Use iPad as a second display for your Mac

With Sidecar, you can use your iPad as a display that extends or mirrors your Mac desktop.

MacBook Air with iPad Pro as a second display

Get ready

  • Before continuing, make sure that your Mac and iPad meet the Sidecar system requirements, including that each is signed with the same Apple Account.

  • 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.

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

Move a Mac window to your iPad

Move your pointer over the full-screen buttonfull-screen button of a window on your Mac, then choose the option to move that window to your iPad.

The menu available from the full-screen button

You can repeat this step for other Mac windows, or simply drag other Mac windows to and from your iPad. To move a window back to your Mac, you can also move your pointer over the full-screen buttonfull-screen button and choose Move Window Back to Mac.

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

  • In macOS Monterey or later, choose a mirroring option from the Screen Mirroring menuScreen Mirroring menu in the menu bar.1

  • In macOS Big Sur, choose a mirroring option from the Display menu in Control Centre or the menu bar.

  • In macOS Catalina, choose a mirroring option from the Display menunull or AirPlay menunull in the menu bar.2

Use the sidebar on your iPad

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.

Sidebar icon

Description

Show Menu Bar icon

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

Show Dock icon

Show or hide your computer's Dock on your iPad.

Command key icon

Command. Touch and hold to set the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Option key icon

Option. Touch and hold to set the Option key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Control key icon

Control. Touch and hold to set the Control key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Shift key icon

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

Undo icon

Undo the last action. Some apps support multiple undo actions.

Show Onscreen Keyboard icon

Show or hide the onscreen keyboard.

Disconnect icon

Disconnect your iPad from your Mac.

Use gestures for scrolling and other actions

These Multi-Touch gestures are particularly useful when using your iPad as a display.

  • 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 settings. Double-tap enables apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).

Use the Touch Bar

Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar 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. If the Touch Bar doesn't appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls:

  • macOS Ventura or later: Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar, then scroll down on the right and turn on "Displays have separate Spaces". 

  • Earlier versions of macOS: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then make sure "Displays have separate Spaces" is selected.

Use a keyboard, mouse or trackpad

During your session, you can type using the keyboard connected to your Mac, or you can use a keyboard connected to your 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 your iPad as a display, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This will suspend your session until you switch back to the Sidecar app, which only appears on your iPad Home screen while using Sidecar.

The Sidecar app in the Dock on iPad.

Change settings

To find Sidecar settings:

  • macOS Ventura or later: Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Displays in the sidebar, then click your iPad at the top of the window.

  • macOS Monterey: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Displays. Click Display Settings, then click your iPad in the sidebar.

  • Earlier versions of macOS: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Sidecar.

These settings are only available on computers that support Sidecar:

  • Show Sidebar: Show the sidebar on the left- or right-hand 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).

Sidecar system requirements

Sidecar works with these devices and operating systems.

macOS Catalina or later

iPadOS 13 or later

Additional requirements

Learn more

1. If you can’t see this menu: In macOS Ventura or later, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Control Centre in the sidebar, then choose an option from the Screen Mirroring menu on the right. In earlier macOS versions, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Dock & Menu Bar, then click Screen Mirroring in the sidebar. Tick the Show in Menu Bar box, then choose Always from the adjacent pop-up menu.

2. If you can’t see this menu, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Displays, then select “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available”.

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