Do you need an additional screen for your Mac? Well, if you have an iPad you would not have to invest a single euro since, Thanks to iPadOS 13 and macOS Catalina, you can use your iPad as a second screen for your Mac using the Sidecar function. We tell you how this very useful tool works that even allows you to use your Apple Pencil with your Apple computer.
Requirements
- You need a Mac with macOS Catalina and an iPad upgraded to iPadOS 13.
- MacBook Pro 2016 or later
- MacBook 2016 or later
- MacBook Air 2018 or later
- iMac 21 ″ 2017 or later
- iMac 27 ″ 5K 2015 or later
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini 2018 or later
- Mac Pro 2019
- iPad Pro all models
- iPad 6th generation or later
- iPad Air 3rd generation or later
- iPad mini 5th generation or later
- Both devices must have the same iCloud account and have two-factor authentication enabled
- To use wirelessly they must be connected to the same WiFi network with a good signal, and having the WiFi, bluetooth and Handoff function activated. Neither of these devices can be sharing your internet connection.
- For used with USB cable you must have accepted the option "Trust this computer"
Activating Sidecar
If you meet all the requirements and have your devices updated to the latest version available, you won't need to do anything to use Sidecar with your Mac and iPad. Look at the top bar for the AirPlay icon. If you cannot find it, enter the system preferences and in the Screens menu activate the option «Show the duplication options available in the menu bar». Clicking on the icon in question should appear the devices compatible with your Mac screen (Apple TV. IPad) so choose the iPad to which you want to send your second desktop.
After a second in which the screen will flash already We will have our iPad showing us the desktop that we have on the Mac. The classic icons will be replaced by the desktop, the macOS menu bar, and we will be able to move using our mouse through it. It is important to properly configure the position of the additional screen that our iPad provides so that navigation is correct.
As you can see in the image that accompanies the article, my iPad is located just below the iMac, on the left, and this is how I should configure it in the options that macOS offers me, so that navigation through both desktops is logical and fluid. This way I won't go crazy looking for the mouse arrow, or trying to move windows from one desktop to another. It is a very important detail that largely depends on whether your experience with Sidecar is good or not. We have this menu in the system preferences, in the Screens section.
Controlling my Mac on two monitors
I already have two monitors working perfectly on my Mac. The user experience is very good both wirelessly, the most comfortable, and via cable, although it is true that using the WiFi network sometimes you notice some small transitory "lag" that will depend on much of your WiFi network and your computer overload. If you want 100% reliability and also not run out of battery in your iPad, use a USB cable and everything will go smoothly.
Passing the windows to the external screen can be done in several ways. The fastest is press and hold on the green button in the window and select "Transfer to iPad", or you can drag the window to the desktop as you can see in the video. The same is done but in reverse, to recover the window on your Mac.
In addition to using the mouse and keyboard on your Mac to move around the iPad desktop, you have an optional toolbar that you can touch with your fingers, and you can also scroll with two fingers on web pages. There are several touch gestures that you can use on your iPad and that should be known.
- Scroll: swipe with two fingers.
- Copy: pinch with three fingers together.
- Cut: pinch three fingers together twice.
- Paste: pinch with three fingers apart.
- Undo: swipe left with three fingers or double-tap with three fingers.
- Redo: swipe right with three fingers.
In addition you can also use the Apple Pencil to move elements, you can even do "double tap" on the Apple pencil as if you were using it on your iPad (only in the second generation model), and If the application is compatible, as I show in the video with Pixelmator, you can use your iPad to make a drawing or write on your Mac as if it were a graphic tablet. A function that is worth exploring because you are sure to get a lot out of it.