You already own a screen that’s sitting in a drawer: your iPad. With Sidecar on a Mac — or third-party apps on Windows — it becomes a second display for email, chat, reference documents or a video call window. This guide explains how to set it up, what the limits are, and when a cheap portable monitor is the better answer.
Quick answer
- Mac + iPad: Sidecar is built in, free and works wirelessly or over cable.
- Windows + iPad: use a third-party app (Duet Display, spacedesk, Splashtop) — wired is far more reliable.
- You want a second screen every day at a desk: buy a portable monitor instead; it’s bigger and simpler.
- You already have both devices and travel: Sidecar is free extra screen space in your bag.
Sidecar: Mac + iPad
What you need
- A supported Mac and iPad (Apple lists compatible models in its Sidecar support page).
- Both signed in to the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication.
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Handoff on for wireless use, with devices within about 10 metres — or a USB cable for a wired connection.
How to connect
- On the Mac, open Control Center (or System Settings → Displays).
- Choose Screen Mirroring and select your iPad.
- Pick Extend (second display) rather than Mirror.
- In System Settings → Displays → Arrange, drag the iPad to match where it physically sits.
What’s good about it
- The iPad’s display is excellent — sharp, color-accurate and bright.
- Apple Pencil support: draw or annotate directly in Mac apps that accept tablet input.
- A sidebar with modifier keys and the Touch Bar controls appear on the iPad.
- Wireless means no cables when you just need a quick second screen.
The limits
- Latency: fine for text, chat and documents; not for gaming, video editing or fast-moving content.
- Battery: wireless Sidecar drains the iPad; use a cable to keep it charged.
- Size: an 11-inch iPad is a small second screen next to a 27-inch monitor.
- While in Sidecar, the iPad isn’t usable as an iPad.
Universal Control is not the same thing
Universal Control lets one keyboard and mouse control a Mac and an iPad side by side, each running its own apps, with drag and drop between them. Sidecar turns the iPad into a Mac display. If you want iPad apps (like Slack or a note app) on the iPad screen while working on the Mac, Universal Control is what you want.
iPad as a second screen for Windows
Windows has no built-in equivalent, so you need an app installed on both the PC and the iPad:
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Duet Display | Paid; wired and wireless; long-standing reputation for low latency over cable |
| spacedesk | Free tier; wireless over your local network; quality depends on Wi-Fi |
| Splashtop Wired XDisplay | Wired connection focused on stability |
For all of them: use a wired connection when you can, keep both devices on the same network for wireless, and expect some compression on moving images.
Good uses for a small second screen
- Video call window while you work on the main screen.
- Chat apps, email or a task list parked out of the way.
- Reference material: a PDF, spec, design brief or documentation.
- Monitoring: logs, dashboards, music controls.
- Apple Pencil annotation on a document open on the Mac.
Set it up ergonomically
A tablet flat on the desk means looking down all day. Prop the iPad on a stand at roughly the same height as your main screen and slightly to the side. A cheap tablet stand or an adjustable laptop stand works. See our laptop stand guide and dual monitor setup guide for positioning.