How to Use Universal Control

If you use a Mac and an iPad at the same time, Universal Control from Apple allows you to control both devices from a single keyboard and mouse or trackpad. With this brilliant feature you can use both devices perfectly together while retaining their individual capabilities.

On Apple’s website, you’ll find a support note on the setup and basic usage. There is also a paragraph about the Universal Control system requirements, where you can check if Universal Control is available for your devices and operating systems.

When using Universal Control, you can do some pretty useful things, e.g., drag and drop items from one device to another. Say, you’re composing an email on your iPad and have screen captures on your Mac’s desktop. Simply select them on the Mac, then drag them to the iPad and insert them into you email draft.

Or maybe you’re reading through a PDF in DEVONthink To Go. Just move the cursor back to the Mac, and type up some notes in a document in DEVONthink, all using the iPad’s keyboard! Or if you’re on the Mac and want to change the page on the iPad, move the cursor back to the iPad, and use the Mac’s trackpad, arrow keys, etc., to move around the document. Side-by-side, this can feel very seamless once you get used to moving the cursor beyond the edge of your screens.

A small note: Universal Control is currently only available on the iPad, not on the iPhone.