Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar
- Mac Os Catalina Release Date
- Ipad Apps On Mac Os
- Ipad Apps Mac Os Catalina Requirements
- Apple Catalina Os
How to set up iPad external monitor in macOS Catalina. By now, you might have heard that with the latest macOS release, Catalina, you’re able to use tablet as monitor via the new function called Sidecar. Sidecar is not just a simple support for a second screen, it brings a wealth of features. Starting with macOS Catalina and Xcode 11, developers can create a Mac version of an iPad app using UIKit, an Apple framework that until now was intended solely for iOS apps. Adding macOS support.
Follow these steps on a Mac and iPad that meet the Sidecar system requirements. You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to keep your iPad charged during use, connect it directly to your Mac with the USB charge cable that came with your iPad.
Start a Sidecar session
Music, TV, and podcasts take center stage. ITunes forever changed the way people experienced. MacOS Catalina runs 64-bit apps exclusively, marking the end of support for 32-bit apps. Before you upgrade your laptop or desktop to the latest version, we’ve laid out some steps to see which. “Sidecar brings the intuitiveness and precision of iPad and Apple Pencil to creative Mac apps and can run on a wireless connection,” Apple has it. To take advantage of Sidecar, you’re going to need a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15, an iPad with iPadOS 13 and an Apple Pencil.
- If you're using macOS Big Sur, click the Display menu in Control Center or the menu bar, then choose your iPad from the menu.
- If you're using macOS Catalina, click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar, then choose your iPad from the menu. (If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, and select “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available”.)
- Or just move a window to your iPad, as described in next section.
- Or connect using the menu in Sidecar preferences.
Switch to screen mirroring
- By default, your iPad shows an extension of your Mac desktop. You can move windows to it and use it like any other display.
- To mirror your Mac display so that both screens show the same content, return to the Display menu or AirPlay menu, which shows a blue iPad icon while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display.
End the Sidecar session
- If you're using macOS Big Sur, return to the Display menu in Control Center or the menu bar and choose your iPad again to disconnect from it.
- If you're using macOS Catalina, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect.
- Or use the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad, or in Sidecar preferences on your Mac.
Learn more about using external displays. For example, you can use Displays preferences to arrange displays so that your iPad extends the left, right, top, or bottom of your desktop.
Move a window to your iPad display
If you hover your pointer over the full-screen button of a window, you can choose to move that window to or from your iPad display. It's faster than dragging the window, and the window is perfectly resized for your display.
The sidebar puts commonly used 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.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the sidebar or change its position.
Tap to show or hide the menu bar when viewing a window in full screen on iPad.
Command. Touch and hold to set the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Shazam app download mac. Option. Touch and hold to set the Option key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Control. Touch and hold to set the Control key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Shift. Touch and hold to set the Shift key. Double-tap to lock the key.
![How to use ipad apps on macos catalina How to use ipad apps on macos catalina](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/images/product/os/macos/standard/Apple-macOS-Catalina-sidecar-tethered-woman-drawing-06032019_big.jpg.large.jpg)
Undo the last action. Some apps support multiple undos.
Use the Touch Bar
Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, you get 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.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the Touch Bar or change its position.
If the Touch Bar doesn't appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then make sure that “Displays have separate Spaces” is selected.
Use gestures for scrolling and other actions
Multi-Touch gestures on iPad remain available when using Sidecar. These gestures are particularly useful with Sidecar:
- Scroll: Swipe with two fingers.
- Copy: Pinch in with three fingers.
- Cut: Pinch in with three 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.
Use 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, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.
Sidecar also supports double-tap, which you can turn on in Sidecar preferences. Double-tap enables apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
Use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
During your Sidecar session, you can type using a keyboard connected to either your Mac or iPad, such as the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad.
To point, click, or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac, or use an Apple Pencil on your iPad.
Use iPad apps
While using Sidecar, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This suspends your Sidecar session until you switch back to the Sidecar app or disconnect Sidecar. The Sidecar app appears on your home screen only while using Sidecar.
Use Sidecar preferences
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sidecar. These preferences are available only on computers that support Sidecar.
- Show Sidebar: Show the sidebar on the left or right side of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Show Touch Bar: Show the Touch Bar on the bottom or top of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Enable double tap on Apple Pencil: Allow apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
- Connect to: Choose an iPad to connect to, or click Disconnect to stop using Sidecar.
Sidecar system requirements
Sidecar requires a compatible Mac using macOS Catalina or later and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13 or later.
- 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)
- 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
Additional requirements
- Both devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.
- To use Sidecar wirelessly, both devices must be within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. Also make sure that the iPad is not sharing its cellular connection and the Mac is not sharing its Internet connection.
- To use Sidecar over USB, make sure that your iPad is set to trust your Mac.
Learn more
- Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference, which can affect Sidecar performance when using Sidecar wirelessly.
Long gone are the days when a single monitor is able to track everything we have to do. Today there are constant meetings, messages, tasks, reports, Safari tabs, and more — all fighting for a slice of our attention. At this pace, switching between windows on your laptop is quite tiring after a while.
To be able to do more during their workday, many turned to buying Apple external monitors (called Cinema Displays): one, two, and even more (especially if you’re a high-frequency trader). But with those being gradually phased out and replaced by Pro Display XDR (starting at $5,000), what options are still available?
Enhance Catalina with Setapp
Get a collection of 170+ apps that work perfectly well on macOS Catalina. This will save you a lot of time and the trouble of downgrading.
Benefits Of Using iPad As Second Monitor
On balance, the best course of action for nearly everyone today is to use iPad as monitor, in additional to their MacBook or iMac.
