With Apple’s universal controls, iPads and Macs will work better together than ever before.
Apple has done a lot to make its devices compatible. From iCloud to Sidecar, iPads and MacBooks can easily be used in tandem.
But a new feature in MacOS Monterey is about to make it easier for Apple devices to work together. Universal Control will allow different Apple devices to share a keyboard and mouse. This means you can drag the cursor between the iPad and the Mac.
What can you do with Universal Controls on Mac and iPad?
As mentioned above, Universal Control lets you use a keyboard and mouse on an iPad, MacBook, and/or iMac at the same time.
These devices only need to be running the latest operating system updates (once MacOS Monterey and iPados 15 are available).
No matter what device the keyboard and mouse are connected to, they just need to connect to each other in the Universal Control.
How do I use common controls?
Starting Universal Control is very simple. Simply place the devices side by side and move the cursor from the edge of one screen to the edge of the other.
The first time a device is connected in the Universal Control, a bar appears on the screen of the second device indicating that the cursor has been detected. Just move the cursor around and pop it up on the second device.
Once this entry occurs once, it can be moved seamlessly between devices throughout the work session. As you move between devices, you will be able to type and click freely.
So, with Universal Control, you can process the Pages document on the MacBook and then go to the iPad to grab the images drawn on it for inclusion. You can also edit video on the iMac and grab images and clips from the iPad and MacBook as needed.
However, common control does not have to be just moving files between devices. It’s also handy if you want to use more than one monitor. You can scroll your scripts on one device while keeping your presentation on another, giving yourself a larger digital workspace.
Gestures on the MacBook trackpad also work on the iPad with universal controls, as do keyboard shortcuts. As a result, different devices can be used slightly differently, and are more coordinated than ever before.
General control with sidecar
Universal Control is a nice new feature, but it’s not the first feature Apple has created to help the Mac and iPad work as a unit.
Apple’s SideCar feature, available in MacOS Big Sur, allows users to send or drag application Windows from their Mac computers to the iPad. It basically makes the iPad the Mac’s second monitor — but with a touch screen.
This allows certain Mac applications to be used differently or more interactively when Sidecar is activated. It’s great for art apps on the Mac, especially if the user has an Apple Pencil.
It also creates a larger digital workspace, just like the Universal Control. When Sidecar is activated, the MacBook’s trackpad and keyboard can also be used on the iPad.
Sidecar, however, doesn’t allow the use of trackpads and keyboards on iPad apps. It only works with Mac apps and Windows that you drag or send to the iPad to use there.
Sidecar opens as a separate app on the iPad. When you use the Sidecar application, the iPad is an extension to the Mac. When you exit or turn it off to use other apps, the iPad becomes a separate device again.
General-purpose control bridge equipment division. It lets Macs and iPads communicate, so you can use the strengths and features of each device at the same time, rather than having to select them in turn.
In short, Sidecar aims to give the Mac more screen real estate, especially when on the road or when you want to use a touch screen in a Mac application. Common controls can be used when using both iPad and Mac applications and when you want to simplify file sharing between devices.
Adds to device continuity
Universal controls are a feature that Apple has long made its devices work together. It fills niches that haven’t been fully covered by features like Sidecar and AirDrop file-sharing, and it makes the iPad and Mac work together more seamlessly than ever before.