How to Use Your iPad & Mac Together: 7 Continuity Features to Try

Is it possible for my Mac and iPad to work together?

Yes, it is, if you’re using Apple’s Continuity features: Handoff, Universal Control, Universal Clipboard, AirDrop, Sidecar, Continuity Camera, and Continuity Markup. These features make my devices work together so seamlessly that I barely think about which one I’m using.

Let’s take a look at these seven Continuity features that make the Mac and iPad a much better pair, along with instructions on how to set them up and when you’ll actually want to use them.

1. Handoff: Pick up right where you left off

Best for: Picking up an email, a set of Safari tabs, or a Pages document mid-task, on whichever device is in front of you.

Handoff is a handy little feature that lets you pick up where you left off on another Apple device without having to save everything, email yourself a link, or remember which tab you had open. You can start replying to an email on your iPad while you’re sitting on the couch, then head over to your Mac to finish it. The same draft will be waiting for you in the Dock, ready to keep going.

And it isn’t limited to Apple’s own browser. If you use Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari, Handoff still works. You’ll just see your browser’s icon instead of Safari’s.

There is one thing that you need to remember, though. The app you’re using has to stay open and in the foreground on the first device. If you switch away from it before moving to your other device, Handoff won’t show up.

How to set it up & use it

1. Sign in to the same Apple account on both devices, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and within range of each other.
2. On your Mac: Go to System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff > turn on “Allow Handoff.”
3. On your iPad: Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff > turn on Handoff.
4. Open your work (email, tab, Pages doc, etc.) on one of your devices.
5. On the other device, look for the Handoff icon (bottom-left corner of the Dock on Mac, or the app switcher on iPad) and click/tap it to resume exactly where you left off.

2. Universal Control: One keyboard to rule them all

Best for: Dragging files straight from a Finder window into an iPad app, or working across both screens in one continuous session without needing a second keyboard or mouse.

If I had to pick one, Universal Control is probably my favorite Continuity feature.

The first time I used it, it felt a little like magic. I pushed my cursor off the edge of my Mac’s screen, and suddenly it was moving around on my iPad. I could type, click/tap, scroll, and even drag files between the two devices without switching to a different keyboard, trackpad, or mouse.

If you’re like me, you tend to work across multiple apps and devices, especially now with all the iPad multitasking features. Universal Control complements that because you can have your apps arranged exactly the way you want them, then use one keyboard or trackpad to move between everything without missing a beat.

The coolest thing is that it doesn’t even have to be just a Mac and an iPad. Universal Control can work with up to two nearby Macs or iPads at the same time, so one keyboard and mouse can control all three devices.

How to set it up & use it

1. Sign in to the same Apple account on both devices, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and within range of each other.
2. On your Mac: Go to System Settings > Displays. You will either:
1. Confirm that “Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad” is turned on.
2. Click the + at the bottom right, and you’ll see “Link keyboard and mouse to” with a list of options.
3. Place the iPad next to your Mac, then move your mouse cursor past the edge of the Mac's screen toward it and watch as it appears on the iPad automatically.
4. Type, click/tap, or drag files between the two as needed.

You won’t even need to re-pair the two the next time you want to use them. Just bring them near each other again, and it will happen automatically.

3. Universal Clipboard: Copy here, paste there

Best for: Moving a link, a paragraph, or a small image from your iPad to your Mac (or vice versa) without having to AirDrop or email it to yourself.

Universal Clipboard is exactly what it sounds like. You can copy something on one Apple device, then paste it on another.

I use this one all the time. If I find a website on my iPad that I want to reference while I’m writing, I just copy the link and paste it into Safari on my Mac when I get to it.

It’s so much more convenient than using AirDrop or Messages, or emailing things back and forth.

The nice thing is that there’s nothing extra to set up. If you’ve already turned on Handoff (you did that earlier, right?), Universal Clipboard is already working in the background.

Keep in mind that whatever you copy only sticks around for about two minutes, though, so if you get distracted before you paste it, you’ll have to go back and copy it again.

Another thing that you should be aware of is that passwords likely won’t come across. That’s because password managers like 1Password intentionally block them from syncing through Universal Clipboard for security reasons, so that’s expected behavior, not a bug.

How to set it up & use it

1. Make sure Handoff is on (see the Handoff section above) and that you’re signed into the same Apple account on both devices.
2. Copy text, an image, or a link on one device just like you’d normally do (Command + C or use the right-click menu).
3. Switch to the other device within two minutes and paste (Command + V or use the right-click menu).

And that’s it. Easy-peasy.

4. AirDrop: Transfer files reliably

Best for: Moving large files (video exports, RAW photos, whole folders) between your iPad and Mac faster than any cloud upload.

AirDrop is still my go-to whenever I need to move photos, videos, or other large files between Apple devices. Personally, I tend to use it more to send things to other people, but it’s still handy for moving things from my iPad to my Mac, too.

Most of the time, it works well. That said, if you’ve ever had it get stuck on “Waiting” or it doesn’t show your other device, you’re not the only one. Since iPadOS 26 released, those hiccups have been a little more common. Fortunately, it’s usually an easy fix.

I’ll walk you through the setup below, and I’ll add in the troubleshooting steps that solve the most common AirDrop problems if it isn’t cooperating.

How to set it up & use it

1. Select the file > Share > AirDrop.
2. Tap to accept the transfer on the receiving end.

If that doesn’t work, you can try some of the tips:

• If the recipient isn’t in your contacts, switch visibility to “Everyone for 10 Minutes” (Control Center > AirDrop) on both devices.
• Confirm that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, on both devices. (I always remember it needs Wi-Fi, but have forgotten about Bluetooth a time or two.)
• Confirm that neither device has an active VPN, and Screen Time / Content & Privacy restrictions aren’t blocking AirDrop.
• Make sure both devices are unlocked and awake.
• Still stuck? Cancel and immediately resend. For whatever reason, this one usually clears the problem.

