For this setup, Morrison used the 2018 Mac Mini to put macOS on a 2018 iPad Pro. The Mac Mini powers the whole experience, and basically uses the iPad Pro as an external display — but all of the. The 'content' of your Mac's desktop and documents folder(s) can be accessed from the iCloud Drive app on your iPad. One could use the term mirroring for that.
Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar
- Make sure that your Mac and iPad 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.
- Click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar on your Mac, then choose the option to connect to your iPad. Or use Sidecar preferences to connect.
If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then make sure that ”Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” is selected. - Your iPad should now show 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 AirPlay menu, which is a blue rectangle while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display. This is a great way to share your Mac screen with others.
- To end your Sidecar session, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect. Or click the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad.
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.
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.
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. It works just like the Touch Bar on Mac, and you can 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, including 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 and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13:
Mac using macOS Catalina
- 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, plus iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in 2019
iPad using iPadOS 13
- iPad Pro: all models
- iPad (6th generation) or later
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
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.
Apple’s iOS supports several ways to display itself on a larger screen like PC, Mac, and TV. AirPlay mirroring technology is the most common method used to share iPad screen on Mac. While in this article, we will show you another two feasible ways to display your iPad screen on your Mac’s display so that you can share contents with others, host an interactive webinar, or even record your iPad on Mac’s large screen.
Terrific Ways on How to Mirror iPad to Mac
QuickTime Player – Default Way to Share iPad Screen on Mac
QuickTime Player is bundled with MacOS and you can use this default app on Mac to share your iPad screen. There are many pros with Quicktime to cast your iPad content to Mac’s screen. It costs nothing, provides instant responsiveness and can be set up easily. You can follow the guidance below to screen share iPad to Mac.
- Connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable.
- Launch QuickTime on your Mac after connection.
- Tap on “File” button and then find “New Movie Recording” from the list.
- As the input device will be set to the iSight camera on your Mac, please hit the down arrow next to the record button. Select iPad from the camera list and then you can show iPad screen on Mac.
Tips: In addition to mirroring iOS screen on Mac, you can also use QuickTime Player to record iPad screen on a Mac display.
ApowerMirror – Wirelessly and Conveniently Share iPad Screen on Mac
If you do not have a wire at hand, another good way that you can use to wirelessly cast your iPad screen to your Mac is called ApowerMirrror. It is a popular screen mirroring application for iOS and Android devices. And it can work smoothly both on your Windows PC and Mac. As long as your iOS devices enjoy AirPlay capability, you can mirror the iOS screen on PC or Mac with this tool. Now let’s take a close look at steps below to show iPad screen on Mac.
Can I Download The Mac Os On Ipad 10.2
- Visit ApowerMirror website on your Mac and then download this app.
- Install this tool and launch it on your Mac.
- Set your iPad and Mac under the same wireless network.
- Click “AirPlay Mirroring” and “Apowersoft” after swiping up from the bottom of your iPad’s home screen.
- Once finished, you can share iPad Screen on Mac and enjoy contents on a larger screen.
The amazing part of ApowerMirror is that it allows you to mirror multiple iOS devices on PC or Mac simultaneously. What’s more, it empowers you to mirror iOS to Android or vice versa. Due to its steady performance and easy operation, this app has been well-received and applied to serving various purposes. You can use it in the classroom, office, presentation center and so forth. In addition to its mirror function, ApowerMirrror can also record your iOS or Android screen on PC or Mac.
LetsView
Another iPad supporting screen-sharing app that you can consider using is LetsView. LetsView is a multitasking platform that allows you to mirror your device to your Mac and other devices’ platform. It can do screen mirroring as the main function, screen recording, screen capturing and annotating. All these great features for free if you download LetsView on your iPad and PC. Also, aside from mirroring it to your Mac, you can do cross-platform mirroring. You can mirror it on Android, Windows, and TV. It’s worth the try. On the other hand, if you decided to use it, a walkthrough is written below.
Download and install the app on your iPad by going to your App Store. For your PC, click on the download button below.
- Connect both devices under the same Wi-fi network
- From the home screen of your phone, swipe up to reveal your control panel.
- Tap on “screen mirroring” then choose the name of your Mac and tap it.
- The mirroring will then begin.
Note: for iPhone X and XS users, swipe down from the upper right side of the home screen to reveal your control center.
Conclusion
The above content introduces you both the wired and wireless methods to share iPad screen on Mac. With this guidance, you can easily demonstrate your iPad screen on your Mac’s big screen. Of course, there are other methods available to serve this purpose. To make this article more readable, we warmly welcome you to recommend more apps in the comment below.