iOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3 (in beta) both have Universal Control, a feature that enables the use of a single trackpad/mouse or keyboard to control numerous Macs or iPads. The most frequent issues in getting Universal Control to operate are addressed in this article.
As a result of Universal Control, you no longer need a desk full of several keyboards, mice, and other input devices to utilise multiple Macs and/or iPads at once. The first time you attempt it, though, you may have difficulties getting it to function.
Many of the solutions described here are prerequisites for Universal Control to operate properly. Make sure everything is set up properly before moving on to the next one.
Mac and iPad Compatibility
To begin, an iPad running iOS 15.4 or a Mac running macOS Monterey 12.3 are both required for Universal Control to work. The following devices are compatible with this product:
- MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
- MacBook (2016 and later)
- MacBook Air (2018 and later)
- iMac (2017 and later)
- iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro, Mac mini (2018 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019)
- All iPad Pro models
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (6th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
Are All Devices Signed into Your iCloud Account?
A single iCloud account must be used across all devices for Universal Control to operate. It won’t work if you have several devices with different Apple IDs signed in. Go to System Preferences -> Apple ID to check sure your Mac is signed into iCloud. Open Settings on your iPad and hit the Apple ID banner at the top of the main menu to change your password.
What Is the Distant of the Devices?
You may utilise Universal Control with Macs and iPads on the same workstation so that you can watch the pointer travel from one monitor to another. As a result, in order for Universal Control to operate, Macs and iPads must be within 10 metres (30 feet) of one another.
Wireless connectivity options, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, are available.
Since Macs and iPads utilise Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to interact with one other, both of these wireless protocols must be enabled in order for Universal Control to work properly. All devices must also be on the same Wi-Fi network.
Is Handoff a feature that is available?
All devices must have Handoff enabled in order for Universal Control to work. Make sure the checkbox next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices is selected in System Preferences -> General.
The Handoff switch may be found in the iPad’s Settings -> AirPlay & Handoff menu. Verify that the switch adjacent to Cursor and Keyboard is likewise in the green position on the same screen (Beta).
How Do I Know If My iPad Is Sharing My Cellular Data Plan?
This means that tethering a Mac to an iPad through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a USB cable is not possible for Universal Control to operate. Disable tethering by going to Settings -> Personal Hotspot and selecting that option.
Is Sidecar Something You’re Using?
Some users have experienced issues getting Sidecar and Universal Control to function together.
In the beta, if you’re using Sidecar to mirror or expand your Mac’s display to an iPad, Universal Control will not function on that iPad and may not work on an other iPad to Mac, since there are difficulties with the way the two capabilities interact with one other Use the Display panel in your Mac’s Control Center to disable Sidecar, which might cause troubles.
Is There At Least One Mac In Your House?
While it is possible to utilise Universal Control with two or more Macs and no iPads, at least one Mac is needed to use it with iPads. To put it another way, if you don’t have at least one Mac in the mix, you can’t utilise Universal Control with two iPads.
The ability to reconnect to a nearby device is not working.
Pushing a trackpad or mouse pointer toward the other device’s display will allow you to connect to that device for the first time via Universal Control. Only if the option is enabled (it isn’t by default) will your Mac or iPad automatically rejoin when you start a new session.
Go to System Preferences -> Displays -> Display Settings- > Advanced, select the box next to Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad, then click Done to allow auto-reconnections on your Mac..
Drag and Drop Has Issues
To transfer files between two devices using Universal Control, you must have an app open that can handle the sort of file you’re transferring.
Open the Photos app on the iPad first before attempting to drag a photo from the Mac to the iPad. Open the Files app on your iPad if you wish to transfer a document.
Because the Mac desktop supports a wider variety of file formats than the iPad Home Screen, dragging an item from the iPad to the Mac is a much easier process.
Using Multi-Touch Gestures Has Its Drawbacks
It is not possible to use various multitouch gestures on an iPad, such as Mission Control. Using a three-finger swipe on the Mac’s trackpad, you may exit out of an iPad app that you’ve opened on the iPad. When using a mouse, you may also drag the dock up and down to switch between programmes.
Using Copy and Paste Can Be Dangerous
For applications that enable text input, you may copy and paste text across devices using the same keyboard, however this capability does not seem to be operating correctly with Safari. There is a good chance that copy/paste will be improved throughout the beta testing phase.
Problems With the Arrangement of the Display
Make use of the Displays section of your system preferences to reorganise the layout of your displays if you notice that your pointer is moving from one to another in a way that is not consistent with the actual arrangement of both displays.
Make sure the Displays section displays the arrangement of your Mac and iPad so that your Mac’s pointer may pop over to the iPad’s display when you pop it off the left side of the Mac’s screen.
Using the Apple Pencil may be problematic.
The Apple Pencil does not operate with Universal Control. You can’t use your phone or tablet for input or control. Multiple iPads and Macs may be controlled using a single mouse/trackpad and a single keyboard.
iPhone Not Working Correctly
A function called Universal Control is only available on the Mac and iPad. There is no way to utilise a Mac or iPad’s mouse/trackpad and keyboard to operate an iPhone.