Universal Control - can't share pointer with Apple Vision Pro

Despite what the Apple Vision Pro documentation says, Universal Pointer Control doesn't work with mice. Only trackpads (and I think only the Apple Magic Trackpad or trackpads on Apple laptops).

Apple says "Apple Vision Pro also isn't compatible with Bluetooth mice" on this page: Use Bluetooth accessories with your Apple Vision Pro - Apple Support

@Platypus4 Actually - Craig is correct. It is an issue.

The Apple Vision Pro documentation specifically says it is possible: "While you’re connected, you can use your mouse or trackpad with your Mac as you normally would, and can also move the pointer past the edge of the Mac screen until it appears in an open visionOS app (and vice versa)."

I'm having the same issue - the mouse won't push past the edge of the Mac screen.

Yes, but even with either a Magic Trackpad,

or the built in MB Air (M2) trackpad, I can’t get sharing to work. Made sure the mouse and Magic Trackpad were disconnected and still no go.

Obviously this is a 1.0 product (and software) so I expect a few bugs.

[Edited by Moderator]

cabassi wrote:

Did you try looking at the AVP app where you want the pointer to appear while you’re pushing the pointer into the edge of the Mac screen?

Also, you need to have Handoff turned on on both devices, and have both be connected to the same WiFi, using the same iCloud account, and with Bluetooth turned on.

Yes, I did.

Handoff enabled on both sides. Mac has Handoff enabled, and "Push through the edge of a display to connect to a nearby Mac or iPad" and "Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad" enabled.

AVP has Handoff enabled.

Both logged into same iCloud account.

Keyboard sharing works - just not the trackpad sharing. The trackpad works fine inside the macOS window on AVP, just won't "push out" into AVP apps.

Bluetooth is enabled.

Remote display works fine, Universal Control of the keyboard works fine, it's just the trackpad that won't push over.

It's likely a software bug - going to restart both the Mac and AVP and see what happens.

Otherwise, I'll have to wait for a software update of some variety or another and try again.

Funnily enough, I'm having this problem intermittently. Somestimes MBP keyboard and trackpad work in other windows that I see through my AVP besides the computer window, some other times they dont. Especially if I walk away an come back to the computer. It's very buggy. Not great, given that this is a "pro" expensive product.

One thing that helps is:

1 - release the trackpad

2 -"focus" on a window (meaning look at it)

3 - move/shake the trackpad pointer.

Usually that materializes the circle coming from the trackpad, but not always.

No, Craig is correct.

It IS NOT WORKING for some of us. It is not working for me. Neither the trackpad on my MacBook Air (M2), nor a Magic Trackpad, are working for me.

That said -- I have not tried since the visionOS 1.1 update - will give that a whirl and report back.

Hello Craig Col!

This is not an issue. Any pointing device (such as the built-in trackpad) connect to a Mac can only be used within the Mac Virtual display window. Think of it as your MacBook Pro being connected to one monitor, while Apple Vision Pro has is connected to it's own "monitors". If you think Apple should add the feature of being able to use your Mac's pointing device to control Vision Pro's windows, tell them on the Apple Vision Pro feedback page.

I hope this helps!

Despite what the Apple Vision Pro documentation says, Universal Pointer Control doesn't work with mice. Only trackpads (and I think only the Apple Magic Trackpad or trackpads on Apple laptops).

Apple says "Apple Vision Pro also isn't compatible with Bluetooth mice" on this page: Use Bluetooth accessories with your Apple Vision Pro - Apple Support

This is incorrect. You can definitely use your trackpad with apple vision pro apps.

This guy is using a trackpad, not a mouse (even though he calls the cursor a “mouse pointer”). From what I can tell, as of now you can only share pointer control with AVP using a trackpad, and not with a mouse.

Did you try looking at the AVP app where you want the pointer to appear while you’re pushing the pointer into the edge of the Mac screen?

Also, you need to have Handoff turned on on both devices, and have both be connected to the same WiFi, using the same iCloud account, and with Bluetooth turned on.

I'll let Craig answer for himself, but he said:

"I can copy/paste between both as well as using keyboard but pointer doesn't work. Someone mentioned somewhere that Logitech options might cause a problem (I use a Logitech MX Vertical mouse) so I turned off mouse, uninstalled Log Options and tried to push from the trackpad but still doesn't work."

... still doesn't work. Which it doesn't.

The documentation says it's possible, but it's not working for him (or for me.)

So that's kinda the definition of having a problem, no? Something that is supposed to work, isn't working.

I had this same issue. From what I can tell, AVP can only share pointer control using a trackpad.

Not true. You can share a keyboard and trackpad (but not a mouse) between Mac Virtual Display and VisionOS apps.