If you're searching for a Universal Control alternative, you're probably trying to solve one specific problem: moving your Magic Mouse, Keyboard, or Trackpad between two or more Macs without re-pairing them by hand every time. Apple's Universal Control doesn't actually do that — it shares a cursor, not device ownership. This page compares the real options: Universal Control, LinkFlick, and Magic Switch.
What Universal Control does
Universal Control is Apple's built-in feature that lets you move your mouse cursor off the edge of one Mac's screen and onto another nearby Mac. You can drag files between the two desktops and even share a single keyboard between them. It feels like having one big extended workspace.
The catch: Universal Control does not transfer Bluetooth device ownership. Your Magic Mouse is still physically paired to Mac A. Universal Control just relays its input to Mac B over Wi-Fi. The moment you close Mac A's lid or walk away, Mac B loses the mouse entirely.
What LinkFlick does
LinkFlick does the opposite. It performs a real Bluetooth handover — your Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, or Magic Trackpad unpairs from Mac A and re-pairs to Mac B in about 10 seconds. After the transfer, the device belongs to Mac B. Mac A can go to sleep, get closed, or be in another room — your peripherals keep working.
The requirements are very different
Universal Control requires both Macs to be signed into the same Apple ID with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff enabled. This rules it out entirely for the most common two-Mac scenario: a company-managed work MacBook next to a personal Mac.
LinkFlick has no Apple ID requirement. It works at the Bluetooth and local network level. Your work Mac and personal Mac can be on completely separate Apple accounts — LinkFlick doesn't care.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Universal Control | LinkFlick |
|---|---|---|
| Transfers Bluetooth pairing | No | Yes |
| Works without Mac A being on | No | Yes |
| Requires same Apple ID | Yes | No |
| Works across work + personal Macs | No | Yes |
| Move cursor between screens | Yes | No |
| Drag files between desktops | Yes | No |
| Setup required | iCloud + Handoff | One-time trust |
How does LinkFlick compare to Magic Switch?
Magic Switch is a similar menu-bar utility: it also hands a Magic Mouse, Keyboard, or Trackpad between Macs with a click, at a comparable price. If you're weighing alternatives, here's what's actually different about LinkFlick, based on what each product publishes about itself.
- Automatic triggers. LinkFlick can switch your devices automatically when you dock or undock an external display — no click required. Magic Switch's own site only describes a manual, one-click switch.
- Built for more than two Macs. LinkFlick scales to a trusted "cluster" of Macs — up to 5 on the Pro plan — not just a single pair.
- Local-only, no account. LinkFlick works entirely over your local network with no cloud service and no account to create.
Source: Magic Switch's own site. We'll update this comparison if either product changes.
Which one should you use?
Use Universal Control when you want to seamlessly move between two displays with the same cursor — great for drag-and-drop workflows where both Macs stay on the same desk and share the same Apple ID.
Use LinkFlick when you want your physical devices to actually follow you — between a work Mac and a personal Mac, between your desk and a meeting room Mac, or anywhere the two-Apple-ID wall would block Universal Control.
Use Magic Switch if a simple, manual, two-Mac switch is all you need. Reach for LinkFlick if you want the switch to happen automatically, or if you're juggling more than two Macs.
Universal Control and LinkFlick aren't competing tools — many people use both. Universal Control handles the cursor. LinkFlick handles the handover.