Universal Control feature will finally come out of beta when you get the free updates on your iPad and MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini when Apple releases iPadOS 15.5 and macOS Monterey 12.4, which means Apple thinks it’s solid enough for everyone to use rather than just brave beta testers. It’s one of those technologies that seems a little bit like magic, and I’ve used it with my M1 MacBook Pro and my iPad Air.
The beta designation on Universal Control has been removed in the release candidates of the two OS upgrades, according to MacRumors. After working through the major improvements, Apple utilizes release candidates to detect any last-minute problems or hiccups, so the updates should be arriving shortly.
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Apple gadgets have always worked nicely together, but with the Mac and iPad, Universal Control pushes things much farther. It allows you to utilize your Mac’s keyboard and trackpad (or wireless mouse) with your iPad, thereby turning it into a secondary display. Just as with a multi-monitor configuration, you just move your pointer from the screen of your Mac and onto the screen of your iPad. It enables moving files from your Mac to your iPad as simple as dragging and dropping. AirDrop, a web-based service (such as iCloud or Dropbox), or an external hard drive are not required.
Universal Control is straightforward to use, but there are a few prerequisites. Both your Mac and iPad must be linked to the same Apple ID and have two-factor authentication enabled. (Managed Apple IDs, such as those used to borrow a Mac or iPad from school, are not supported.) They must also be running very recent software.
If you have a Mac and an iPad, you’re in luck. After that, make sure they’re close enough to each other (within 30 feet) and that all of their wireless capabilities (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff) are switched on.
