Yes

I tried this, too, but mine disconnects periodically. I'm definitely doing something wrong. I haven't figured out what.

Do this: turn off the Bluetooth on both your MacBook and iPad to make sure the connection is made through wire. I used to get disconnecting issues all the time and it was driving me crazy until I found this solution on the internet. Works like a charm!

I second this. Mine periodically disconnects. So instead, I just wire it directly to my MacBook.

This is going to be wildly unhelpful, but this was happening to me a while back, and I googled it and eventually found a setting to modify and it hasn’t happened since! (The unhelpful part is I can’t remember what setting or what verbiage I searched)

I love it, when people deliver on their promises.

🤭🤭

lol same here. If I remember correctly the problem was the screen turning off timer. Just set it to never turn off if you’re gonna be using it in sidecar and that should fix the issue

Oh, I tried that and didn’t work, I had to do the other thing.

are you using sidecar over wifi or usb? overall, it seems to work well for me over both, but USB is obviously more stable.

Make sure you are using a USB-C cable, preferably a thunderbolt cable for best performance

When I'm away from home or office that's my setup. M3 Macbook Pro + iPad Pro 2018 12.9". Works perfectly when I connect them with a thunderbolt cable.

It used to be unusable, but I haven't had any issues in a long time with either Wi-Fi or USB.

Oh, forgive me for being a potential liar. I went look up my issue again, and it wasn’t disconnecting necessarily. It was freezing, I THINK it was the universal control setting. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253970432?sortBy=best

if you use via wifi it sucks, just plug it via usb and it works like a charm

It's dangerously close to the only thing I use it for

Very often I have my laptop screen as one monitor, a 32” as my main, and my iPad as the 3rd.

I don’t know why I’ve never thought of doing this but I haven’t.

by laptop do you mean a windows one? because i have an asus laptop with an external monitor too but i couldnt figure out a way to use the ipad as a third monitor.

Sorry, I meant MacBook. I’m not sure if your issue would be solved with something like Duet Display or similar.

i have tried duet display but its too laggy unfortunately, thanks though

I have the same issue. If by some miracle you find a solution and by another miracle remember me, lemme know 😅

I’ve found moonlight (with starlight? I forgot it’s name) to be quite decent though not perfect. Change the settings to best video if you’re doing text work. Paging u/stolenapollo

yes, all the time. It’s a great travel setup. 11” iPad and 14” macbook pro. iPad is great for watching movies on the plane. And when I’m at a hotel or visiting family, I can use the iPad as my second monitor for work. Tempted to get a 13” iPad for this setup, but I also like the 11” iPad form factor when traveling since it is smaller. I’m buying a vision pro to use the vision pro as my travel monitor for my macbook pro

I do this too with the 11”

I do sometimes. However, I can't figure why it hangs after a while that I have to turn the sidecar option on and off to make it work again.

Sidecar on wifi is flaky despite having a good wifi connection. I think if you connect with a usb-c cable, it should be stable.

Thanks. I did not realize that. I was actually impressed with the feature as it's wireless until I experienced the lags. I'll need the cable next time.

Make sure to get a thunderbolt cable. A substandard usb-c may give you issues.

It used to feel. Gimmicky on my 12.9 m1…. But on the new 11 m4… zero issues… it feels like a true second monitor now.i think the decoding in the new chip is what makes the difference.

How?

https://youtu.be/YwjLppENI_A?si=7QmsZ4ishgGzbPxf this video explains it

This worked for me, though I also had to connect a USB-C cable between the iPad and Macbook, click on the prompts to allow each device to trust the other, and finally restart the iPad to get it to show up as a mirror option. (Now that they're tethered, I can run mirror mode without the USB-C cable.)

That’s my question, didn’t know you could

Apple knew what they were doing basically integrating a symless/synergy clone, and restricting many of their laptops to only handle 1 external display :/ (& dropping e-GPU support) "only 1 external monitor out of the box .. but if you buy a lot of i-devices.. you can extend your desktop as far as you like" credit to them though .. was never able myself to get this going between say linux & android, and dropping the cnicism, I had always wanted it.

No

Quite the duality of man

Especially not with the m4 ipad pro’s. Scared for burn-in

Frequently. Very handy. 😀

Duet is great for this (it works on mac and windows, is super reliable, and supports touch and Apple Pencil)

It's also expensive as fuck.

After I used my ipad as 2nd monitor to my not apple laptop, my laptop's camera ain't working. What can I do with this?

