Apple's Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse are designed to pair with one Mac at a time. If you use more than one Mac — a work laptop and a personal desktop, for example — switching your peripherals between them is surprisingly tedious.
Here are the three ways to do it, from slowest to fastest.
This is the built-in approach, and it's painful:
This takes 30 seconds to a minute, assumes you have another input device to navigate the second Mac, and you have to repeat it every single time. For one device it's annoying. For a keyboard, trackpad, and mouse it's three rounds of this.
A lesser-known shortcut:
The keyboard is now Bluetooth-paired to the new Mac. This works because macOS automatically pairs any Magic device that's plugged in via cable. It's faster than the Bluetooth method, but you still need a cable handy, and it only works for one device at a time.
Third-party apps automate the entire process. Install the app on both Macs, and you can switch devices with a single click from the menu bar.
There are several options:
Tip: If you switch devices multiple times a day, the time saved by a one-click app pays for itself within a week. The manual Bluetooth method takes about a minute each time — that's 5+ hours a year if you switch twice daily.
Apple's Universal Control (macOS 12.4+) lets you move your cursor across multiple Macs by pushing it to the screen edge. It's great for side-by-side setups where both Macs are on the same desk.
But Universal Control shares your input across devices — it doesn't switch the Bluetooth connection. Both Macs must be awake, nearby, and on the same iCloud account. If you want to take your keyboard to a different room, close your laptop, or use different Apple IDs on each Mac, Universal Control won't work.
Occasional switching (once a week or less): The cable trick is free and fast enough.
Daily switching (work + personal Mac): A switching app saves real time and frustration. Switchy handles all three device types at once for $9.99 with no subscription.
Side-by-side desks: Try Universal Control first. If it fits your workflow, it's free. If not, switch to a dedicated app.