True. It’s possible to go ahead and purchase an external monitor that’s not made by Apple. But that too carries some tradeoffs. For one, a traditional external monitor severely diminishes your portability — you suddenly need to stay at your desk to get things done and travelling for business, for example, means your productivity takes a hit.
In addition, iPad external monitor is cheaper than getting a full second screen, and iPad display is likely much more detailed, sharp, and beautiful than any of its potential alternatives.
So when you want to use iPad as second screen, how do you do it?
How to set up iPad external monitor in macOS Catalina
By now, you might have heard that with the latest macOS release, Catalina, you’re able to use tablet as monitor via the new function called Sidecar.
Sidecar is not just a simple support for a second screen, it brings a wealth of features:
- Either extend your desktop or display exactly the same content, so you can show what you’re doing to someone else
- Use Apple Pencil for creative input, so you can say goodbye to costly Wacom tablets
- Display Touch Bar, even if your Mac doesn’t have one
- Navigate with all the same gestures as your Apple Trackpad
- Connect with cable or enjoy at a distance of up to 10 meters
All this sounds like a really good deal, so let’s walk through the setup process step by step.
First, let’s make sure your Mac is compatible with Sidecar. You should have either an iMac (2015+), MacBook (2016+), MacBook Pro (2016+), iMac Pro (2017+), MacBook Air (2018+), Mac mini (2018+), or Mac Pro (2019+).
Then check that your iPad is either iPad Air (3rd gen+), iPad mini (5th gen+), iPad (6th gen+), or iPad Pro (9.7-, 10.5-, 11-, and 12.9-inch will all work fine).
All good? The next thing to do is install macOS Catalina, if you haven’t already:
Mac Os Catalina Release Date
- Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar
- Choose System Preferences ➙ Software Update
- If you see an update available, select Update Now
- Follow the prompts for installation (usually takes around 20–30 minutes)
Similarly, make sure your iPad sports iOS 13 by going into Settings ➙ General ➙ Software Update.
After that, the way you connect to your iPad using Sidecar is through AirPlay, just like you would connect to Apple TV or a second screen in a conference room:
- Go to System Preferences ➙ Displays
- Make sure that “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” is checked
- Click the AirPlay dropdown in the menu bar ➙ select your iPad as second monitor
Note: If you can’t use iPad as second screen in the dropdown, it might be because it’s not using the same Apple ID as your Mac. Sign out and back in and try once again.
Sidecar second screen should be working swimmingly now. There are also a few extra options you should know about. Although you can simply drag your app windows onto the iPad display, there’s a new menu option that appears if you click and hold the green expand circle in the top-left corner — “Move to [your iPad’s name].”
Within the AirPlay dropdown you can also choose to Show Touch Bar and Hide Sidebar. Where those two options are located on your iPad external monitor could be controlled through System Preferences ➙ Sidecar.
Ipad Apps On Mac Os
Finally, you can still use your iPad apps even when Sidecar is turned on! Just swipe up to see the Dock and choose to use Slide Over or Split View or come back fullscreen to Sidecar by tapping the Dock icon again.
Overall, Sidecar is an amazing and long-awaited addition to the Apple ecosystem. But what if you don’t have the newest Mac or iPad to run it? Don’t worry, there are a few third-party apps that are almost just as good.
How to use iPad as second monitor with third-party apps
Luckily, you can still use iPad as monitor to increase your productivity, even if neither of your devices fit the Sidecar requirements.
You might know that Android had the SecondScreen app to solve this issue for a long time. Well, iOS is no different. Apps like Duet Display, Air Display, iDisplay, and Splashtop all try to excel at making using iPad as second monitor seamless and affordable.
Most of the Apple external monitor apps work the same way:
- Buy and install the required software on iPad and then a companion app on your Mac
- Open the app and plug your iPad in with a Lightning cable
- Adjust the settings via the app and you’re ready to go!
Note: Third-party apps generally add the ability to connect your iPad to a PC as well — something Sidecar isn’t able to do.
Extra apps for multi-screen productivity
It should also be mentioned that setting up iPad external monitor is not the only way to maximize the benefits of your screen time. Thanks to a rich selection of macOS apps, it’s possible to see this issue from a completely different perspective.
Manage all windows in Mosaic
Install a powerful app that gives you control over every active window on Mac. Make the most complicated desktop setup easy.
Mosaic is not an iPad display app, but it helps you get the most out of your existing setup by being the best app window manager on Mac. This utility lets you specify the exact arrangement of your windows, which in turn ensures you don’t lose as much as a pixel of precious screen space you already have.
You can even change your settings on the fly with Touch Bar support or your iOS device. Speaking of iOS, if you decide to get Sidecar after all, Mosaic will be your perfect companion by managing app windows on both your Mac and your iPad.
Screens is another valuable boost to your productivity, regardless of where you are. That’s because this neat little app lets you access all the monitors you already own remotely. You can easily fire up a computer at your office or home while you’re away and have complete control not only of the screen but also of much more powerful processing power of your work desktop compared to your MacBook, for example.
With a single drag and drop functionality in Screens, you can still work on your MacBook (even with Sidecar) and outsource resource-heavy tasks to your desktop remotely, keeping your portable setup nimble and fast.
So here we go. Now you know how you can use tablet as monitor with Sidecar, what to do when Sidecar isn’t available to you, and even which apps you should check out to effortlessly add more productivity with minimal efforts.
Ipad Apps Mac Os Catalina Requirements
Best of all, you can try both Mosaic and Screens mentioned above absolutely free for seven days with a trial from Setapp, a Mac platform for over 150 best-in-class apps that are all about making your digital life a breeze. Just sign up and give it a try, being a pro Mac user has never been so accessible.
Apple Catalina Os
Setapp lives on Mac and iOS. Please come back from another device.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
Read onSign Up
Setapp uses cookies to personalize your experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our cookie policy.