How to use the iPad as an external monitor for the Mac

The iPad can be the perfect substitute for your computer, but it can also be the ideal complement to your Mac. In this post we are going to see how to connect the iPad to a Mac through Sidecar

Does your iPad meet Sidecar requirements?

use the iPad as an external monitor for the Mac

Sidecar is a new functionality that was included in macOS Catalina that allows you to transform the iPad into a second screen for the Mac. In addition, in certain programs it allows you to use the Apple Pencil to perform some action, although in most cases it is still a second screen as if you were using any monitor.

In order for the Sidecar feature to apply, you need to have an operating system that can upgrade to macOS 10.15 (and later) and iPadOS 13 (and later). The way of connecting between the iPad and the Mac can be done wirelessly, but it can also be done through the USB-C connection that the iPad incorporates.

How to connect Mac to iPad?

The process to connect an iPad to a Mac is really simple. However, it is important to remember that both devices need to be signed in with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.

Sidecar

Once the iPad and Mac are connected, you can use the Mac. To do this, you have to move the cursor over the full screen button of a Mac window and choose the option to move it to iPad.

You can repeat the process with other windows on the Mac, or just drag it over from the iPad. To move a window back to Mac, you can also move your cursor over the full screen button and choose Move Window Back to Mac.

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

  1. In macOS Monterey or later, choose a mirroring option from the Mirror Screen menu in the menu bar.
  2. In macOS Big Sur, choose a mirroring option from the Display menu, in Control Center, or in the menu bar.
  3. In macOS Catalina, choose a mirroring option from the AirPlay menu ( or ) in the menu bar.

Use the iPad sidebar

iPad and Mac sync seamlessly, allowing the most frequently used Mac controls to appear on the side of the iPad, and you can also select essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead. of a using a keyboard.

The most common controls that come with iPad and are part of macOS are: show/hide the Dock, show full screen on iPad, option, control, shift, and the option to disconnect iPad from Mac.

iPad y Mac

Is Sidecar the same as Universal Control?

To prevent many users from confusing Sidecar with Universal Control, we are going to determine the differences below:

Universal Control allows you to use both devices with the same keyboard and mouse, being in this case the Mac. That is, you can move the pointer from the Mac screen to the iPad and perform all kinds of actions and even drag an image from one device to another and all without iPadOS disappearing, while Sidecar allows you to mirror the Mac screen on the iPad, but does not include the Universal Control functions.

teclado mac para iPad