Bonus! Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor with Sidecar

Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor with Sidecar

An iPad can make an excellent second screen for those who don't want to commit to a dedicated second monitor. With a computer running macOS Catalina or later and a tablet running iPadOS 13 or later, the easy-to-use Sidecar feature turns your iPad into a second display and works like a charm.

Sidecar also allows your iPad to mirror your Mac's display. This is great for when you want to see what images look like on different-sized screens, when your family gathers around your computer screen, and when you want your computer display to appear on two different screens.

The ability to use an iPad as a second monitor has been possible with the third-party Duet Display app for a while, but it's now built right into the operating systems. Here's a quick checklist of what you need in order for Sidecar to work:

• Your iPad must be one of the following: iPad Pro, iPad (6th gen or later), iPad mini (5th gen), iPad Air (3rd gen or later.) If you're not sure which model you have, open your Settings app, tap General, then tap About to find this information.

• Your iPad must be running iPadOS 13 or later.

• Your Mac model must be one of the following: A MacBook Pro, MacBook, or iMac introduced in 2016 or later; A MacBook Air or Mac Mini introduced in 2018 or later; An iMac Pro; or a Mac Pro introduced in 2019 or later.

• Your Mac must be running macOS Catalina or Big Sur.

• Both your Mac and iPad must be logged in to the same Apple ID.

• Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff must be turned on for both devices.

• Neither device may be sharing its internet, either through a personal hotspot or an ad-hoc wireless network.

• The two devices must be within 10 meters of each other.

Once you've met the requirements, this feature is remarkably easy to use.

For macOS Catalina

• Click the AirPlay menu at the top of your Mac's screen. The menu icon looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom.

• Select your iPad's name from the list of AirPlay options.

For macOS Big Sur

• Open your Control Center.

• Click on Display.

• Click on your iPad's name.

Then the iPad will turn into a second monitor!

To set the iPad to mirror your Mac's screen, select Mirror option on your Mac corresponding to the display you want the iPad to match. For example, my MacBook Pro is connected to an LG external monitor. When enabling Sidecar on my iPad, I selected Mirror Built-in Retina Display instead of the LG monitor. To extend your Mac desktop onto the iPad, select Use As Separate Display. To disconnect on macOS Catalina, click the AirPlay menu, and then click Disconnect. On Big Sur, click the Screen Mirroring icon in the Control Center Display menu. Have fun with the extra screen space!

Cullen Thomas is a Writer and Producer at iPhone Life, creating tips and guides to help users unlock the full potential of their iOS and iPhone. Cullen spent nine years as an instructor in media and communications at Maharishi University, lecturing on a wide range of technical and artistic subjects,. Cullen is a film-maker, a game designer, a sci-fi author, a coffee connoisseur, and an obsessive nerd for all things tech.