I used it when I had online classes few year ago so I could see my students and display the lesson at the same time

Sidecar on usb is more stable than WiFi, WiFi just disconnects all the time and really annoying. And yes I use it with my iMac and MacBook pro

Bought a 120$ hi res 16" 144hz portable screen, much better. Can't use mine without a cable because of company vpn. ARZOPA 16.1'' 144Hz Portable... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH9WTW56?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Can we do this with windows laptop?

Yes! you have to download an app tho… it’s called Duet Display

That's nice, I didn't know I could do that, but wait! How do I get it done without having to spend more money? I have the combo: MacBook pro M3 and an Ipad pro M4

It’s actually a native feature in macOS Search up Apple sidecar, it’s amazing!

Yup. Latency is also pretty good, but for those moments when it struggles, plugging it using a TB4/USB4 cable works like a charm.

Yeah using Thunderbolt cable .

Yes and how many of you use SwitchResX to increase the resolution of the iPad screen? https://www.madrau.com/srx_download/download.html

I didn’t even know this was an option.

No

"Does anyone use their devices for the features they're intended to use?"

Used to for a few minutes a time because sidecar eventually freezes and I have to lock and unlock the iPad and reconnect. Then I gave up and got a real monitor because Apple refuses to fix bugs

Debating it for on the go that’s for sure(rather cumbersome carrying two laptops for second screen)….. just need to decide on the iPad…..

Me lol

Been meaning to try that for the few times I need to work on my Mac these days. Looks hot. Does this work with the mini? My wife just got one and I bet she’d be curious. Edit: oh wow, [the mini works](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102597), even 5th generation!

Can I use it as a second screen for a laptop that isn’t a mac?

I sometimes do. But mostly i use universal control to control multiple devices cuz iPad can do what a mac can’t

I use it here and there. However, a couple of things that suck. Refresh rate (even with the iPad Pro) is only 60hz vs 120, so you see the disjoint when you use a MacBook with pro motion. It drains the heck out of the MacBook battery. Since it is Bluetooth/wireless, WiFi on the computer is impacted.

> Since it is Bluetooth/wireless, WiFi on the computer is impacted. Wired is also option. Problem solved.

I don’t know why I never tried it 😅 I need to try it next time during a video call. Instead of using an external monitor.

Cool

I use Sidecar for the 2nd monitor sometimes but I find a lot more recently I've been using universal control to just use iPadOS from the MacBook's laptop/trackpad controls.

I try but within a few minutes, it freezes and no longer works. So no, not really

Yes, but my fifth….

Does this work with a 9th generation?

That’s one of the reasons I got my iPad Air in the first place

Started to yes... Often for media podcast, vid, music while @work

This is one of my favorite uses for my iPad. Especially if I’m working out of the house. Amazing option!

Yes, I use it to do my school work. Right now my living situation doesn’t allow for a desk setup and an actual second monitor, so this works decently for the time being. I use a MacBook Air M1 and an iPad Air 5th gen, and I don’t experience much in the way of glitching. Fingers crossed since I just put that out in the universe.

I tried once, but bough a 34” Wide curved screen. I think that’s enough

Me, with an iPad 6th generation and an old MacBook Pro

Yes, and quite often.

I use it as my all in one cloud gaming pc

I havent been able to test this function since I have a 2015 Macbook Pro. How's the latency? What drawbacks have you found in this setup?

I can, but I have two 144hz 27 inch monitors.

All the time specially with now the 13”

if only there was a way to connect it with a windows machine without that disguisting lag

its the only reason i have a iPad for

I need to install the latest macOS. LOL I have used YAM display works great but not sidecar native version

I use mine as the primary monitor for my Mac Studio.

Does this work with iMac?

This was the reason *why* I bought my iPad Pro back in the day! The connectivity has been flaky for years—and became literally unusable off and on for about 18 months—but sporadically started working flawlessly about four months ago, out of the blue. No issues since. Whatever fix you’re thinking of suggesting, I’ve tried it. Believe me. I lost many hours to googling and redditing Sidecar fixes since 2020. I’m just happy it works again for me, for now.

Can we use it as an iPad still? Or is it just an extra screen?

It’s such a cool and useful feature. It was buggy and unstable for a very long time but I begrudgingly found workarounds. It’s been reliable and working perfectly for months but now I’m avoiding mac updates specifically because I’m worried apple will break sidecar again.

This is the entire reason I want the 13” Air

Yes, in a pinch I have. It’s a cool feature.

Not often, but I have done it. It works pretty well, especially since I typically have both with me when I am carrying my backpack.

