Mirroring and Sidecar: A Guide
Mirroring allows users to duplicate their iPad’s display on a Mac, showing the same content on both screens. This feature is particularly beneficial when sharing a screen or streaming content to a TV or external monitor. To activate Screen Mirroring from an iPad, one can swipe down on the Control Center, tap the Screen Mirroring icon, and select the Mac.
Using Sidecar
When extending the display, Sidecar functions similarly to a standard external monitor. It enables users to drag windows between the Mac and iPad using the cursor. Additionally, applications can move between devices by selecting Window > Move to Mac or Window > Move to iPad.
The Side Bar on the iPad provides various actions, such as hiding or showing the dock, displaying the onscreen keyboard, and using shortcuts like Shift, Control, Option, and Command. It can be hidden through the Control Center on the Mac, by clicking the Screen Mirroring icon and selecting Hide Side Bar.
The Touch Bar at the bottom of the screen offers different functions based on the current application. For instance, if typing, it displays the Emoji key and predictive text. When opening a new tab, it shows a text box for the URL alongside navigation buttons.
If the display is mirrored, the iPad recognizes standard gestures like swipe, tap, scroll, and zoom, allowing navigation with the Apple Pencil. The second-generation Apple Pencil supports a double-tap feature for triggering custom actions in specific apps.
Turning Off Sidecar
To disable the iPad as a secondary display, the process can be completed on either the Mac or iPad. On a Mac, access the Control Center, click Screen Mirroring, and deselect the iPad from the dropdown list. On the iPad, tap the icon with a rectangle and diagonal line in the Touch Bar, then select Disconnect. For mirrored displays, one can swipe down on the Control Center on the iPad and tap Stop Mirroring.
