Use Continuity Features Between Your Mac and iPad

An overview of Apple Continuity features that let Bowdoin-issued MacBooks and iPads work together seamlessly. Covers setup prerequisites, Universal Clipboard, Handoff, Sidecar (iPad as second display), Universal Control, and Continuity Camera. Applies to all Bowdoin students and faculty with both a Bowdoin MacBook and iPad.

Questions

• How do I use my iPad as a second screen for my Mac?
• How do I copy something on my iPad and paste it on my Mac?
• What is Sidecar and how do I set it up?
• How do I continue working on my Mac where I left off on my iPad?
• Can I use my Mac's keyboard and trackpad to control my iPad?
• How do I take a photo on my iPad and have it appear in a Mac document?
• What Continuity features work between my Bowdoin MacBook and iPad?
• How do I get Handoff to work between my Mac and iPad?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin College students and faculty who have both a college-issued MacBook Pro (macOS Sequoia 15 or Tahoe 26) and a college-issued iPad. All Continuity features described here work on both currently supported macOS versions.

Resolution

First: set up the prerequisites

All Continuity features share the same three requirements. Complete these once and all features will work automatically.

1. Sign in with the same personal Apple Account on both devices. On your Mac, go to System Settings > [your name] to check. On your iPad, go to Settings > [your name]. Both must show the same Apple Account email address.
2. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices. Both radios must be active — Continuity uses Bluetooth for discovery and Wi-Fi for data transfer.
3. Enable Handoff on both devices.
   • On your Mac: go to System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff and turn on Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
   • On your iPad: go to Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff and turn on Handoff.

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Universal Clipboard - copy on one device, paste on the other

Universal Clipboard works automatically once the prerequisites are met — no additional setup needed. Copy text, images, photos, or files on your Mac using Command + C, then paste them on your iPad using the standard paste gesture (tap and hold → Paste), and vice versa. The clipboard is shared for about two minutes after copying.

Example uses for Bowdoin students and faculty:

• Copy a URL or passage on your iPad, paste it directly into a document on your Mac
• Copy a photo from your Mac, paste it into a note on your iPad

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Handoff - pick up where you left off

Handoff lets you start something on one device and continue it on the other without any manual file transfer. When you have an app open on your iPad that supports Handoff, an icon for that app appears in the Mac's Dock. Click it to open the same content on your Mac — picking up exactly where you were.

Apps that support Handoff include: Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Calendar, Reminders, Contacts, and Maps.

To hand off from Mac to iPad: the app icon appears in the bottom-right of the iPad's Lock Screen or in the App Switcher. Tap it to continue.

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Sidecar - use your iPad as a second display

Sidecar turns your iPad into a second monitor for your Mac, either extending your desktop to give you more workspace or mirroring your Mac's screen. When used with an Apple Pencil, Sidecar also lets you draw or annotate directly in Mac apps using the iPad as a drawing tablet.

Start Sidecar

1. Make sure both devices are on and within 30 feet of each other.
2. On your Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar (top-right), then click Screen Mirroring.
3. Select your iPad from the list. Your iPad screen will extend your Mac desktop.

Alternatively, go to System Settings > Displays on your Mac and select your iPad from the display list.

While using Sidecar

• Move windows: drag any Mac window to the edge of the screen until it jumps to the iPad.
• Use Apple Pencil: draw, annotate, or interact with Mac apps directly on the iPad screen using your Apple Pencil.
• iPad sidebar: a sidebar on the iPad shows quick controls for the Mac's menu bar, Dock, and keyboard.
• Switch between extend and mirror: go to System Settings > Displays, select your iPad, and choose from the Use as menu.

End Sidecar

Click the Control Center icon on your Mac, click Screen Mirroring, and select your iPad to disconnect. Or tap the Sidecar icon in the iPad's sidebar.

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Universal Control - use one keyboard and trackpad across both devices

Universal Control lets you use your Mac's keyboard, mouse, or trackpad to also control your iPad — moving your cursor seamlessly between the two screens as if they were one computer. Unlike Sidecar, the iPad shows its own home screen and apps, not your Mac's desktop.

1. Place your iPad next to your Mac.
2. On your Mac, go to System Settings > Displays and click Add Display. Select your iPad under Link Keyboard and Mouse.
3. Move your cursor to the edge of your Mac screen toward the iPad — it will slide onto the iPad screen.
4. Type on your Mac keyboard to type on whichever device your cursor is on. Drag files between devices by dragging from one screen to the other.

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Continuity Camera - take photos or scans on your iPad, insert them on your Mac

Continuity Camera lets you use your iPad's camera as an instant input device for your Mac. In any app that supports inserting images — such as Pages, Keynote, Notes, or Mail — you can take a photo or scan a document on your iPad and have it appear directly in the Mac document, without emailing or transferring anything manually.

1. In a supported Mac app, right-click or Control-click where you want to insert the image.
2. Choose Take Photo or Scan Documents from the menu (the submenu will show your nearby iPad).
3. Your iPad's camera opens automatically. Take the photo or scan on the iPad.
4. The image appears instantly in the Mac document.

This feature is particularly useful for scanning handwritten notes, whiteboards, or physical documents directly into a Pages or Keynote file.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

• Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
• Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
• In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
• Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

• Apple: Continuity features and system requirements
• Apple: Use an iPad as a second display for a Mac (Sidecar)
• Apple: Use Handoff to continue tasks across your Apple devices