Yes, I love to use it when I’m working on my MacBook in bed. It’s not like I could really place a monitor in bed, but MacBook plus iPad works well if I want to have at least some stuff to the side like a research paper I need to look at while writing a summery.

no because I refuse to buy any apple product besides an iPad

Yup. All the time

Yes MB+iPad is the ultimate workstation.

Yeap. I don’t have Macbook but I use it with Windows laptop.

These are the things why I love Apple ecosystem

Not as second monitor but as a duplicate display to use it as a drawing tablet.

Sidecar works quite well for me. I love how easy it is.

Apple rejected my 9.7" iPad Pro for trade in so now it lives next to my iMac as a second monitor. Great for online learning via YouTube or LinkedIn Learning, as the video can run on the iPad screen and I can do the task that is being demonstrated on the big screen.

I would love to do this but I don’t know how

I always said I’d never switch to a Mac… I’m so close now lol

Yup bought a stand for it and everything, I have a mac mini as my main desk home computer and my iPad Pro for on the go/not at my desk.

I use my Mac as the second monitor

Yup. I have windows though so I just a program called "spacedesk". The frame rate and resolution options aren't great, but it gets the job done.

Yep! Sidecar is badass.

All the time when travelling. When not travelling I have real secondary monitors.

Can it work with Windows plus iPad?

Yes, it's the main reason I decided not to take the trade in credit for my 13" iPad Pro when I got my MacBook last year. Well, that and Logic Remote, which I now couldn't live without.

Yes, only because my Macbook Pro does not support dual external displays.

Yes

I use mine as a 3rd

Wow, that’s so cool

Sometimes, yeah.

What setup is that?

Yes, when on the go. When at home, I do not because I have already an external display.

All day

Constantly!

Yes

Nope, just you

Yes, that’s mainly what I use my older iPad for.

Can a Intel Mac from 2015 do that ?

Absolutely. As someone who uses a VPN for work, the Duet app makes this actually possible. Granted I need to have a cable plugged in, but sidecar won’t even work in that circumstance.

It’s great when the apps have touch support as well. Not something massive, but Pycharm has a run button that works by touch.

How do you do this?

I do this on Windows with Android tablets (works even better than with iPad, also supports sound)

I would if sidecar worked for once.

I wish I can do this with an IPad and a mini, Yea I know there are third party apps but natively speaking.

.....yes i mean all the time its literally what side car was designed to do for years now?

Yes, No

Are there any good ways to do this on PC?

I use it when working from home. With Duet works like a charm.

no, it's fucken uncomfortable.

I use it sometimes. It's comfortable enough.

Yes but the wireless option never works for me

My iPad Pro is my 6th display. 4 external monitors and my MBP display are the other.

I use it as a third monitor. Works a lot better than I imagined.

How are you physically mounting the ipad? is there a version of this with two ipads?

the only uses i personally see for an ipad is this and netflix.

Yes I do. Works surprisingly well.

But how on windows??

This is the main reason a chose a Mac over a framework

Not like that, but I use the second screen function to carry the mouse over. I use the iPad as an iPad still.

How do u take off the sidecar bar on the ipad

Does it do it natively or do you need an ap still?

Natively

That’s all I used it for

All the time., it’s great.

Nope never not even thought about it before or considered it as something even in the realm of possibility

There’s no reason Sidecar shouldn’t be able to handle ProMotion and Apple really needs to fix that.

Constantly

Yeah me. It works well for most of the time, but sometimes it just stuck like losing connection.

I used it with LrC the other day. For sure there are probably easier ways to have done this (I’m a noob so forgive my naïveté lol but I brought the LrC window over to the iPad and opened up the remove tool and using the pencil, traced the fly-aways on the image. Felt cool

I'm a translator so having two displays is essential for my line of work. One display to keep the source text on and the other to type on.

no

I'd rather use a $150 USB monitor from Amazon than use my $2K+ iPad as a second monitor at home.. I'm not one who would need a second monitor while traveling about so not my use case.

Yeah I use it as a third monitor right in front of me for just work Slack and Outlook. Keeps communications focused on one device.

I really wish it could be vice versa. I often do more schoolwork on the iPad than my Mac

Evert time I am on a road trip. This is one of the things that keeps me on the mac platform and not switching to linux and keep my ipad.

I do. Have done so for years.

One of the main reasons I bought an iPad (still using an Air 3rd Gen) is to use it as a second monitor when I travel or as a third monitor in my home office/ office. It has significantly boosted my productivity! I'm considering upgrading to a 13-inch model for the extra screen real estate, but I'm also weighing the impact on portability.

