Did You Know Your iPad Can Be a Second Monitor? Here's How to Do It

Whether you have the biggest 16-inch MacBook Pro or an iMac, it's helpful to have a secondary display. If you have an iPad, forget buying a second monitor -- you can get the convenience of dual displays for free.

As long as you have a Mac and iPad that are compatible, you can quickly and easily connect the two Apple devices and use the iPad as an extra display for your Mac computer. You just need to sign into both devices with the same Apple account. The Cupertino company provides a feature called Sidecar that extends your desktop experience to the iPad. You don't even need to click on any on-screen buttons. With Universal Control, you can place both devices side by side and move the cursor from your Mac to the iPad by sliding it across the sides.

Here's what you need to know about using an iPad as a second display for Mac.

In the market for an iPad? Here is a list of the best iPad choices for 2025 and the best deals on iPads.

Requirements to use your iPad as a second display

As mentioned above, both of your devices need to support Sidecar, a feature that allows you to use your iPad as a second monitor for your Mac. As for the Mac, you must be running MacOS Catalina or later and it has to be one of the following models:

• MacBook Pro (2016 or later)
• MacBook (2016 or later)
• MacBook Air (2018 or later)
• iMac (2017 or later and Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
• iMac Pro
• Mac Mini (2018 or later)
• Mac Pro (2019 or later)
• Mac Studio
  

Coming to the iPad, it must be running iPadOS 13 or later and be one of the following models:

• iPad Pro (all models)
• iPad (6th generation or later)
• iPad Mini (5th generation or later)
• iPad Air (3rd generation or later)

With iPadOS 18 and MacOS 15 Sequoia available now, it's best to update your devices to their latest available firmware to avoid any issues. If not already logged in, you need to log in to both devices with the same Apple ID account, using two-factor authentication. 

If you plan on going wireless, the two devices must be within 30 feet of one another. You can also use your USB to connect the two devices, with the advantage of being able to also charge your iPad while it's in use as a second monitor.

Share your entire Mac desktop to your iPad

Depending on what software update you have on your computer, sharing your computer desktop to your tablet may vary. If you're running MacOS Big Sur or later, click the Display icon in the menu bar at the top right. From that menu, choose your iPad.

If you're on MacOS Catalina, you need to click on the AirPlay icon in the menu bar and then select your iPad. If for some reason you don't see the AirPlay icon, click the Apple menu in the top right and go to System Preferences > Displays. Check Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available.

Once your Mac and iPad are connected, you have several options to choose from that appear in the Display/AirPlay menu:

• Mirror Built-in Retina Display: Mirror your exact desktop to your iPad. This will shift your computer desktop to look more like your iPad.
• Use As Separate Display: Use the iPad as an extension to your desktop. To use your iPad display, drag any window or files from your Mac computer to the right of your screen, which will take you to the tablet. To go back to your computer, simply drag your cursor back to where you came from.

Share only one Mac window to your iPad

You can also quickly share a window instead of dragging it over to your iPad. For incstance, you could share your web browser in Safari or what you've jotted down in your Notes. You need to simply hover your mouse cursor over the green full-screen button that appears on the top left of most windows. After a second of hovering, you should see an option that says "Move to iPad," which will share that window to your tablet. You can share multiple windows, in succession, to your iPad.

Once your screen is shared over to your iPad, a set of controls will appear on the left side of your iPad, which are sidebar controls you'll commonly see on your Mac. That includes, from top to bottom:

• Menu bar: Show or hide menu bar when in full-screen
• Dock: Show or hide dock
• Command: Double-tap to lock key
• Option: Double-tap to lock key
• Control: Double-tap to lock key
• Shift: Double-tap to lock key
• Undo: Undo last action
• Keyboard: Show or hide keyboard
• Disconnect: Disconnect iPad from Mac

In addition to these Mac controls, you can also use a number of swipe gestures to control certain things on the second monitor (you won't be able to use the touchscreen as usual though). That includes swiping with two fingers to scroll, pinching in with three fingers to copy, swiping left with three fingers to undo and more.

And finally, you may also be able to use the Touch Bar, if the application on your iPad is compatible. For example, if you move Safari over to the iPad, you'll see Touch Bar controls to go back and forward, use the search bar, flip between tabs and open a new tab. In Messages, you would see controls to create a new text, send an emoji and predictive text. The Touch Bar may not appear for every app you use on your iPad.

If you don't want to use the Sidebar or Touch Bar controls, you can also get rid of them. On your Mac, click on the Display icon in the menu bar, and underneath your connected iPad, you should see Hide SideBar and Hide Touch Bar. Click on either or both options to hide the controls from your iPad. Using your iPad while connected to your Mac

Even if you're using your iPad as a second monitor, you can still swipe up to exit the Sidecar application and use your iPad as usual. In your dock, you'll see a blue icon with two monitors on it -- this is Sidecar. To go back to using your iPad as a second monitor, tap on the Sidecar app icon in the dock.

If you're interested in learning more about what your iPad is capable of, here are nine things to do immediately after you get a new iPad, how to declutter your iPad dock by removing this annoying feature and nine things to do immediately after you get a new iPad.