Apple allows you to connect your iPad to your Mac and use it as an extended display with the feature Sidecar Arrived with macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13. With the iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 updates, the new Universal Control lets you use a single keyboard and mouse on multiple Macs and iPads. So, if you have to use your Mac and iPad together but are wondering which feature to use, you've come to the right page. We'll explain the difference between the two features so you can easily choose the right one. We'll also show you how to switch between Universal Control and Sidecar on your Mac and iPad.
SIDECAR VS UNIVERSAL CONTROL
By default, Sidecar lets you mirror your Mac's display or turn your iPad into an additional or secondary display. So, you can either view all of your Mac's content on your iPad or use it as an extension of your Mac's display. In a way, your iPad acts as a component of your Mac and ceases to be an iPad until you use it in Sidecar mode.
If you want to use your Mac and iPad simultaneously, Universal Control lets you control all iPad features and enter text directly from your Mac, so you can get the most out of iPadOS alongside macOS.
When using Universal Control, your iPad and Mac retain their own features. However, you can use your Mac keyboard and Magic TrackPad as a shared input source. If you don't use External keyboard You can use your Mac's trackpad and keyboard to control your iPad, and your iPad's keyboard to control your Mac.
Switch from UNIVERSAL CONTROL to SIDECAR mode.
After installing the relevant software updates on your iPad and Mac, you'll only need to set up Universal Control once. For seamless operation, you'll need to bring your iPad closer to your Mac. However, if you want to turn your iPad into an extended display for your Mac, it's easy. Here's how to switch from Universal Control to Sidecar if you want to use your iPad as an external display for your Mac.
Step 1: On your Mac, click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and select System Preferences from the menu.
Step 2: In the System Preferences window, click the Display option in the lower-left corner.
Step 3: If you're already using Universal Control and want to switch to Sidecar, the process remains the same. You'll need to open the Displays option in System Preferences.
With Universal Control enabled, you'll still see the Add Displays drop-down menu in the lower-left corner of the Displays window.
To switch from Universal Control to Sidecar, click the “Add a Display” dropdown menu in the lower-left corner and select your iPad’s name under the “Mirror or Extend to” option.
Switch from SIDECAR to UNIVERSAL CONTROL
Likewise, if you're using Sidecar on your device and want to switch to Universal Control, you can use the display settings on your Mac to do so.
Step 1: Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and open System Preferences.
Step 2: Click on the View option in the lower left corner.
Step 3: Click the Add Display menu and click your iPad's name under the Link Keyboard & Mouse option.
Easily switch between SIDECAR's UNIVERSAL CONTROL system.
While switching between Sidecar and Universal Control is easy, whenever you want to use Universal Control, you'll need to open System Preferences to make the switch. From the Display options, select your iPad's name under "Link a keyboard and mouse." When you want to use Sidecar, click your iPad's name under "Mirror or extend to."
If you have more than one iPad, you can use Sidecar and Universal Control simultaneously. Click to select the first iPad under "Link a keyboard and mouse" and the second iPad under "Mirror or extend to." This will turn one iPad into an extended display for your Mac, and the other iPad into a single iPad that you can control directly from your Mac.
We hope this guide helps you switch between these two features without confusion.
