You Can Turn Your iPad Into a Second Monitor Whether You Use a Mac or Windows — Here's How
For some of us, one computer monitor is simply not enough to contain all the browser tabs, media windows, and desktop apps we have running at all times. This setup can be particularly tricky if you work on a small screen, like a 12-inch mini laptop. However, if you have a tablet on hand, you can put it to good use by learning how to use your iPad as a second monitor, which can alleviate the issue of screen scarcity.
Both Mac and Windows users can wirelessly pair an iPad with their main device to use as a secondary display — the main difference is in the app you'd use to sync them. We'll explain everything you need to know in our handy guide below on how to use an iPad as a second monitor.
How to Use an iPad as a Second Monitor With a Mac Computer
To pair your iPad as a second monitor with a Mac, you'll use an Apple feature called Sidecar. Before you try to enable this feature, you'll want to ensure that both your iPad and desktop are up to date with the latest iOS version. Sidecar requires iPad iOS 13 or later and macOS Catalina or later to work. Once you've done your updates, you're ready to pair.
First, check that your desktop and iPad are signed in with the same Apple ID credentials and are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
On your iPad, go to Settings > General > Airplay & Handoff and toggle on the Handoff setting.
On your laptop, go to the Control Center (or toggle icon) in the top-right of your screen, select Screen Mirroring > the name of your iPad > Use As Separate Display.
Your iPad can now be used as a second monitor for your main desktop computer.
If you want to switch the positioning of your iPad monitor, go to Control Center > Display > Display Preferences. From here, you'll see all your connected devices that are being used as monitors, and you can drag and drop the iPad monitor wherever you'd like to use it.
To disconnect, go to Control Center > Screen Mirroring > Disconnect. Or, on your iPad, you can select Disconnect from the sidebar menu.
How to Use an iPad as a Second Monitor With a Windows Computer
Because Apple's Sidecar app is not available for Windows, you'll have to download a third-party app, such as Spacedesk, to gain the capability to use your iPad as a second monitor. But no matter the multi-monitor app you end up using, the steps for setup are the same:
Download the multi-monitor app to your desktop and iPad and make sure you're using the same Wi-Fi connection on both.
Open the display monitor app on your iPad and select the name of your desktop computer to connect them.
To adjust the positioning of the iPad, you can right-click on the desktop of your main computer, select Display Settings, and drag-and-drop the iPad monitor wherever you'd like to use it.
To end your session, you can simply select Disconnect from either the desktop app or the iPad sidebar menu.
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