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How to Share One Mouse and Keyboard Across Devices with Mac Universal Control

Tap a step to see how it works.

  1. Check the requirements

    Universal Control requires your Mac and iPad to be signed into the same Apple ID, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff turned on for both devices.

  2. Open Displays in System Settings

    On your Mac, go to System Settings > Displays and click the "Advanced" button.

  3. Turn on Universal Control

    Enable the option "Allow your cursor and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad."

  4. Place devices near each other

    Placing your Mac and iPad side by side lets the two screens recognize each other as connected.

  5. Move the cursor across the screen edge

    Push your cursor to the edge of your Mac's screen and it pauses briefly before moving onto the iPad's screen β€” keyboard input follows right along with it.

  6. Drag and drop files between devices

    With the cursor on the other device, dragging a file lets you move it directly between the two devices.

For anyone who works between a Mac and an iPad

If you're working on your Mac and suddenly need to check a note or sketch something on your iPad, Universal Control lets you move seamlessly between both devices with a single mouse and keyboard, without connecting anything extra.

Also check out customizing Mac trackpad gestures

If you want to make input feel even more natural across your devices, it's worth looking into customizing your Mac's trackpad gestures as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use it with three or more devices?

Yes β€” you can connect several iPads or other Macs to a single Mac and move your cursor between them in sequence.

What if the devices don't detect each other?

First check that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on and that both devices are signed in with the same Apple ID, then try placing the devices closer together.