How to Use Mac’s Keyboard or Trackpad with iPad

In a move to promote enhanced productivity and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, Apple introduced a game-changing feature called Universal Control for iPads. And one of its major functionalities includes the ability to use your Mac’s keyboard, trackpad, and pointer with your iPad. Thus, it revolutionizes the way you interact with your Mac and iPad at the same time. That said, let’s learn how to set up Universal Control and use the Mac’s keyboard, trackpad, and pointer with your iPad.

What is Universal Control on Mac and iPad?

Built on the Continuity feature that Apple has had for years, Universal Control serves as a bridge between your Mac and iPad. It allows you to move the pointer across your Mac and iPad screens seamlessly as if they are one continuous display. This offers you a unified experience between the two devices, as you won’t need to physically switch peripherals or toggle between modes.

Yeah, the Sidecar feature also allows you to do the same, but Universal Control takes things a little further. The fundamental difference lies in their core functionalities. Universal Control facilitates a shared interaction, letting you use a single set of peripherals across devices, whileSidecar extends the Mac’s display to the iPad, leveraging the iPad as an extended display or input device, especially for creative tasks.

iPad and Mac Compatible with Universal Control

To use Universal Control, make sure you meet the following requirements:

Compatible iPads

Compatible Macs

How to Share Mac’s Keyboard and Trackpad with iPad

While many would think it would be a complex process, it is pretty straightforward in reality. Start by ensuring both your Mac and iPad are updated with the latest available software. Then, position the iPad within proximity to your Mac.

Step 1: Turn On Handoff

Enabling the cursor & keyboard toggle will allow you to use the keyboard and mouse connected to your iPad on nearby Macs signed in with the same Apple ID, or vice-versa.

Step 2: Enable Universal Control for mouse and keyboard on Mac

Step 3: Use Mac’s Mouse, Trackpad, and Keyboard on iPad

Once you have enabled the“Automatic reconnect to nearby Mac or iPad”setting, any Mac or iPad you previously connected with your Mac will automatically get reconnected to it.

Now, if the previously connected iPad is in close proximity to your Mac,drag the Mac’s pointer toward the screen’s edge(depending on the setup you’ve previously used, I will get back to this later).

Once the pointer is at the edge of your Mac’s display, you will see an animation on the edge of your iPad’s display, indicating something is trying to pop out. Keep dragging the pointer further, and you will see the cursor appear on the iPad’s display.

To use the same keyboard across both devices, simply open any text box or a document on your iPad and start typing on your Mac’s keyboard, and you will see the text appear on your iPad.

To use your iPad’s virtual keyboard again, tap the Keyboard button at the bottom, thenchoose the Show Keyboard optionin the pop-up menu that appears.

If dragging the pointer across devices isn’t working, it means your iPad isn’t connected to your Mac. To do so, head to Display Settings on your Mac, then click the Downwards Arrow button and select your iPad under the “Link Keyboard & Mouse to” section.

How to Change the iPad and Mac Display Order

Once you have connected your iPad display with your Mac, you can arrange the order of both displays per your preference. Here’s how you do it:

Mac Trackpad Gestures You Can Use on iPad

Once you move your Mac’s pointer to your iPad display, the pointer transforms into a translucent dot. The dot signifiesyourfinger touch(as the iPad is a touch-based device). While you can use pretty much every trackpad gesture on both devices, there are a few special Mac trackpad gestures you can use to enhance the navigation and functionality on your iPad.

And that’s it. This is how you can make use of Universal Control to use Mac’s keyboard and trackpad on your iPad, marking a significant leap in cross-device functionality. Planning to use this feature on your Mac and iPad regularly? Do share your experience with us in the comments below.

Vikhyat Rishi

Vikhyat has a bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Communication Engineering and over five years of writing experience. His passion for technology and Apple products led him to Beebom, where he specializes in writing App features, How To’s and app troubleshooting guides for fellow Apple users. When not typing away on his MacBook Pro, he loves exploring the real world.

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