Get Universal Control to reconnect by itself

Why it happens

Universal Control lets one keyboard and mouse work across your Mac and a nearby iPad or second Mac. Reconnecting by itself and connecting when you push the pointer past the edge are two separate switches, so one can be off while the main feature still works. If both are off, you have to set up the link by hand each time.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Displays. Scroll down and click Advanced…

2. Turn on Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad.

   Displays›Advanced…

3. Turn on Push through the edge of a display to connect a nearby Mac or iPad.

   Displays›Advanced…

4. Check that Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad is on too, because the other two switches depend on it.

   Displays›Advanced…

5. Do the same on your other Mac. On an iPad, open Settings, then General, then AirPlay & Continuity, and turn on Cursor and Keyboard. The menu names can differ a little on older iPadOS versions.

6. Move your pointer to the edge of the screen nearest the other device and keep pushing. A bar appears on the other screen's edge, and the pointer moves across.

Still not fixed?

1. Both devices need the same Apple Account, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and Handoff on, within about 10 metres of each other. Check Handoff on the Mac here.

   General›AirDrop & Continuity

2. Neither device can be sharing its internet. Turn off Internet Sharing on the Mac and Personal Hotspot on the iPad.

   General›Sharing›Internet Sharing

3. Restart both devices and install the latest updates on each. Universal Control needs recent versions of macOS and iPadOS on both.

4. If it still won't connect after restarts and updates on both devices, contact Apple Support.