You can use your iPad as a second monitor with just a few clicks

Y'all can utilize your iPad as a second monitor with but a few clicks — here'due south how

Macbook Air on a kitchen counter with an iPad next to it

(Image credit: Future)

Knowing how to use your iPad every bit a second monitor could transform how yous work, whether that'southward from home, school, or the office. Turning to one of the best monitors may be ameliorate for those looking for a more permanent solution, merely using your iPad as a second monitor is an easy manner to instantly get more screen real estate on the get — perfect if you find yourself unexpectedly working from a hotel room or coffee shop.

If y'all accept recent Apple hardware, such every bit the MacBook Air with M1 or iPad x.2, yous can utilise your iPad as second monitor with only a few clicks by turning to the built-in Sidecar app. Even if you lot're not rocking the latest gear, Apple says on its back up page that Sidecar works only fine as long as you're running macOS Catalina or after your Mac and iPadOS 13 or after on your tablet, forth with one of the following:

MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or after
MacBook introduced in 2016 or after
MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
iMac introduced in 2017 or later, or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
iMac Pro
Mac mini introduced in 2018 or afterward
Mac Pro introduced in 2019
iPad Pro: all models
iPad (6th generation) or newer
iPad mini (5th generation) or newer
iPad Air (third generation) or newer

iPad with Sidecar app on display mirroring macOS — (Image credit: Future)

Using your iPad equally a second monitor is really easy if you're using a Mac, though the process is slightly different depending on which version of macOS you're running. Whichever version you lot have, the starting time pace is to brand sure y'all're signed in to the same iCloud account on both devices.

If you're not a Mac person, merely ain a compatible iPad, yous tin can still utilise your iPad every bit a second monitor on Windows, thanks to third-party apps. Whether you have a Mac or a Windows computer, hither's how to use your iPad as a second monitor.

How to apply your iPad equally a second monitor with macOS

1. Open up the Control Center on your Mac by clicking the icon that looks similar 2 toggles in the top-correct of the display. Then, on the Display option, click the icon to the right. If you're running macOS Catalina, you lot need to click the AirPlay icon instead.

macOS home screen with command center highlighted — (Paradigm credit: Apple)

ii. You should see your iPad underneath the "Connect To" option. To connect to it, click on the name of your iPad.

macOS home screen with iPad highlighted in display settings — (Epitome credit: Apple)

3. You'll now see two options, which y'all can choose depending on your preference. "Mirror [Built-in Retina Brandish]" volition mirror your entire screen to your iPad, while "Use Equally Split up Display" will let you use your iPad as a second monitor, on which yous can open apps separately.

macOS home screen with display options highlighted — (Image credit: Apple)

How to use your iPad as a 2d monitor with Windows

Windows 10 — (Epitome credit: Shutterstock)

Though your Windows PC lacks the native support that macOS has, it's still possible to apply your iPad as a second monitor with Windows, thanks to some helpful third party apps.

I of the near popular is Splashtop Wired XDisplay, which is free to apply and then long as you stick to the wired version. However, the app hasn't been updated since 2018 and is reported to be laggy, though it should be more than sufficient if you're in a pinch and need a second display for working on a spreadsheet or document.

If yous're prepared to go the paid route, Duet Display is a more seamless experience — information technology was built by ex-Apple engineers, according to its blurb. Though the iPad app isn't cheap at $10/£8.99, it's certainly more cost effective than forking out for an actual monitor.

At present you lot know how to use your iPad as a second monitor, you might want to cheque out another iPad guides, including how to apply split screen on iPad and how to screenshot on iPad. And if you want to check out a new Apple feature that lets you multitask between your Mac and iPad, take a await at how to utilise Universal Command on Macs and iPads.

Dale Play a joke on is How-to Editor at Tom'southward Guide, helping people become the about out of their technology. He'south been a tech nerd ever since childhood, when he used the coin from his outset job every bit a paperboy to buy a subscription to GamesMaster magazine, and has a whole room at home defended as a shrine to the countless gadgets he's purchased over the decades. Dale was previously a presenter, reporter and editor in Red china, where he also worked every bit a copywriter for OnePlus at its Shenzhen HQ.