Use Sidecar to Turn Your iPad Into a Second Mac Display

Yes—Sidecar can turn a compatible iPad into a second display for your Mac. Use it wirelessly for convenience or connect it by USB for a steadier session. You can extend the Mac desktop so the iPad has its own workspace, or mirror the Mac screen on both devices.

Check that your Mac and iPad can use Sidecar before you start

Before starting, confirm that you have:

• A Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later
• An iPad running iPadOS 13 or later
• A Mac and iPad from the supported model lists below
• The same Apple Account signed in on both devices
• Two-factor authentication enabled for that Apple Account
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on for both devices
• The devices near each other and, for wireless use, connected to the same Wi-Fi network

Supported Mac models are:

• MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
• MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
• MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
• Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
• iMac introduced in late 2015 or later, including the 27-inch late-2015 iMac
• iMac Pro
• Mac Pro introduced in 2019 or later
• Mac Studio

Supported iPad models are:

• All iPad Pro models
• iPad introduced in the sixth generation or later
• iPad Air introduced in the third generation or later
• iPad mini introduced in the fifth generation or later

For wireless Sidecar, Apple specifies a distance of up to 10 metres. Update both devices from their software-update settings if either one is below the required version. If your Mac or iPad is outside the supported model list, changing settings will not make Sidecar appear; you need a different display-sharing method.

Start Sidecar and choose whether to extend or mirror your Mac

The quickest way to start Sidecar is through Control Center in the Mac menu bar.

1. Click the Control Center icon in the Mac menu bar.
2. Click Screen Mirroring. The Mac shows available displays and compatible iPads.
3. Select your iPad. The iPad connects and begins showing either an extension of the Mac desktop or the Mac screen.
4. Open System Settings on the Mac, then select Displays.
5. Select the iPad in the display list, open the Use as menu, and choose Extended display or Mirror for Built-in Display. Choose Extended display for a separate workspace. Choose Mirror for Built-in Display to show the same Mac content on both screens.
6. To start Sidecar from Display settings, open System Settings > Displays, click the add-display button, and choose the iPad under the available display options.

On older macOS versions, open System Preferences > Displays, click Display Settings, and choose the iPad from the add-display menu. The names and layout can vary slightly by macOS version, but the iPad appears as an available display when the requirements are satisfied.

Arrange the iPad and move windows where you actually want them

With Sidecar running in extended mode, match the on-screen arrangement to your physical setup. On the Mac, open System Settings > Displays, click Arrange, and drag the display rectangles. Put the iPad to the left, right, above, or below the Mac display. Align the edges where the devices meet so the pointer crosses between them naturally.

To move an app window, drag its title bar toward the edge of the Mac screen that touches the iPad in the arrangement. Continue dragging until the window appears on the iPad, then release it. Drag it back across the same boundary to return it to the Mac. The green window-control button may also offer a move-to-display option in some macOS versions.

Select the iPad in System Settings > Displays to adjust its resolution. Choose a scaled option if text or controls are too small, or choose a setting that gives you more room for windows. The available choices depend on the iPad and Mac.

Sidecar can show an iPad sidebar with modifier keys such as Command, Option, Control, and Shift, plus controls for showing or hiding the menu bar and Dock. Tap a sidebar control to use it, or tap the hide button when you need more screen area. Some Mac applications can show a Touch Bar on the iPad even when the Mac has no physical Touch Bar; this depends on the app and macOS version.

Apple Pencil works as a precise pointing and drawing tool in Sidecar. Use it to click controls, select objects, mark up documents, or draw in an app that supports those actions. Apple Pencil does not turn every Mac app into a native iPad app, so touch and Pencil behavior still depends on the Mac application.

Use a USB connection when wireless Sidecar is laggy or unstable

A wired connection avoids many wireless interruptions and usually provides a steadier Sidecar session. Use it for long work periods, video editing, drawing, or a network where the iPad frequently stutters.

1. Connect the iPad to the Mac with a data-capable cable, such as a USB-C cable or the appropriate Lightning cable for your iPad.
2. Unlock the iPad. If it asks whether to trust the Mac, tap Trust, then enter the iPad passcode.
3. Open Control Center on the Mac, select Screen Mirroring, and choose the connected iPad.
4. If the iPad does not appear, open System Settings > Displays, click the add-display button, and select it there.

The iPad still appears as a separate display, and you can still choose an extended desktop or mirrored screen. A cable does not remove the need for compatible hardware and software. Keep the iPad unlocked during initial setup, and try a different cable if the Mac does not detect it. A charge-only cable cannot carry the display connection.

Stop Sidecar and fix the problems that prevent the iPad from appearing

To disconnect Sidecar, open Control Center on the Mac, select Screen Mirroring, and click the connected iPad. You can also open System Settings > Displays, select the iPad, and use the disconnect option. Disconnecting Sidecar does not close Mac applications or delete their windows.

If the iPad does not appear, check these items in order:

• Confirm that both devices meet the model and operating-system requirements. Unsupported hardware cannot be enabled through a setting.
• Verify that both devices use the same Apple Account and that two-factor authentication is enabled.
• Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices. For wireless Sidecar, connect them to the same Wi-Fi network and move them closer together.
• Turn Sidecar off and on again from Screen Mirroring, then restart both devices if the iPad remains absent.
• Install available macOS and iPadOS updates.
• For a USB connection, unlock the iPad, accept the trust prompt, and reconnect the cable. Try another data-capable cable or another Mac port.

If Sidecar disconnects or lags, try USB first. Wireless interference, distance, network congestion, and a sleeping or locked device can interrupt the session. If USB also fails after the trust and cable checks, return to the compatibility list: the Mac or iPad may not support Sidecar regardless of its operating-system version.

Setup worked when the iPad appears under the Mac's Displays settings and shows either a second desktop or the mirrored Mac screen. In extended mode, the pointer crosses to it in the direction assigned in Arrange, and windows move there when dragged across that display boundary.

Conclusion

After Sidecar connects, arrange the iPad to match your desk, choose a comfortable resolution, and place a reference document or second app there. Use wireless Sidecar when convenience matters and USB when reliability matters. If the iPad vanishes from the display list, check compatibility, Apple Account, two-factor authentication, network, and cable requirements before changing display settings again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Sidecar with a different Apple Account on the iPad?

No. Wireless Sidecar requires the Mac and iPad to use the same Apple Account, with two-factor authentication enabled.

Does Sidecar work without Wi-Fi?

Wireless Sidecar requires Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. A USB connection is the better option when wireless networking is unavailable or unreliable, but the devices still need compatible hardware and software.

Can I use the iPad as a separate extended display instead of mirroring the Mac?

Yes. In the Mac's `Displays` settings, select the iPad and choose `Extended display`. Choose `Mirror for Built-in Display` when both screens should show the same content.