Use your iPad as a second

display for your Mac with

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

Extend or mirror your Mac desktop

with Sidecar

Z. 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.

b. Your iPad should now show an extension of

your Mac desktop. You can move windows to
it and use it like any other display.
c. 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.
d. 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.

Use the sidebar

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.

Show or hide your computer's Dock on your

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.

Show or hide the onscreen keyboard.

Disconnect your iPad, ending the Sidecar

session.

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 doesnʼt 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 your mouse or
trackpad. 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 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

If you can't use AirPlay or mirror your device's

screen
Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused
by wireless interference, which can affect
Sidecar performance when using Sidecar
wirelessly.
Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone,
iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch

Published Date: April 01, 2020

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