How to Control Your iPad Using Your Mac

There aren’t really any “devices” in most science fiction. Characters move windows from one screen to the next, constantly, without thinking about it. Tech doesn’t work like that in real life—but it’s getting closer.

The latest operating systems from Apple make it possible to control your iPad using the mouse and keyboard on your Mac. It kind of makes these two devices into one, and it feels vaguely like the future.

This new feature, called Universal Control, is currently in beta. It’s not quite science-fiction levels of integration, but it feels close. It lets you drag files from your Mac over to applications on your iPad, or copy text on one device and paste it in the other.

Once you enable the feature, it’s automatic, meaning if your iPad is close to your Mac you will be able to control it. Here’s how to get started.

How to Enable Universal Control

This is a new, technically beta feature, and it won’t work with older Macs or iPads. Check the list of compatible devices, although any device made in the past four or so years should work. You’ll also need to install macOS 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 or later, if you haven’t yet, and sign in to iCloud on both devices.

With that out of the way, let’s turn this feature on. First, on your iPad, open Settings. Tap General, then AirPlay & Handoff.