How to Use iPad as External Display with Mac Using Sidecar

Depending on your use example, an iPad is actually a bully device to have for content consumption or for working on the go. Nonetheless, an iPad is as well a dandy device to utilise as a secondary monitor for your Mac, especially when traveling.

This might not seem like a big bargain but once you lot start using an iPad equally a secondary display for your Mac, there'southward no going back. While at that place have been plenty of tertiary-party solutions that let one to use their iPad or iPad Pro as an external display, they are slightly complex and require the iPad and Mac to have a wired connection.

With macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13, Apple has made the entire process of using your iPad every bit an external display with your Mac extremely easy. It calls this feature Sidecar and it works wirelessly which makes information technology extremely user-friendly, though you can pair the device over a wired connection as well. The process is so straightforward that if your Mac and iPad come across all the requirements, yous tin use your iPad every bit an external display in just ii elementary clicks!

Sidecar Compatible iPads and Macs

To use your iPad as an external brandish with your Mac, you must have the following iPads:

All iPad Pro models
iPad 6th gen
iPad mini
iPad Air 3

Apart from a compatible iPad, you also need to own a compatible Mac:

MacBook Pro, 2022 or newer
MacBook, 2022 or newer
MacBook Air, 2022 or later
iMac, 2022 or newer
Retina iMac 5K, 2022 or newer
Mac mini, 2022 or after
Mac Pro, 2022 or later

Using iPad as External Display with Mac: Things to Know

If yous want to use your iPad every bit an external display with your Mac wirelessly, you need to brand certain they are on the same Wi-Fi connection and within 30ft of each other.
The same iCloud account must be used on both devices.
Y'all can connect your iPad via USB with your Mac as well. Just make sure to trust the Mac on your iPad for the feature to work.

How to Use iPad every bit External Display Using Sidecar With Your Mac

Pace 1:If the iPad and the Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network and inside 10 meters of each other, you will automatically see an AirPlay icon in the menu bar of your Mac on the top-right.

Stride two:Click on it and from theConnect Tosub-menu, select your iPad. The AirPlay icon will turn blue in the menu bar indicating that your iPad is now working every bit a secondary brandish.

If your iPad is not uniform or if there is any network issue, your device might not show up. In such a scenario, you can endeavor restarting your iPad or ensure that there is no network conflict.

You lot can find more Sidecar related options nether Organisation Preferences -> Sidecar.

Step iii:By default, your iPad's display will human activity as a secondary monitor for your Mac. You can move windows to it and utilise it simply like whatsoever other external display.

Step 4:If you want, you tin can besides mirror your Mac'south display to your iPad. Click on the AirPlay icon in the menu bar and select the mirroring selection. You will also notice the option of showing Sidecar and Touchbar related options on the iPad'southward screen.

The expert thing almost Sidecar is that you have access to all gestures of the iPad in this mode equally well. This includes the ability to ringlet by swiping with two fingers, copy by pinching in with iii fingers, etc.

Using Apple Pencil with iPad Every bit External Display

The skillful matter about using the iPad as an external brandish with Sidecar is that yous can use the Apple Pencil for selected tasks like drawing, editing photos, manipulating documents and photos, and more.

Then, if you apply Photoshop or any other epitome-editing app extensively, you can move the app to the iPad and so use the Apple Pencil for editing it.

You can also utilize all the regular apps on your iPad while information technology is in Sidecar mode. You will plainly take to exit the Sidecar mode just once yous are done using that app, you can jump right back into Sidecar by borer its shortcut on the dwelling screen. This shortcut only shows upwards when the Sidecar mode is activated.

Every bit I mentioned before, while the ability to utilise an iPad equally an external display with a Mac has existed long earlier iPadOS and macOS Catalina, it is how Apple has executed the Sidecar feature that will make this use instance go mainstream.

Have you lot ever used your iPad as an external brandish with your Mac using? If and then, how was your experience? Drop a comment below and let u.s.a. know!