Universal Control not working? This is the solution

In iOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3 (currently in beta), Apple introduced Universal Control, a feature designed to let you control multiple Macs and iPads using a single trackpad/mouse and keyboard. This article provides solutions to the most common problems encountered when making Universal Control work.

With Universal Control, you can use your primary Mac’s trackpad and keyboard to control other nearby Macs and/or iPads, meaning you don’t need to clutter your desk More than one set of input devices. But getting it to work can sometimes be problematic, especially the first time you try it.

Many of the solutions listed below are requirements that Universal Control needs to meet to work properly. Check each item to make sure you have set everything up correctly.

Mac and iPad Compatibility

First, Universal Control requires iPadOS 15.4 on iPad and macOS Monterey 12.3 on Mac. It is compatible with the following devices:

• MacBook Pro (2016 and newer)
• MacBook (2016 and newer)
• MacBook Air (2018 2018 and newer)
• iMac (2017 and later)
• iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, late 2015)
• iMac Pro, Mac mini (2018 2019 and newer)
• Mac Pro (2019)
• All iPad Pro models
• iPad Air (3rd generation and newer)
• iPad (6th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

Are all devices signed into your iCloud account?

All devices must be signed into the same iCloud account for Universal Control to work between them. It does not work on devices signed into a separate "Apple ID" account. You can make sure your Mac is signed in to iCloud by going to System Preferences -> Apple ID. On iPad, open Settings and click the Apple ID banner at the top of the main menu.

Universal Control is designed to be used with a nearby Mac and iPad, usually on the same table, so you can visually see the cursor move from the monitor to the adjacent device of. For this reason, your Mac and iPad need to be within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other for Universal Control to work.

Are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled?

Universal Control uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to communicate between devices for a seamless experience, so both wireless protocols need to be enabled on Mac and iPad. Additionally, all devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Is switching enabled?

Universal Control requires Handoff to be enabled on all devices. On a Mac, go to System Preferences -> General and make sure the box at the bottom is checked, next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.

On iPad, open Settings -> AirPlay & Handoff and turn on the switch next to Handoff. On the same screen, check that the switch is also in the green position next to Cursor and Keyboard (Beta).

Does the iPad share the cellular connection?

For Universal Control to work properly, neither iPad nor Mac can share cellular and Internet connections, so the Mac cannot connect to the iPad via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. Make sure to disable any network sharing using the options in Settings -> Personal Hotspot.

Are you using a sidecar?

Sidecar‌ and Universal Control are separate features, and some users have trouble getting them to work together.

If you use ‌Sidecar‌ to mirror or extend your Mac's display to an ‌iPad‌, Universal Control will not run on that iPad and may not run on another iPad to the Mac because There are some issues with the way the two features interact in beta. Use the Display panel in Mac Control Center to turn off Sidecar to prevent potential problems.

Do you use at least one Mac?

While Universal Control can be used with two or more Macs without an iPad, at least one Mac is required to use it with an iPad. In other words, two iPads without a Mac can't take advantage of Universal Control, but you can use the feature on multiple iPads if you have at least one Mac in the mix.

Problems with automatically reconnecting to nearby devices

The first time you use Universal Control, you can connect to a nearby Mac or iPad by pushing the trackpad or mouse cursor toward the edge of the other device's display. . You can then automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad in another session, but only if that setting is enabled (it's not enabled by default).

To enable automatic reconnect on your Mac, go to System Preferences -> Displays -> Display Settings -> Advanced and check Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad box next to it and click Finish.

Drag and Drop Issues

You can use Universal Control to drag and drop files between two devices, but please note that if you are using an iPad and a Mac, you will need to open a file type that is compatible with s application.

For example, if you want to drag photos from your Mac to your ‌iPad‌, make sure you open the Photos app on your ‌iPad‌ first. Or, if you have documents you want to move, open the Files app on your ‌iPad‌.

Dragging something from your ‌iPad‌ to your Mac is easier because the Mac's desktop supports different file types, unlike the ‌iPad‌'s home screen.

Issues Using Multi-Touch Gestures

Some multi-touch gestures, such as Mission Control, are not available on ‌iPad‌, and some are slightly different. If you open an app on your ‌iPad‌ and then want to exit using your Mac's trackpad, you can do so using a three-finger swipe. Alternatively, you can use your mouse to hover over the dock to bring it up to swap apps.

Problems using copy and paste

You can use a keyboard to copy and paste text from one device to another as long as it is an application that supports text input, but this The functionality doesn't seem to work properly with apps like Safari yet. Features such as copy/paste may receive some improvements during the beta testing process.

Display Arrangement Issues

If the cursor exits one monitor and appears on the other monitor in a position inconsistent with the physical arrangement of the two monitors, use the Displays section of Mac System Preferences to rearrange The way the device is laid out.

For example, if your ‌iPad‌ is on the left side of your Mac, you'll want to make sure the Display section shows that arrangement so that your Mac's cursor can pop up when you pop it off the left edge of your Mac. Pops onto the ‌iPad‌ display. Screen.

Problems using Apple Pencil

Universal Control does not work with Apple Pencil. Input and control are limited to a connected trackpad, mouse, and keyboard. A single mouse/trackpad and a single keyboard can be used to control multiple iPads and Macs.

Problems using iPhone

Universal Control is a feature designed specifically for Mac and iPad. You can't use your Mac or iPad's mouse/trackpad and keyboard to control your iPhone.

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