Universal Control not working right for some in latest iPadOS and macOS

Apple's most recent macOS Ventura 13.3 and the iPadOS 16.4 release featured bug fixes, as well as new features such as the revised HomeKit architecture. However, a number of users on Apple's support forums are reporting a new issue with Universal Control.

"After updating my MacBook Pro (14, M1Pro) and my 2022 iPad Air 5, universal control stopped working," wrote an author named Platan on March 28, 2023. "Nothing helps, I turned off and on handoff, wi-fi, bluetooth, restarted both devices several times."

The issue is not affecting every user and AppleInsider is unable to reproduce the error. However, at time of writing, more than 100 users have reported experiencing the same or similar problems.

Most are reporting specifically that Universal Control is failing to work, but others are saying Continuity Handoff is similarly affected. A very small number of reports talk about issues with Apple Watch automatic unlock as well.

Apple has not acknowledged the issue and as yet there is no confirmed workaround. There are a few things that users claim work to fix the problem, but there is not a single solution, apparently. Most of these steps are general fixes for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

What might fix problems with Universal Control on Mac and iPad

• Turning Universal Control off and on again on all devices
• Turn off Wi-Fi, and turn it back on
• Turn Bluetooth on all devices off and on again
• Logging out of iCloud on all affected devices
• Rebooting the impacted Mac in Safe Mode, then normally

Separately, macOS Ventura 13.3 has not fixed another bug that would is breaking some SMB networks.