I don't understand how Universal Control works.

Let me explain:

I own a Macbook Air M1

And a 2017 iMac + a second monitor

Both are compatible with Universal Control and both are upgraded to OS Ventura 13.5.1

When I go to Universal Control on both the Macbook and iMac, I actually see the option to share my mouse and keyboard but I don't find the Macbook display inside the iMac Universal Control and viceversa. I am just able to use AirDisplay on my iMac to use my Macbook Air as Display and I'm not interested to it.

I would like to use the iMac's keyboard and Magic Mouse with my Macbook just as I am doing right now using a KVM (which is not Apple native so it is slow).

Is this something that is possible? I don't want to pay $60 to buy Synergy 3, it seems like a waste of time having only apple products in my house.

I also want to mention that Universal Control works perfectly between my Macbook Air M1 and my iPad, but it does not work between my Macbook and my iMac.

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Sep 3, 2023 5:28 AM

Top-ranking reply

Servant of Cats

Level 7

34,409 points

Posted on Sep 3, 2023 9:40 PM

My guess is that you need to go into the Advanced… dialog on both of the computers, and turn on "“Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad" on both of the computers, before the Displays Settings screens will change to show the two screens and let you tell the Macs about the physical arrangement.

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I don't understand how Universal Control works.

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