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Connect your iPad to KnobShift via USB

Setup2 min read

A USB cable is the recommended way to connect your iPad to KnobShift. It works with any supported macOS version, needs no network setup and is less prone to interference than Wi-Fi.

What do you need?

  • KnobShift is installed on your Mac and KnobShift Companion is running (three-slider icon in the menu bar). See Install KnobShift on your Mac.
  • The KnobShift app on your iPad.
  • A USB cable that transfers data. A charge-only cable won't work.

Connect the iPad via USB

  1. Connect the iPad to the Mac with the cable.
  2. If the iPad asks “Trust This Computer?”, tap Trust and enter your passcode.
  3. Open the KnobShift app. Tap the connection status at the top, then Connect, and choose USB Cable.
  4. Tap Connect via USB at the bottom and keep the app open.

After a few seconds the controls appear. The top of the app shows USB · MIDI 2.0, and the Companion menu on the Mac shows “Per USB verbunden · MIDI 2.0” (connected via USB) under iPad.

Tip: On the very first launch, the app opens the connection guide automatically. Later you can reach it any time via the connection status at the top or via Settings → Open Connection & Troubleshooting.

No controls showing?

If the iPad is connected but the app says “Connected – no plug-in in focus”, there's no plugin yet. In Logic, insert the KnobShift Bridge on a track and choose a plugin in it (Logic Pro guide). In Ableton Live, enable the KnobShiftRemote remote script (Ableton Live guide).

What if the USB connection doesn't work?

Work through these steps in order:

  1. Check trust: unplug the cable, plug it back in and tap Trust on the iPad.
  2. No trust prompt: on the iPad, go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPad → Reset → Reset Location & Privacy, then plug the cable in again.
  3. Swap the cable: a charge-only cable doesn't transfer data.
  4. Keep the app in the foreground: iPadOS pauses the connection in the background.
  5. Restart the Companion: on the Mac, open the Companion menu, click Beenden (Quit) and launch the Companion again from Applications → KnobShift Companion. Then tap Try Again in the app.
  6. Restart: if that doesn't help, restart the iPad and the Mac.

The full troubleshooting guide is in The KnobShift app can't find the Mac. If you'd rather work wirelessly, read Connect your iPad via Wi-Fi.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need macOS 26.4 for a USB connection?

No. Over a USB cable, KnobShift works with any supported macOS version from macOS 14.

Why can't the app find the Mac even though the cable is plugged in?

Often it's a charge-only cable that doesn't transfer data, or the iPad doesn't trust the Mac yet. Try a different cable and confirm Trust on the iPad.

Can the KnobShift app run in the background?

Keep it in the foreground. iPadOS pauses the connection while the app is in the background.

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