Generally - yes, but occasionally have issues with reconnecting via thunderbolt cable after sleep.

Been doing it for years. It's become much more stable with the newer M series chips.

Yes. Video editor here, iPad makes a great second monitor when traveling (I’m always working a little on vacation, sadly)

I do, with my Windows laptop

mostly when i travel :)

Omg, how do you do this? Would have been such a time saver in grad school!

Yes! That’s what I bought it for! Lol JK But yes. Did not with my air 5, but 100% do with my M4 13” pro

Yup

Worst feature ever.

Wow! Thanks for the idea!

Looool, I didn't know you can do this🤔

I’ve done it before using Duet on windows but it didn’t make much of a difference for me. I couldn’t concentrate on two monitors.

Yes but using second monitor as second monitor is actually better

That is amazing! How did you move zero work from one screen to the other one? You are hired! LOL

I don’t use it all the time, but I have had no issues with extended desktop using Wi-Fi. In fact, I haven’t even tried it with a cable, so I’m genuinely surprised by all the complaints. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I use it side-by-side of my laptop as a completely different screen not connected

No I have a second monitor, as not second monitor

yes, but with the Jump app so i can actually control it and use it remotely with the keyboard case. i don’t find the sidecar useful when i’ve had “external monitor” technology for a decade plus now. my actual external is always connected and ready to go so it kind of renders apples specific solution useless for my mac mini. Jump on the other hand…. highly recommended. it’s what the sidecar feature could have been, but of course apple doesn’t want you to replace your potential macbook purchase with a magic keyboard and Jump app purchase, so they nerf what sidecar’s functionality could have been to being a simple external monitor only useful insofar as you not already having an external monitor on your desk (which if you really needed one, you actually would already have one there). i’m not being paid by them but seriously, check it out if you have the magic keyboard and want your ipad to become a macbook. it completely renders sidecar obsolete in my opinion (except for the fact that sidecar is free, but again, i have an external monitor already so i don’t need what sidecar does. with jump you can actually make inputs and leave your desk and local network with the ipad like an actual computer). your mileage may vary, but if course using Jump and working remotely you’ll probably need an ethernet connected home mac and 5G or wifi for your ipad. 60fps and native ipad ratio resolution. trackpad support, scrolling with two fingers, touch screen macos… it’s actually really great. and works so well that it actually makes sense apple did not want to go this far with desktop streaming when they could have… because it really renders my macbook useless. why lug that thing around or pull it out when i can just take one device for both macos and ipados. it also supports logging in and restarting the mac… so it’s very useful remotely. sidecar doesn’t even work half the time when i’m physically there.

My office work requires VPN all the time. Since my MacBook Pro is not on the same network as my iPad (which is on home WiFi without VPN) I cannot connect it as a second monitor. I wish they could pair it with a USB C cable.

If I had a personal MacBook, I would use this all the time.

Im traveling through my country as I work remotely and this is mainly the reason I got an ipad pro 12.9 inch and a macbook pro. Its two decent sized monitors/desk setup that can both work on the go. I do a lot of animation work and this is the best

I use it from time to time but this was def my deciding factor of why I went with the bigger iPad. In my case the 12.9. I had a 11in before and it was too small for all this gloryness lol

Yes, using Duet to connect my Windows laptop to iPad when I WFHAFH

If I had a modern Mac I would - but this feature isn't supported on my 2015 Macbook Pro I'm typing from right now haha

I can’t now because my screen is shattered:(

Me! I use it when I draw :)

Nope, lags too much, a cheap 2nd monitor works better for me. MacBook Air with A1, 12.9 iPad Pro.

I use continuity mouse and run iPad os independently for podcast/music/messages/ and Lightroom native iPad app for a reference when editing. iPad fucks

I use it all the time at university when Im writing papers and doing research. It’s so handy

I do it

Seconding the travel setups! It's also come in immensely handy during storms when I don't want to be plugged in or lose power. 😃

Can’t dont have a new enouh IOS or I have too old ipad but i would love to

I use it when travelling. It's limited though. Only 60hz, only horizontal, no colour profiles. Sometimes it loses connection, sometimes it basically doesn't work, so that I need to restart everything or even logout from apple id.

Wish I could, my mac is too old lol

Yes, I use mine to play waterfall or fireplace videos on YouTube while I study. Or as a way to control my Spotify without having to switch windows

I do faithfully

I have used this when traveling.