How to Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor With Sidecar
Sidecar comes equipped with most modern Macs and iPads. Here’s how to use this feature to run your iPad as a second monitor for your Mac.
Is an iPad a Good Monitor?
Is the iPad as good a display as an actual monitor? Not really. The 9.7-inch display of the full-sized iPad won’t give you as much real estate as a 22-inch monitor. But the best apps for converting your iPad into a second monitor also make use of the iPad’s touch interface, which can be a bonus.
The Sidebar contains buttons that let you open a keyboard, press the Command key, and other items that help you perform tasks on your second screen. You can put it on the left or the right.The Touch Bar mirrors the functionality of the context-sensitive menu on some Mac models. It can appear at the top or bottom of the iPad display.
Tap the top icon to toggle showing the menu bar.The next icon opens the Mac’s dock on your iPad.The next four buttons mirror the Command, Option, Control, and Shift keys on a keyboard.The arrow icon lets you undo the last action you performed.Tap the keyboard icon to open a full keyboard on your iPad. You can use it along with the modifier keys to navigate apps.Tap the Sidecar icon to disconnect from your Mac.
More Options to Connect iPad to Windows
If Sidecar isn’t for you or you’re looking for something that works with Windows, there are other great options that you can try.
Duet Display
While many apps can use your iPad as a second monitor via Wi-Fi, Duet Display uses the same Lightning or 30-pin cable you use to charge your iPad. This makes the connection fast, allowing you to do everything from watch video, which would be laggy over Wi-Fi, to play games. Duet Display works well with the iPad Pro, too. The iPad Pro’s 12.9-inch display makes it perfect for adding a second monitor to your MacBook, iMac, or PC. You can watch a demo video of Duet Display in action on Youtube.
Air Display
Until Duet Display came along, Air Display was the reigning champ of converting your iPad into a monitor. And while Duet Display hasn’t registered a TKO, the champ has definitely been backed into a corner. Avatron Software’s Air Display 3 also uses the iPad’s cable rather than Wi-Fi to set up the iPad as a second monitor. Still, Air Display 3 only works with Macs. If you use Windows, install Air Display 2. Have a Mac? Download Air Display 3 instead.
iDisplay Is Another, Pricier Option
Duet Display and Air Display aren’t alone in providing the ability to use your iPad as a monitor for your PC. But they are the best solution. If you are willing to pay iDisplay’s price tag, choose the better options.
