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Use ipad to control mac5/19/2023 Also, I couldn't get the exact same keyboard layout on my MacBook and iPad, which threw me off when switching from one to the other. I don't use Apple's "Natural" scroll direction on my MacBook, meaning that scrolling went the opposite way on the iPad (in retrospect, now I see why Apple has made "Natural" scrolling the default). Sometimes the iPad would just disconnect from the MacBook, for no apparent reason. Some gestures, such as three-finger swipes, didn't work that well, though I did get better at it with practice. On the other hand, the experience was still just a bit too inconsistent for me to use daily. The MacBook Pro and iPad mini combo works, but there are numerous small issues. I like working outdoors, be it on a park bench or at a beach bar, and being able to work with a two-display setup at such spots was great (though I did get my share of sideways looks, indicating that I'm some sort of geeky showoff). Lugging a secondary display around is definitely less viable than carrying an iPad, which typically fits in the same bag as your MacBook. One cool use case for Universal Control with a MacBook/iPad combo is providing you with an almost-professional, multi-screen setup when on the go. It was also cool to be able to switch to an iPad app from my MacBook and just start typing on the keyboard, with copy and paste working, too. For example, bring the circular pointer to the line that shows up at the bottom of the iPad's display when an app is open, and the pointer will melt into the line, indicating that you can now drag it up to exit that app. On one level, it's fascinating how Apple managed to translate mouse/trackpad input into something that works on the iPad, which was primarily designed for your fingers and Apple Pencil. I tested Universal Control with my 13-inch, M1 MacBook Pro and the latest iPad mini to mixed results. When dragging a file from a Mac to an iPad, you must have the appropriate app open on the iPad (for example, Photos if you're dragging and dropping a photo), otherwise the iPad won't do anything with your file. You can, for example, drag files from one device to another, though there are limitations for this. The integration goes a bit deeper than simple mouse and keyboard sharing. The feature should be enabled by default after you update your devices to the latest OS, but you can manually disable or enable them by going to System Preferences > Displays > Universal Control.ĭepending on your workflow and setup, you might want to use Universal Control to always control several Macs and/or iPads with a single mouse and keyboard (you don't have to use Apple's mice and keyboards as third-party devices will work, too). You can also use both Sidecar and Universal Control with a USB cable if you prefer. Finally, the devices must not be tethered to each other. Devices have to be within 30 feet of each other, and they must meet the system requirements, which can be found here for Sidecar (opens in a new tab) and here for Universal Control (opens in a new tab) (scroll to the bottom). For example, if you have an iMac, an iPad, and a MacBook Pro, you can connect all three via Universal Control, and then launch and use native apps on the iMac and iPad, all from your MacBook Pro's keyboard and trackpad.īoth features require all devices to be signed in to the same Apple ID, and have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, and Handoff turned on. It can connect more than two devices and it works across (different) Macs - not only with a Mac and iPad combo. Universal Control is different in several key ways. You cannot run any software on the iPad itself, though you can start any app you want on your Mac and then drag its window to the iPad's display. You manage it as you would any secondary display using the "Display" menu in macOS' menu bar and, once enabled, the iPad simply provides more screen real estate. Sidecar lets you turn an iPad into a secondary display for your Mac. This is the part that will probably confuse most users: How is Universal Control different from Sidecar, which has been available since macOS Catalina? The two features are similar, but there are important differences. We tested the version that went live with the latest betas of iOS and macOS last week and here's what we've found. It's a feature that allows you to seamlessly control several Macs and iPads with one mouse and keyboard. Originally announced with the launch of macOS Monterey in June 2021, it took a while for Universal Control to actually become available to end users. Now that Apple's macOS 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 are here and available to everyone, it's time to check out one of the coolest new features they've brought us: Universal Control.
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