Universal Control randomly switches on when I am using Side car. How can I prevent this?
And, honestly, I haven't found the use of this functionality... But when it turns on without me wanting it, it gets annoying.
iPad Pro, iPadOS 16
So what you're saying is that when the displays are set up (positioned), a move over to that region will activate Universal Control. Based on this input, I have now searched the correspoinding setting and deactivated it (in line with the unlogic resorting of the control panel on mac to be more like an (hic) iPhone this mouse/keyboard setting is found under Displays -> Advanced—I admit, you leverage the display somewhat to see the mouse pointer ;-).
Then, when SideCar for whichever reason deactivates, the function kicks in, do I understand that correctly? That would indeed explain the behaviour.
I take it that you are you using an iPad as an additional display for your Mac. Is the iPad connected using a cable, or are you streaming wirelessly? If the latter, I suggest connecting with a cable, which is more stable, and has the added benefit of keeping your iPad charged.
Can you explain what you see as Universal Control activating?
With it set up as a separate display in Sidecar, you need to be able to move the cursor onto the display. It is just as if it was an external display.
I have had times when Sidecar disables and thus any bump over to that screen will activate UC.
Then, when SideCar for whichever reason deactivates, the function kicks in, do I understand that correctly? That would indeed explain the behaviour.
Yes. If that happens, try clicking on the double display icon in the Dock on the iPad. That shoul return to Sidecar display. If it isn’t in the Dock, I guess it crashed and isn’t running anymore.
Ike seen posts complaining of it being unstable. I haven’t used it enough to know if it really is unstable. I have found a use for it, and am using it more without too many glitches as I described.
Hi Luis,
thanks for your kind reply. I fully agree regarding the stability of a cable connection.
I am using a cable, thanks, and that was not my question. The connection is stable, but this crazy software keeps switching over to from SideCar to Universal Control (i.e. the iPac captures my keyboard and mouse which is a completely silly function as I cannot work on the iPad while I am using it as display).
I understood from the start that you are using your iPad as display for your Mac (that is what "Sidecar" is about).
I asked about using the cable, which now I know you are. So far so good.
I also know that "Universal Control" is a different feature, whereas your Mac and your iPad are each showing their native interfaces, but you can use the keyboard and trackpad to control them both.
Your question implies that, without you doing anything for it, all of a sudden you are taken out of Sidecar and into Universal Control (UC, for short).
Now I am a bit confused by your last comment. Of course you cannot do work on the iPad while also using it as display, but these are two different features, and you may want to use them both (just not both at the same time), so why would this be a silly function?! Say you have to type something on your iPad? It is far more practical to type on an actual physical keyboard, and you have your mac right there... so UC will be great then.
I agree that UC is not something that a lot of people use most of the time, and I imagine that most people may not even know about it, but silly I don't think it is.
Having UC activate when you are explicitly using a different functionality is a nuisance, yes, and we have yet to determine why and how it is happening, so I am not dismissing your problem, just confused at UC being called "silly"...
Hi Luis,
thanks for digging and clarifying the question.
Universal Control switches on at least without me actively wanting it and without me being aware of why it switches on; my impression is that it behaves similarly to hot corners or when moving to the side on which the iPad is as SideCar display, but I have been unable to have a clear reproduction path.
The "silly" referred to UC activating when SideCar is on and as I am unable to clearly reproduce (albeit I'd consider myself tech savvy). That is a "feature" that is in my view silly, as the use cases are—as you describe—mutually exclusive.
How to prevent switching Universal Control on when using SideCar?
