Do you have an iPad and a Mac and would like to use both at the same time? If you've ever wanted to expand your workspace or even duplicate your Mac's display without having to invest in a second monitor, you're in luck. Using your iPad as a secondary display for your Mac is easier than you think. thanks to a feature built into Apple systems and relatively affordable requirements on most recent models.
We teach you all the methods, tricks, and compatibility to turn your iPad into that second monitor you've been looking for.Whether you need an extra display for remote work, studying, designing, or just for convenience, you'll find the full step-by-step process here, along with practical tips, technical requirements, and a rundown of the benefits of getting the most out of the Apple ecosystem.
Requirements for using iPad as a second display on your Mac
When connecting an iPad to act as a secondary display, the first thing to know is whether your devices meet the essential requirements to work with Sidecar, Apple's official solution. Not all iPads and Macs support this feature., and it is also critical that both are updated to the correct operating system, in addition to sharing the same Apple ID.
Compatible iPads are:
- All iPad Pro models.
- iPad 6th generation or later.
- iPad mini 5th generation or later.
- iPad Air 3rd generation or later.
As for supported Mac models, they include:
- MacBook Pro from 2016 onwards.
- MacBook from 2016 onwards.
- MacBook Air from 2018 or later.
- iMac from 2017 onwards and the 5″ Retina 27K iMac from late 2015 (including iMac Pro).
- Mac minis released since 2018.
- 2019 Mac Pro.
- Mac Studio.
It is also essential to comply with the following points for Sidecar to work correctly:
- The iPad must be running iPadOS 13 or later, and the Mac must have macOS Catalina or later.
- Both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network and have Bluetooth enabled.
- You must be signed in to both devices with the same Apple ID (Apple account).
What is Sidecar and how does it work?
Sidecar is the official macOS feature that allows you to use your iPad as a secondary or duplicate monitor for your Mac.Unlike other third-party solutions, Sidecar integrates seamlessly into your system, offering stable and fluid performance, wirelessly if you prefer, and with optimized gestures and controls that make the experience especially convenient.
Its main advantage is that Allows you to extend your Mac desktop by dragging windows and apps to the iPad as if it were an additional display.Additionally, Sidecar also offers the option to mirror your Mac's display to your iPad, which is ideal for presentations, showing content to someone else, or working with apps in a more portable format.
One of its most interesting features is the integration with the Apple Pencil, allowing you to use it to draw, retouch photos, write or control certain elements as if it were a professional mouse or digital pen. The Sidebar and the Virtual Touch Bar are other of its strong points, since they transfer shortcuts and key commands directly to the iPad screen.
Steps to connect your iPad as a second display with Sidecar
The process to use the iPad as an additional display for the Mac is really simple. Once you have both compatible and updated devices, it's designed to be quick and hassle-free, allowing you to choose between a wireless or wired connection, depending on your preference.
Follow these steps to have your iPad working as an extra monitor:
- Unlock the iPad and place it near the Mac.
- On your Mac, open Control Center (two switches icon in the menu bar, top right) and click on «Screen Mirroring».
- The available compatible devices will appear; select the iPad to start the Sidecar function.
- The Mac desktop will automatically extend onto the iPad.. You can now drag windows and applications between both screens.
If you prefer to use a wired connection (Lightning or USB-C), you just have to connect the iPad to the Mac with the usual cable, make sure that the Mac trusts the device (if it is the first time, accept the trust message on the iPad), and repeat the above process from the Control Center.
You can switch at any time between using the iPad as an extended or duplicate display.:
- On macOS Monterey and later, select the desired option from the “Screen Mirroring” menu.
- In macOS Big Sur, access the Display menu in Control Center or the top bar.
- On macOS Catalina, look for that option in the Display menu or via AirPlay, also in the menu bar.
Special gestures and controls when using iPad as a display
Sidecar is full of possibilities beyond simply displaying another screen. The iPad becomes a touch-enabled extension of the Mac, with Multi-Touch gestures and shortcuts designed specifically to make your work easier.
Multi-Touch gestures on iPad as a second screen:
- Two-finger swipe: Moves content in documents, web pages, or lists.
- Pinch inward with three fingers: copy selected content.
- Pinch inward with three fingers twice: cut the selected item.
- Pinch out with three fingers: paste the previously copied content.
- Swipe left with three fingers or double-tap with three fingers: undo the last action.
- Swipe right with three fingers: to redo what was previously undone.
The iPad sidebar provides shortcuts to common keys and commands. Mac keys, such as Command, Shift, and other modifier keys. You can press them with either your finger or the Apple Pencil, which is very convenient when working on the iPad itself.
Touch Bar on iPadEven if your Mac doesn't have a physical Touch Bar, Sidecar emulates it at the bottom of the iPad screen (you can move it to the top if that's more convenient). This gives you additional contextual controls in many professional and creative apps.
Sidecar Configuration and Customization Options
To get the most out of Sidecar, it's a good idea to understand the different options available in your Mac's settings, which vary slightly depending on the version of macOS. From here you can modify details such as the location of the sidebar, the position of the Touch Bar or the advanced use of the Apple Pencil.
Access Sidecar settings from:
- macOS Ventura and later: Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays > select the iPad at the top.
- macOS Monterey: Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays > Display Settings > select iPad in the sidebar.
- Previous versions: Apple menu > System Preferences > Sidecar.
Here you can decide whether to display the sidebar on the right or left side of the iPad screen, move the Touch Bar up or down, or even turn it off. You can also enable the double-tap Apple Pencil (on 2nd generation models), so that certain apps can use custom gestures with the Pencil on the iPad as a display.
Practical benefits and advantages of using the iPad as a Mac monitor
Why is it worth using your iPad as a second screen? The benefits go beyond saving on an external monitor. This option is ideal for:
- Have more windows open and improve workflow.
- Drag and Drop photos, files or information quickly from one screen to another.
- Using the Apple Pencil to draw, layout, or edit in professional applications like Photoshop or Illustrator, seeing the changes live on your Mac.
- Write documents, reply to emails, or take notes on your iPad while using your browser or messaging apps on your Mac.
- Make video calls on one screen and continue working or reviewing information on the other.
- More guides on Use the iPad as a second screen
In addition, the fact that both devices can be used both wirelessly and wired gives a lot of flexibilityIf you prefer maximum stability and keeping your iPad charged at all times, a cable is your friend. If you want to move around, stick with Wi-Fi. We hope you've now understood how to use your iPad as a second display for your Mac.
