How to Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor

Select your iPad from Display Settings on Mac and choose to extend or mirror your screen with Sidecar

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
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Updated on May 21, 2024
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Christine Baker
Reviewed by Christine Baker
    Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design.
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    What to Know

    • Set up Sidecar on Mac: System Settings > Displays > + (Plus) > your iPad.
    • Use Sidecar: Screen Mirroring > Use As Separate Display to drag windows between displays.
    • Duet Display is an option for Windows devices and older Macs and iPads.

    This article explains how to use an iPad as a second monitor for your Mac using Sidecar. Instructions apply to iPadOS 15 and later and macOS Monterey (12)and later.

    Sidecar is only available on certain Macs and iPads running macOS Catalina (10.15) and iPadOS 13 and later. View Apple's Sidecar requirements for the full list.

    How to Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor With Sidecar

    Sidecar is built in to many Macs and iPads. Here's how to use this feature to run your iPad as a second monitor for your Mac.

    You need to sign in with the same Apple ID on your Mac and iPad to use Sidecar between them.

    1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences) on your Mac from the Apple menu or the Dock.

      System Settings from the Apple menu in macOS.

    2. Choose Displays.

    3. Select the + (Plus) or Add Display and choose your iPad from the Mirror or extend to options.

      Mirror or extend to drop-down menu from macOS Display Settings.

      You can connect wirelessly via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices or by using a wired USB connection.

    4. Once your iPad connects, select it and choose to mirror or extend your Mac's display from the Use as menu.

      Use as menu for iPad from Display Settings in macOS.

      You can also access these options from Screen Mirroring in the menu bar. Open the Control Center and select the icon if you don't see it in the menu.

    5. Use the Show Sidebar menu to choose whether it appears and on which side of your iPad display.

      Show Sidebar menu from macOS Display Settings for an iPad connected via Sidecar.

      The Sidebar contains buttons to help you perform desktop tasks on your iPad. It includes a keyboard, Command, Option, Control, and Shift keys, and buttons that control the menu bar and dock.

    6. Select the location of the Touch Bar on your iPad from the Show Touch Bar menu.

      Show Touch Bar options in Display Settings for an iPad connected to a Mac via Sidecar.

      You can use the Touch Bar in Sidecar even if your Mac doesn't have one. It mirrors the functionality of the context-sensitive menu on some Mac models.

    7. Select the box next to Enable double tap on Apple Pencil to quickly switch between tools, show a color palette, and more.

      Double-tap is available on the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro.

      The Enable double tap on Apple Pencil macOS Display Settings option for a Sidecar-connected iPad.

    8. Your iPad screen gets another desktop on it. You can drag windows between it and your Mac.

      Second display on an iPad

      To arrange your iPad and Mac (and any other external displays connected to your Mac), go to System Preferences > Displays or System Settings > Displays > Arrange.

    9. To stop mirroring or extending your Mac to your iPad, tap the Disconnect icon in the Sidebar or select your iPad from the Screen Mirroring options on your Mac.

      An iPad selected from the Screen Mirroring menu in macOS.

    Is an iPad a Good Monitor?

    Is the iPad as good a display as an actual monitor? Not really. Newer iPad models with 12.9-inch or the 13-inch iPad Pro (M4) could offer some helpful viewing space but won't match the real estate of larger external displays.

    However, apps like Duet Display can convert your iPad into a second monitor while also making use of the iPad's touch interface, which can be a bonus.

    More Options to Connect iPad to Windows

    If Sidecar isn't for you or you're looking for something that works with Windows (or older Macs and iPads), there are other great options that you can try.

    Duet Display

    While many apps can use your iPad as a second monitor via Wi-Fi, Duet Display uses the same Lightning or 30-pin cable you use to charge your iPad. This fast connection allows you to do everything from watching videos, which would be laggy over Wi-Fi, to playing games.

    Duet Display

    Duet Display works well with the iPad Pro, too. The iPad Pro's 12.9-inch display makes it perfect for adding a second monitor to your MacBook, iMac, or PC. 

    You can watch a demo video of Duet Display in action on Youtube.

    FAQ
    • How do I connect an iPad to a TV?

      To connect an iPad to a TV, connect a Chromecast device to your TV and cast the iPad screen to the TV via a compatible app. Or, use an Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter to connect an iPad to an HDTV directly. You can also use composite or component cables or an Apple Lightning-to-VGA adapter. Alternatively, use AirPlay to mirror or cast iPhone content to an AirPlay-compatible TV.

    • How do I connect an iPad to a printer?

      To print from an iPad, use Apple's AirPrint wireless protocol and an AirPrint-compatible printer. In the document, select Share > Print > Select Printer > choose printer > Print. Or, use a third-party printing app to print to Wi-Fi-enabled printers and USB printers.

    • How do I connect an iPad to an Apple Pencil?

      To connect an Apple Pencil to your iPad, attach the Apple Pencil to the side of your iPad for automatic pairing. For older iPads, plug the Apple Pencil into the iPad's Lightning port and tap Pair, Connect, or Tap to Connect.

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