboard to Control a Mac

While many assume only the primary Mac can control other devices, the reverse is also possible.

For instance, if you're using an iPad equipped with a Magic Keyboard, you can move your cursor over to a Mac and control it normally using the keyboard and trackpad.

9: Universal Control Works With Multiple Macs Only

If you only own Macs, that’s perfectly fine—Universal Control still works great without needing an iPad.

Imagine having a desktop iMac as your main workstation, along with a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air. You can seamlessly control all these Macs using one keyboard and mouse.

As long as each Mac is running macOS Monterey 12.3 or newer, you’ll have access to this feature.

This is incredibly useful and functions similarly to third-party tools like Synergy or Barrier, which previously offered this capability (and still do for cross-platform setups involving Windows and Mac).

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What’s your experience with Universal Control? Are you currently using it across your Mac and iPad devices? Do you have any additional tips or tricks to share? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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