Once enabled, you can use your iPad as a trackpad for Mac by simply pushing your Mac's pointer past the screen edge toward your unlocked iPad, no extra apps or cables required.
What you need to use iPad as trackpad for Mac
Universal Control is the built-in Apple feature that makes this work. It lets you use the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad of your Mac to control up to two other nearby Mac or iPad devices.
- Hardware: A compatible Mac and iPad. Both devices must be near each other, awake, and unlocked.
- Software: macOS Monterey 12.3 or later on your Mac, and iPadOS 15.4 or later on your iPad.
- Apple Account: Both devices must be signed in to the same Apple Account using two-factor authentication.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, and Handoff must be turned on for both devices.
- No connection sharing: Your iPad must not be sharing its cellular connection, and your Mac must not be sharing its internet connection.
- For Macs without built-in trackpad/keyboard: If your Mac doesn't have a built-in trackpad or keyboard, you must connect a keyboard and mouse or trackpad to your Mac first to initiate the connection.
How to enable Universal Control on your Mac
Before you can use your iPad as a trackpad, you need to turn on the pointer movement setting on your Mac. Here's exactly how:
- From the Apple menu , choose System Settings (or System Preferences if using macOS 12.5 or earlier).
- Click Displays in the sidebar.
- If using macOS Ventura 13 or later, click the Advanced button at the bottom of the settings window.
- Turn on "Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad."
- Leave other Universal Control settings turned on for now.
Connect your iPad and Mac
Once Universal Control is enabled, connecting your devices is a physical action, not a menu option. Here's how to trigger the connection:
- Put your iPad and Mac near each other. Make sure both are awake and unlocked.
- On your Mac, use your mouse or trackpad to move the pointer past the left or right edge of your Mac's screen in the general direction of the iPad.
- As you move the pointer past the edge, the iPad will show the pointer beginning to push through to its screen.
- To connect to that device, push the pointer all the way through.
You can arrange your displays more precisely later in Displays settings on your Mac, but this edge-push method is the core connection trigger.
Use your iPad touchscreen as a Mac trackpad
Once connected, moving a finger on the iPad screen now controls the Mac cursor. The iPad's screen becomes a virtual trackpad surface, so you can use these gestures:
- Single-tap: Performs a left-click on your Mac.
- Two-finger tap: Performs a right-click or secondary click.
- Two-finger swipe: Scrolls through documents, webpages, and lists.
- Three-finger swipe up: Opens Mission Control on your Mac.
- Two-finger pinch: Zooms in or out on documents, images, and webpages.
This gives you the convenience of touch control combined with the precision of cursor manipulation, so you can edit documents, design graphics, or browse the web with a fluid, intuitive workflow.
iPad trackpad vs. Sidecar: what’s the difference?
Universal Control lets the iPad act as an input device for the Mac, your iPad screen becomes a trackpad that controls the Mac's cursor. Sidecar, by contrast, turns the iPad into a second Mac monitor, either extending or mirroring your Mac's desktop. When using Sidecar, you can use an Apple Pencil on your iPad to interact with your Mac's display, but the iPad's screen itself does not act as a trackpad for the Mac. Sidecar also provides a sidebar on the iPad with Mac controls and a Touch Bar (even if your Mac doesn't have one). So if you want to control your Mac with your iPad's touchscreen, you need Universal Control; if you want a second display with Apple Pencil support, you want Sidecar.
