share keyboard and mouse between two macs

Apps, in turn, work best for single-screen focused tasks like entertainment, communication, social media, and more. What is Universal Control’s top use case?įor me and I believe for many, the iPad’s system handles mobile apps much better than the Mac. People found Sidebar particularly handy because it allowed them to easily transform their iPad, which would usually lie dormant when they were working, into an external monitor for their Mac. All its executives could do at the launch was marvel at how smoothly the cursor moved between screens. But who is it for?Įven Apple, in its promotions, hasn’t demonstrated a real workflow for Universal Control. The question remains, though: why would you want iPadOS while you’re busily working on your Mac? Sure, it’s a cool software trick, and it makes for a charming demo, and yes, it works seamlessly as if your devices are one. I’ve been testing Universal Control for weeks now since it was in beta, and not once have the controls stuttered or lagged. Your input peripherals link up automatically with all the devices over your Apple ID. There’s no additional pairing process, and it’s not limited to wireless accessories either. Give the cursor a final push-in, and voila, it’s hovering on the iPad. As the cursor disappears from your Mac, you’ll see it trying to break into your iPad’s display. Once it’s up and running on your machines, all you have to do is move the cursor beyond the edge of your Mac’s screen towards where your iPad or another Mac is stationed. The way Universal Control works is also delightful, especially when you try it for the very first time.

Think of it as multitasking across operating systems, not just apps and windows. Your iPad’s still running iPadOS and your Mac’s on macOS. They don’t turn into extended screens for your primary Mac like with Sidebar, which allows you to employ your iPad as a portable monitor for your Mac. What truly makes Universal Control remarkable is that all the connected devices are still in their own space.

Share keyboard and mouse between two macs