Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar
Follow these steps on a Mac and iPad that meet the Sidecar system requirements. You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to keep your iPad charged during use, connect it directly to your Mac with the USB charge cable that came with your iPad.
Start a Sidecar session
It'll be fun, they said. It just works, they said. And to be fair, the iPad is a spectacularly intuitive and user-friendly computing device. But even the iPad has its moments of head-scratching.
- If you're using macOS Big Sur, click the Display menu in Control Center or the menu bar, then choose your iPad from the menu.
- If you're using macOS Catalina, click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar, then choose your iPad from the menu. (If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, and select “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available”.)
- Or just move a window to your iPad, as described in next section.
- Or connect using the menu in Sidecar preferences.
Switch to screen mirroring
- By default, your iPad shows an extension of your Mac desktop. You can move windows to it and use it like any other display.
- To mirror your Mac display so that both screens show the same content, return to the Display menu or AirPlay menu, which shows a blue iPad icon while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display.
End the Sidecar session
Play Iphone Games On Mac
- If you're using macOS Big Sur, return to the Display menu in Control Center or the menu bar and choose your iPad again to disconnect from it.
- If you're using macOS Catalina, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect.
- Or use the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad, or in Sidecar preferences on your Mac.
Learn more about using external displays. For example, you can use Displays preferences to arrange displays so that your iPad extends the left, right, top, or bottom of your desktop.
Move a window to your iPad display
If you hover your pointer over the full-screen button of a window, you can choose to move that window to or from your iPad display. It's faster than dragging the window, and the window is perfectly resized for your display.
The sidebar puts commonly used controls on the side of your iPad screen. It includes Command, Shift, and other modifier keys, so you can choose essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead of a keyboard.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the sidebar or change its position.
Tap to show or hide the menu bar when viewing a window in full screen on iPad.
Command. Touch and hold to set the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Option. Touch and hold to set the Option key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Control. Touch and hold to set the Control key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Shift. Touch and hold to set the Shift key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Undo the last action. Some apps support multiple undos.
Use the Touch Bar
Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, you get a Touch Bar on your iPad screen even if your Mac doesn’t have a Touch Bar. Tap its controls with either your finger or Apple Pencil.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the Touch Bar or change its position.
If the Touch Bar doesn't appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then make sure that “Displays have separate Spaces” is selected.
Use gestures for scrolling and other actions
How To Use Ipad
Multi-Touch gestures on iPad remain available when using Sidecar. These gestures are particularly useful with Sidecar:
- Scroll: Swipe with two fingers.
- Copy: Pinch in with three fingers.
- Cut: Pinch in with three fingers twice.
- Paste: Pinch out with three fingers.
- Undo: Swipe left with three fingers, or double-tap with three fingers.
- Redo: Swipe right with three fingers.
Use Apple Pencil
To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.
Sidecar also supports double-tap, which you can turn on in Sidecar preferences. Double-tap enables apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
Use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
During your Sidecar session, you can type using a keyboard connected to either your Mac or iPad, such as the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad.
To point, click, or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac, or use an Apple Pencil on your iPad.
Use iPad apps
While using Sidecar, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This suspends your Sidecar session until you switch back to the Sidecar app or disconnect Sidecar. The Sidecar app appears on your home screen only while using Sidecar.
Use Sidecar preferences
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sidecar. These preferences are available only on computers that support Sidecar.
- Show Sidebar: Show the sidebar on the left or right side of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Show Touch Bar: Show the Touch Bar on the bottom or top of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Enable double tap on Apple Pencil: Allow apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
- Connect to: Choose an iPad to connect to, or click Disconnect to stop using Sidecar.
Sidecar system requirements
Sidecar requires a compatible Mac using macOS Catalina or later and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13 or later.
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
- iMac introduced in 2017 or later, or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
- Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in 2019
- iPad Pro: all models
- iPad (6th generation) or newer
- iPad mini (5th generation) or newer
- iPad Air (3rd generation) or newer
Additional requirements
- Both devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.
- To use Sidecar wirelessly, both devices must be within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. Also make sure that the iPad is not sharing its cellular connection and the Mac is not sharing its Internet connection.
- To use Sidecar over USB, make sure that your iPad is set to trust your Mac.
Learn more
- Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference, which can affect Sidecar performance when using Sidecar wirelessly.
How to put apps on iPhone or iPad? If you are looking for ways to download apps from computer to iPhone, you can find the solution here.
Computer to iPhone Transfer
In this new round of “Upgrade to new iPhone”, are you ready for upgrading your old iPhone to the new iPhone 12? If not yet, you can take a minute to read our comprehensive and detailed How to Transfer Data from Old iPhone to New iPhone tutorial.
Apps on iPhone and iPad play an important way in our daily life, from an interesting game app to a productive office app, our Apple life become funny and easy with these wonderful applications. There is the possibility that you download an app from iTunes store, and want to sync it to your iPhone or iPad.
If you are unwilling to use the tedious iTunes program, and do not want to lose any iOS data, you can find another alternative way to put apps on your iPhone/iPad here. Now I will show you an easy and quick way to transfer apps from computer to your iPhone or iPad in just few steps. Read on this guide to put apps on your iPhone or iPad.
Also Read: How to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone >
Tools You Will Need
- An iPhone or iPad;
- An iPhone /iPad USB cable;
- A PC or Mac computer with apps you want to add to your device;
- An iPhone/iPad content manager, AnyTrans.
What is AnyTrans? AnyTrans is an all-in-one iOS content manager that is designed to manage & transfer almost all of your iPhone/iPad/iPod content, including apps, books, music, photos, videos, notes, contacts, messages etc. It break the limitation of iTunes, and allows you to transfer iOS content back to computer, and to another iOS device. What’s more, AnyTrans gives you the access to iCloud backup, and even download the items to computer, including app data, contacts, messages, notes, call history etc.
How to Put Apps on iPhone/iPad with AnyTrans
Now download AnyTrans and install it on your computer, then follow the steps below to download apps from computer to iPhone. There are two versions of AnyTrans for you: Windows and Mac.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Step 1. Run AnyTrans on your computer, and connect your iPhone or iPad to the PC or Mac computer. Click Device Manager button > Choose Apps from iOS content box.
Click on Apps under Main Category Page
Step 2. After you enter the Apps manage page, click the “+” button on the top-right of this window, and browse the apps from your computer, then click “Open” to start transferring.
It just supports installing local apps in *.ipa format.
Also Read: How to Free up Space on iPhone by Removing App Caches >
The Bottom Line
There is no excuse for you not to get an iOS content manager to make your Apple life simpler and smarter, and AnyTrans is the way to go. Any questions on this guide or AnyTrans is warmly welcomed, please be free to contact us. If this guide is helpful, why not share it with your friends now.
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