5. Sidecar: Turn your iPad into a second screen

Best for: Extending your workspace when you’re away from a second monitor, or using the Apple Pencil to draw and annotate directly inside Mac apps like Goodnotes or Procreate.

Sidecar turns your iPad into a second display for your Mac. Instead of sending files back and forth to mark up (You can easily do this too; we’ll talk about it more in #7), it extends your desktop so you can drag windows onto your iPad.

But that’s not really why I use it. I use it because it lets me bring the Apple Pencil into my Mac workflow. I can annotate PDFs, handwrite notes, sketch ideas, or mark up documents without switching devices. My Paperlike makes those handwritten notes feel even more natural because the Apple Pencil has a little resistance instead of sliding on glass.

Sidecar fits really well with the way I already have my iPad set up for focused work, and the extra screen space keeps everything from feeling cramped.

One feature that’s easy to miss is the green window button on your Mac. Click and hold it, and you’ll see a Move to iPad option that instantly sends the window to your iPad.

Sidecar also adds a virtual Touch Bar to your iPad, even if your Mac doesn’t have one anymore. Just keep in mind that the Apple Pencil only registers once it touches the screen. Hovering above the display won’t move your cursor the way it would on a dedicated drawing tablet, like a Wacom.

How to set it up & use it

1. Sign in to the same Apple account on both devices, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff turned on.
2. On your Mac: Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Displays > click “+” > select your iPad.
3. Drag any Mac window to the edge of the screen to push it onto the iPad, or hover the green button and choose “Move to iPad.”
4. Use the Apple Pencil to draw, tap, or navigate directly in your Mac apps, or use touch/gestures the same way you would on your iPad.
5. Optional: open Sidecar preferences (Control Center > Screen Mirroring > Sidecar Preferences) to move the sidebar, reposition the Touch Bar, or enable Apple Pencil double-tap.

6. Continuity Camera: Scanning made easy

Best for: Scanning receipts, whiteboards, or documents directly into a Mac app, or replacing a mediocre built-in webcam with your iPhone’s camera for calls.

Scanning documents used to mean firing up an old printer to scan and upload documents, while crossing your fingers that the software cooperates. (Am I dating myself?)

Now, Continuity Camera makes it easy. If I’m working on my Mac and realize I need to add a contract or a page of handwritten notes, I just grab my iPad, scan it, and it drops straight into the document I’m already working on.

I mostly use it for receipts because those somehow multiply the second I leave a store, and I like to keep track of my spending.

If you also have an iPhone, Continuity Camera lets you use it as your Mac’s webcam for FaceTime, Zoom, or Teams, so you get a much better camera, along with all the features, like Center Stage, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and Desk View.

As a nice touch, while it’s acting as your webcam, it silences notifications so they don’t pop up in the middle of a meeting. But you can still get incoming calls, which will be forwarded to your Mac.

How to set it up & use it

Scan/photo:

1. In a Mac app (Notes, Mail, Finder), right-click or use File > Insert from iPhone or iPad > Scan Documents (or Take Photo).
2. Your iPhone/iPad opens its camera automatically.
3. Frame the document, and it will automatically capture and correct the perspective, or you can tap the shutter manually.
4. Tap Save on the iPhone/iPad. The scan will appear instantly on your Mac.

Webcam:

1. Make sure your iPhone and Mac are updated to the correct versions (listed above).
2. Mount the iPhone near your Mac in landscape orientation and plug it in to keep it charged. (A clip-on mount is a good idea.)
3. Open FaceTime, Zoom, or another video app. It should auto-select the iPhone as the camera. If not, choose it from the app’s camera/video menu.
4. Toggle Center Stage, Desk View, Portrait, or Studio Light from Control Center > Video Effects, or the camera-effects icon in the menu bar during a call.

7. Continuity Markup: Make document editing simple

Best for: Giving visual feedback on a PDF, signing a document, or circling details on a screenshot.

If someone sends me a PDF to sign or review, I don’t bother downloading it to my iPad first.

Continuity Markup sends just that file to my iPad, where I can use my Apple Pencil (or my finger) to write notes, highlight text, or sign my name. As I’m marking it up, the changes appear on my Mac almost instantly.

That’s what makes it different from Sidecar. Sidecar turns your iPad into part of your Mac workspace. Continuity Markup just hands your iPad one file, lets you edit it, and sends you right back to your Mac when you’re done.

Apple also has a similar feature, called Continuity Sketch. Instead of marking up an existing PDF or image, Sketch lets you create a brand-new drawing to insert into your document. It also doesn’t update live, like Markup does. Your drawing appears after you tap Done.

One thing to keep in mind is that Continuity Markup only works with PDFs and images. If you’re trying to edit another type of file, you’ll need to use a different tool.

How to set it up & use it

1. In Finder, select the PDF or image that you want to mark up.
2. Press the Space Bar for Quick Look, then click the Markup icon. Or Control-click the file > Quick Actions > Markup.
3. Click the Annotate button and choose your nearby iPad.
4. Draw, sign, add shapes, or write with your Apple Pencil or your finger and watch it update live on your Mac.
5. Tap Done on the iPad, then Done in Quick Look on the Mac to save the changes (or Revert to discard them).

The best part of Apple’s Continuity features isn’t any one feature. It’s how they work together.

It’s a huge relief to be able to pick up where I left off, no matter the device I decide to use. These features will get you there.