Two monitors are better than one, and with a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, you can turn your iPad into a second display with Sidecar, which allows your computer to talk with your tablet and extend the same desktop environment. You can extend or mirror your Mac’s display, show or hide the Sidebar and Touch Bar that appear on the iPad, or disconnect your tablet. If your Mac or iPad isn’t supported by Sidecar—or you’re a Windows and Android user—Splashtop Wired XDisplay is a third-party app that can turn your tablet into a second monitor.
There is some noticeable latency, and I did have some trouble with it getting stuck in Mirrored Mode on one of my computers, but for the price of free, it’s worth a shot.
(The $7 Android app has more mixed reviews, and if you’re going to pay money, I think it’s worth shelling out a few more and using our paid recommendation, Duet Display, below.) You’re free to test out the service for 10 minutes at a time, but for longer usage (or additional features like wireless connections) you will need to subscribe to a tiered pricing plan.
Finally, click the Duet Display icon on your PC to gain access to a few other settings, like the frame rate and resolution your tablet uses. For me, the default settings worked great, but if you find it’s being a bit sluggish on an older laptop, lowering the resolution, frame rate, or power usage from this window may help.
How to Use an iPad as a Second Monitor for a Windows PC with Duet Display
The base tier called Duet Air adds wireless support as well as a remote desktop client for controlling your PC on the road. I launched Adobe Fresco for some drawing and painting and moused over the application window by clicking and dragging the app. And, pressure sensitivity worked right away between the Apple Pencil, Windows Ink, and Adobe Fresco.
Use multitasking
Learn how to use the new Multitasking menu, the Dock, and Spotlight to work with multiple apps. How to use the Multitasking menu to open multiple iPad apps Slide one finger up from the bottom edge of the screen until the Dock appears, then release.
If you let go of the app in the middle of the screen, it appears in a Slide Over window.
Tap the App Library icon at the far-right side of the Dock. Touch and hold one of the larger app icons, then drag it into Split View or Slide Over.
Press Command (⌘)–Space bar on your keyboard to open Spotlight. If you let go of the app in the middle of the screen, it appears in a Slide Over window.
Open an app that supports center window, such as Mail or Notes.
Touch and hold an individual email, note, or other item from the app’s list. When you have multiple apps open, you can make adjustments to customize your multitasking experience. Or you can touch and hold the Multitasking button, then drag the app to the left or right edge of the screen.
With drag and drop, you can move text, photos, and files from one app to another. Use Split View or Slide Over to open the two apps that you want to move information between. Touch and hold a photo or file until it appears to lift off the screen slightly. Swipe all the way to the left to see all the apps that you have open in Slide Over.
You can also put five fingers on the screen and then make a pinch gesture. You can also hide the video by dragging it to the left or right edge of your display.
Tap the arrow button to make the video reappear.
You should use your iPad as a second screen
And even if they’re not as big as your desktop monitor, Apple’s tablets are a lot easier to pack, so you can seamlessly take your work wherever you go. This means you don’t need a cable to connect your devices, though plugging your tablet into a power outlet might be a good idea if you’re planning on using it for a long time. This will effectively turn your tablet into an extension of your Mac’s screen, meaning you can just drag your windows on your computer over to your iPad.
Among the free ones, our favorite is Splashtop Wired XDisplay, but as you’d imagine, setting things up is not as simple as on a Mac computer. You can also configure your iPad’s screen resolution from Windows’ Display settings—you’ll find a shortcut in the Splashtop Wired XDisplay app.
How to Use an iPad as a Second Monitor for a Windows PC with Duet Display
The base tier called Duet Air adds wireless support as well as a remote desktop client for controlling your PC on the road. I launched Adobe Fresco for some drawing and painting and moused over the application window by clicking and dragging the app. And, pressure sensitivity worked right away between the Apple Pencil, Windows Ink, and Adobe Fresco.
Remote Desktop, Second Display, Drawing Tablet, and More
Full gesture support, customizable shortcuts, Touch Bar, tons of resolution options, and very little battery power. If you are hesitant about this app, because you think that you’re getting along fine without it, it will make a huge difference. Then I use my iPad as second monitor for Outlook, Lync and other chat while I use the laptop big screen for remote desktop to my workstation at the main office.
Use your iPad as a second display for your Mac
You don’t need to connect your iPad to your Mac with a cable to use Sidecar, but you do need to be signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar.
How to Use a Tablet or iPad as a Second Monitor
Tablets and iPads can be an affordable alternative to full-scale monitor setups, especially for occasional use. This article shares helpful tips and provides apps to connect the two seamlessly.
This remote-access tool allows you to use your Windows PC from the iPad or tablet with a subscription or for free. Splashtop is an app you install on your tablet or iPad, and Splash Display is a Windows PC agent.
Follow the steps below for detailed instructions on how to connect your iPad or tablet to a Windows PC: Launch the XDisplay app on your Windows desktop and tweak the frame rate, screen quality, and resolution.
Like Splashtop, Duet Display connects your iPad, iPhone, or Android device to your Windows or Mac PC. The standard version supports iPad keyboards and will add touch controls to your computer apps on the screen.
If you use the tablet for drawing features, you may want to pay the extra fee for a Duet Pro subscription. Select the “Duet Display” icon on the PC to tweak the screen settings. If you want to connect an Android tablet to a Mac, skip to the Alternative Methods section. The Sidecar is a great native tool that lets you use your iPad in landscape orientation as a second monitor for your Mac.
Ensure your devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on for the connection to work correctly. To set up Sidecar, first, ensure you’re logged in with the same Apple ID on your iPad and Mac.
If you haven’t connected your Mac to the iPad, navigate to the Control Center, then click Display.
Maybe you have an older Mac version that doesn’t support Sidecar, or you’re using an Android tablet.
XDisplay offers a pretty decent screen mirroring experience, and it’s a great alternative if your Mac doesn’t have the Sidecar function. You can pay extra for wireless connectivity and other benefits like remote desktop features or enhanced graphics.
Thankfully, there are enough excellent apps that help connect the devices, and Mac even has a built-in feature that allows you to do so.
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