Do you want to use your iPad as a second monitor with just a few clicks? Here’s everything you need to know about How to use your iPad as a second monitor with just a few clicks. Knowing how to utilise your iPad as a second display might change the way you operate from home, school, or the business.
For those seeking a more permanent solution, turning to one of the finest monitors may be preferable, but utilising your iPad as a second monitor is an easy way to acquire additional screen real estate on the move – ideal if you find yourself suddenly working from a hotel room or coffee shop. Also see How to Add Notes to iCloud Keychain Entries in iOS 15.4
If you have modern Apple hardware, such as a MacBook Air with M1 or an iPad 10.2, you can utilise your iPad as a second display with a few clicks by using the Sidecar software. Even if you don’t have the most up-to-date gear, Apple states on its support website that Sidecar will operate as long as you have macOS Catalina or later on your Mac and iPadOS 13 or later on your tablet, as well as one of the following:
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
- iMac introduced in 2017 or later, or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in 2019
- iPad Pro: all models
- iPad (6th generation) or newer
- iPad mini (5th generation) or newer
- iPad Air (3rd generation) or newer
If you’re using a Mac, utilising your iPad as a second display is simple, albeit the procedure varies depending on the version of macOS you’re using. The first step, regardless of the version you have, is to ensure that you are signed in to the same iCloud account on both devices.
If you don’t own a Mac but have a compatible iPad, you can still utilise it as a second display on Windows due to third-party programmes. Here’s how to utilise your iPad as a second display whether you have a Mac or a Windows PC.
How to use your iPad as a second monitor with macOS
- To access the Control Center on your Mac, click the symbol that looks like two toggles in the upper-right corner of the screen. Then, on the Display tab, click the rightmost icon. If you’re on macOS Catalina, you must instead click the AirPlay icon.
- You should see your iPad underneath the “Connect To” option. To connect to it, click on the name of your iPad.
- You’ll now have two alternatives from which to pick based on your preferences. “Mirror [Built-in Retina Display]” mirrors your full screen to your iPad, whilst “Utilize As Separate Display” allows you to use your iPad as a second display on which you may launch programmes individually.
How to use your iPad as a second monitor with Windows
Despite the fact that your Windows PC lacks the native compatibility that macOS has, you can still utilise your iPad as a second display with Windows owing to some useful third-party programmes.
Splashtop Wired XDisplay is one of the most popular, and it’s free to use as long as you stick to the wired version. However, the programme hasn’t been updated since 2018 and is said to be slow, but it might suffice if you’re in a rush and need a second display to work on a spreadsheet or document.
If you’re willing to pay, Duet Display provides a more seamless experience – it was designed by ex-Apple engineers, according to its description. Though the iPad app isn’t inexpensive at $10/£8.99, it’s considerably less expensive than purchasing a real monitor.