I have a new MacBook Pro M2 and a new iPad Air M1. Universal Control works fine horizontally but I want to mount the iPad above the Mac, and Universal Control will not switch into the iPad vertically from the Mac. Interestingly, I have 27" displays arranged on both sides, and the mouse will push in horizontally from either monitor. Is Universal Control limited to horizontal switching?
iPad Air (3rd generation)
Hi there fryguy12,
We're happy to help. You'll want to be sure you have the iPad arranged above your Mac in your Universal Control settings for the mouse to push the way you want it to:
The settings window shows an image representing each device's display. Drag the image of your iPad or other Mac into position relative to the other displays: to their left, to their right, or below them. A Mac display can also be positioned above other displays.
You'll find more information about this here: Universal Control: Use a single keyboard and mouse between Mac and iPad - Apple Support
Take care.
Hi there fryguy12,
We're happy to help. You'll want to be sure you have the iPad arranged above your Mac in your Universal Control settings for the mouse to push the way you want it to:
The settings window shows an image representing each device's display. Drag the image of your iPad or other Mac into position relative to the other displays: to their left, to their right, or below them. A Mac display can also be positioned above other displays.
You'll find more information about this here: Universal Control: Use a single keyboard and mouse between Mac and iPad - Apple Support
Take care.
Thanks SergZak. The limitation I've run into is that Universal Control does not allow the iPad to be above the MacBook. Left, right, and below are acceptable but not above.
It appears that Sidecar will only operated in landscape mode.
I found this on Reddit from about one year ago:
Q: How do you set the display orientation of Universal Control so that the
iPad can display a full page document? I've tried Mirror and Extended
but can only get landscape mode which doesn't work so well for
documents.
A1: You just rotate it to portrait. As for your query, you’re asking about universal control but describing sidecar
A2: For anyone else searching for the answer to this question... yes,
Universal Control DOES work with the iPad in portrait mode- I have my
iPad mounted in portrait next to my monitor, and can seamlessly move my
mouse between them. This is in contrast to Sidecar, which only works in
landscape on the iPad.
Thanks Sparks. I disconnected the two external displays just to isolate the issue. I can set up UC just fine and the mouse will push through, but now I cannot arrange the iPad above the MacBook. Left, right, and below work fine but not above--it just snaps back to the previous position.
I then added back the external displays and, when I position them at 10 and 2 o'clock relative to the MacBook, I can place the iPad above the MacBook and in between the monitors. But the problem persists--I can only push the mouse in from the side of one of the monitors.
Again, it functions as advertised, but I cannot get the arrangement the way I want it. I think I may be SOL.
Thanks for replying, fryguy12, and that additional info, it really helps! Since you tried those steps and are still having this issue, please contact Apple directly to look into this further:
Have a great day and thanks for using the Apple Support Communities!
universal control not working vertically
