Universal Control not working? Find the cause

Which problem do you have?

1. Check the setup is supported

Apple lists the requirements in Universal Control: Use a single keyboard and mouse between Mac and iPad. In short:

• Mac: macOS Monterey 12.4 or later, on most Macs from 2016 or later. Apple's article lists the exact models, including the exceptions.
• iPad: iPadOS 15.4 or later, on any iPad Pro, iPad (6th generation) or later, iPad Air (3rd generation) or later, or iPad mini (5th generation) or later.
• Every device: the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication; Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Handoff on; within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other.
• No internet sharing: the Mac can't be sharing its internet connection, and the iPad can't be sharing its cellular connection.

If a device isn't supported, no setting or app changes that.

2. Nothing connects

Work through these on each Mac:

1. Open System Settings → Displays, click Advanced and turn on Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad. Turn on Push through the edge of a display to connect to a nearby Mac or iPad too.
2. Make sure the devices are awake, unlocked and on the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Link by hand: click Control Center in the menu bar, click Display, then choose the other device under Link keyboard and mouse to.
4. Put each device to sleep and wake it again.
5. Turn Universal Control off on each device, restart them, then turn it on again.
6. Check for a VPN or third-party security software on either device, and make sure the Mac's firewall isn't blocking all incoming connections.
7. Install the latest macOS and iPadOS updates.

These are the steps Apple recommends. If the devices still don't see each other, Apple's page above is the place to continue. Universal Display Magnet can't create a link that macOS doesn't allow; until the Macs are linked, its Universal Control page asks you to link them in System Settings first.

3. It connects, then drops

Universal Control finds the other device over Bluetooth. When the signal keeps fading, it disconnects.

1. Move the devices closer. Apple suggests about 1 meter (3 feet) while you troubleshoot.
2. Look for interference. USB 3 hubs, drives and their cables near a Mac are common sources. Move them away, or move the Mac.
3. Check the requirements again after any macOS update.

Between Macs with Universal Display Magnet

If your Macs run Universal Display Magnet, two tools help with this case:

• Activity (⌘6) shows what Universal Control reports, in plain words: Bluetooth dropouts, Times Universal Control gave up and Keyboard/mouse events lost in the last hour, with a timeline. Frequent dropouts usually mean interference next to one of the Macs, or too much distance.
• Reset Universal Control restarts the services Universal Control runs on, on this Mac and over your network on your other Macs, then puts your arrangement back if it was lost. It takes about 10 seconds.

A reset gets a stuck connection going again. It doesn't remove the cause: if a hub is interfering or the Macs are too far apart, the link will drop again until you change that. Each other Mac needs Universal Display Magnet open to be reset over the network.

4. The pointer crosses at the wrong edge

The pointer crosses to the other device wherever their screens touch in the arrangement. If it leaves from the wrong side, or only at a corner, the arrangement is off.

In System Settings: open System Settings → Displays, click Arrange, and drag the image of the other device to where it really sits.

Between Macs with several displays: the System Settings view can make it hard to line up every Mac's screens. Universal Display Magnet's Universal Control page shows all their displays on one canvas, where Universal Control has them. Drag another Mac's displays and they snap flush against yours; the change applies on every Mac at once, and Undo Last Change puts the previous arrangement back. Universal Control keeps one link between each pair of Macs, and the app places it on the longest edge where their displays touch. The Universal Control feature page shows how it works.

This page uses a private macOS framework. The app checks for it at launch and hides the page if it's missing or different. It's verified on macOS 14 to 27; see compatibility.

iPad problems

Universal Display Magnet is a Mac app. It doesn't run on iPad, and its Universal Control tools work between Macs only. For an iPad, follow Apple's steps:

• On the iPad, open Settings → General → AirPlay & Continuity (AirPlay & Handoff on some versions) and turn on Cursor and Keyboard.
• Check the requirements and the steps in Apple's Universal Control article.

Before you ask for help

Note your macOS versions, the Mac models and which of the four cases above matches. If you use Universal Display Magnet, Activity can copy its timeline; it names your devices, so read it before you send it. More about setting up several Macs is in Universal Control between Macs.