Use iPad as a second display for your Mac

With Sidecar, y'all can use your iPad equally a display that extends or mirrors your Mac desktop.

iPad next to MacBook using Sidecar

Get fix

  • Before you lot begin, make sure your Mac and iPad meet the Sidecar system requirements, including that each are signed with the same Apple ID.
  • You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to continue your iPad charged during utilise, connect it straight to your Mac with the USB charging cable that came with your iPad.

If you want your keyboard, mouse or trackpad to command your Mac and iPad, with the iPad showing its own Home Screen and apps rather than the desktop and apps of your Mac, utilize Universal Command instead.

Move a Mac window to your iPad

Move your arrow over the total-screen push button of a window on your Mac, and then choose the pick to motility that window to your iPad.
Document with full-screen button menu shown and Move to iPad selected

Y'all can echo this step for other Mac windows, or simply drag other Mac windows to and from your iPad. To motion a window back to your Mac, you lot can as well movement your pointer over the full-screen button and cull Motility Window Back to Mac.

If you want your iPad to mirror your Mac screen instead of extending its desktop:

The sidebar puts commonly used Mac controls on the side of your iPad screen. It includes Command, Shift and other modifier keys, so you can choose essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead of a keyboard.

iPad using Sidecar

Show Menu bar button icon

Tap to show or hibernate the menu bar when viewing a window in total screen on iPad.

Show Dock button icon

Testify or hide your reckoner's Dock on your iPad.

Command button icon

Command. Bear upon and agree to set the Command cardinal. Double-tap to lock the central.

Option button icon

Option. Touch and concur to set the Pick key. Double-tap to lock the central.

Control button icon

Control. Affect and agree to gear up the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Shift button icon

Shift. Touch and hold to set up the Shift key. Double-tap to lock the fundamental.

Undo button icon

Disengage the last action. Some apps support multiple undos.

Keyboard button icon

Show or hibernate the onscreen keyboard.

Disconnect button icon

Disconnect your iPad from your Mac.

Utilise gestures for scrolling and other actions

These Multi-Impact gestures are particularly useful when using your iPad equally a display.

  • Scroll: swipe with two fingers.
  • Copy: compression in with three fingers.
  • Cut: compression in with 3 fingers twice.
  • Paste: pinch out with three fingers.
  • Undo: swipe left with three fingers or double-tap with three fingers.
  • Redo: swipe right with three fingers.

Apply Apple Pencil

To point, click, select and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, y'all can utilise your Apple tree Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad continued to your Mac. You tin can also use it to write, sketch and mark up documents while seeing the updates alive on your Mac.

Sidecar besides supports double-tap, which you tin can plow on in Organization Preferences. Double-tap enables apps that support this characteristic to perform custom deportment when you double-tap the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).

Employ the Touch Bar

Many apps on Mac have Impact Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, yous become a Touch Bar on your iPad screen even if your Mac doesn't have a Touch Bar. Tap its controls with either your finger or Apple Pencil. If the Impact Bar isn't appearing when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then brand certain "Displays take separate Spaces" is selected.

Use a keyboard, mouse or trackpad

During your session, you can type using the keyboard connected to your Mac, or yous tin can use a keyboard continued to your iPad, such as the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad. To betoken, click or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac or employ an Apple Pencil on your iPad.

Use iPad apps

While using your iPad as a brandish, you can switch to an iPad app, then collaborate with that app on your iPad as y'all normally would. This volition suspend your session until y'all switch back to the Sidecar app, which only appears on your iPad Dwelling house Screen while using Sidecar.

Sidecar app's icon

Alter settings

If you're using macOS Monterey, cull Apple carte  > System Preferences, then click Displays. Click Display Settings, then select your iPad in the sidebar.

If you're using macOS Big Sur or macOS Catalina, cull Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Sidecar.

These settings are only available on computers that support Sidecar.

  • Show Sidebar: prove the sidebar on the left- or right-mitt side of your iPad screen, or turn information technology off.
  • Testify Impact Bar: show the Affect Bar on the bottom or top of your iPad screen, or turn information technology off.
  • Enable double-tap on Apple Pencil: allow apps that support this characteristic to perform custom deportment when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2d generation).

Learn more

1. If y'all can't run across this menu, cull Apple menu  > Organisation Preferences, click Dock & Menu Bar, then click Screen Mirroring in the sidebar. Select the Bear witness in Menu Bar tickbox, then choose Always from the adjacent pop-upwardly bill of fare.

2. If you tin't see this carte du jour, choose Apple tree card  > System Preferences, click Displays, then select "Show mirroring options in the bill of fare bar when available".

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