Menu
Sidecar allows an iPad to be used as a secondary external display with a Mac. This great feature was brought to Mac with macOS Catalina, and it makes it possible to extend a Mac Desktop onto a compatible iPad, giving you a second monitor without actually needing a second monitor.
iMac, as the all-in-one desktop computer, has been the favorite computer for many users, and 4K retina screen is one of the highlights.
As time goes, old iMac may be put in the room corner.
- If you want to use the iPad as a portable display for a Mac around your house, you should look at Luna Display which works on a Wi-Fi network and has a longer range. Once Sidecar is enabled, the iPad works as more than just a monitor.
- I could borrow a monitor for the initial setup. One more question - if I'm using the iPad as the monitor via one of these applications, then is it still possible to move something (such as music) from the Mac Mini onto the iPad I'm using as the monitor? Or once the iPad is in use as a monitor, is its hard drive totally inaccessible?
- Connecting Another Mac to Your iMac. The 27-inch iMac has a bi-directional Mini DisplayPort or a Thunderbolt port (depending on the model) that can be used to drive a second monitor. The same Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port can be used as a video input that allows your iMac to serve as a monitor for another Mac.
If you did that, it is a big pity that you miss the large screen.
Why not use iMac as an external monitor for your PC, or other Mac computers?
That’s what we shall uncover in this post.
We will show the step-by-step guide to use iMac as an external monitor for PC, MacBook, and other computers.
Part 1. Use iMac as External Monitor for PC/MacBook via Target Display Mode
Target display mode is the hidden feature in iMac, which you can mirror PC or other Mac models into iMac for large screen.
For using the iMac as the external display, you should prepare what is as following:
● iMac computer
- 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010 with a Mini DisplayPort.
- All iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013 and mid 2014 with a Thunderbolt port.
● A Thunderbolt cable or a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable.
● Mac from 2019 or earlier or PC with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port.
Then let’s follow the steps below to get iMac as the external monitor for MacBook/mini or PC.
Step 1 Turn on both source MacBook/PC and iMac.
Step 2 Make sure the MacBook is logged in to the user account.
Step 3 Plug the cable into the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort on MacBook or PC. Then connect the other end of cable into the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort on your iMac.
Note: If you are using an adapter, connect the cable to the adapter first, then insert the other end into the Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port on the iMac.
Step 4 Press Command + F2 on the keyboard of the iMac to trigger the target display mode. In a few seconds, you should now see the screen of MacBook/PC mirrored on the iMac.
To exit the target display mode, you should press Command + F2 again or disconnect the cable.
Part 2. Use iMac as External Display for iPhone/iPad via QuickTime
Not only using iMac as the external monitor for PC and other Mac models, but also can you mirror iPhone/iPad into iMac for large screen. The tool that can help you is QuickTime.
QuickTime is the media player and screen recorder. Here, it acts as the screen mirror. The steps of using iMac as the large display for iPhone/iPad are also easy to follow.
Step 1 Connect iPhone to iMac
Get the USB cable to plug your iPhone into iMac.
Step 2 Enable QuickTime screen recording
Run QuickTime on your iMac. Click File in the upper left corner to choose New Movie Recording option.
Step 3 Select your iPhone
Click the drop-down list of the recording button to find your iPhone in the camera list.
Step 4 Mirror iPhone into iMac
Now you can see the screen of iPhone is mirrored on iMac. Meanwhile, all the actions you did on iPhone will be recorded in iMac.
You can choose to export the recording or give it up.
Apart from QuickTime, you can also use the third-party software, e.g. Reflector, to share your iPhone or iPad screen in iMac. More details about mirroring iPhone to Mac are here.
Part 3. Pro Tip: Use PC as External Display for iPhone iPad
To use iMac as the external display monitor for PC and other Mac models are easy. Moreover, you can also mirror your iPhone screen into iMac to use the large screen. However, not all the users are the fans of Mac computer. Sharing the iPhone or iPad screen on PC can also enjoy the large display.
How to use PC as the monitor for iPhone or iPad?
Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder is the fix. It is the professional software to enlarge iPhone/iPad/iPod screen on PC wirelessly and safely. With it, you can connect iPhone and iPad with PC and watch the videos on a large screen.
- Use PC as the external display monitor and recorder for iPhone and iPad.
- Share videos, music, and other data from iOS device to PC easily.
- Compatible with Windows 10/8/7 and iPhone/iPad running in iOS 14/13/12/11, etc.
- Mirror iPhone/iPad to PC with Wi-Fi easily.
Step 1 Enable Screen Mirroring on iPhone
Make sure both your iPhone/iPad and PC connect with the same Wi-Fi network.
Run iOS Screen Recorder program on your PC.
On iPhone, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen to open Control Center, and tap Screen Mirroring to choose Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder to enable the mirror feature.
Step 2 Make recording settings on PC
Return to this software on PC, you will see three tabs, Welcome, Settings and About.
Navigate the Settings tab, and you can customize the recording settings freely.
Step 3 Mirror and recording iPhone on PC
While all the settings are made well, just click the red record button on your iPhone, and it will start mirroring and recording iPhone screen on PC.
Click the Start Export button to save the recording as MP4 on PC.
To same extent, this software is similar to QuickTime. However, it works more powerfully than the latter.
Part 4. FAQS of Using iMac as Extremal Monitor
Use Ipad As Monitor For Mac Mini
Target display mode does not work in iMac?
You can fix the target display mode by following the solutions here:
1. Make sure you are logged into iMac.
2. Make sure your iMac is running in macOS High Sierra or earlier.
3. Make sure the cable is connected correctly.
1. Make sure you are logged into iMac.
2. Make sure your iMac is running in macOS High Sierra or earlier.
3. Make sure the cable is connected correctly.
Why does it fail to use the iMac with 5K screen as the monitor for my PC?
In general, iMac has the resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 5120 x 2880 (5K). If you use the iMac with 2560 x 1440 resolution, then you should make sure the PC resolution is also 2560 x 1440. To use iMac with 5120 x 2880 resolution as the monitor for the PC, it is hard to make it. That’s why you cannot use the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina and newer ones as the monitor for PC.
Can I use multiple iMac computer as the monitor for one PC or Mac?
Yes, you can use more than one iMac as a display provided all Mac computers. Both iMacs and the source Mac computer are using Thunderbolt connectivity. Each iMac used as a monitor counts against the simultaneously connected displays supported by the source Mac.
What is the maximum connected Thunderbolt monitor for Mac?
The maximum connected Thunderbolt display is 1 for MacBook Air (Mid 2011), MacBook Pro 13-inch (2011), Mac mini 2.3 GHz (Mid 2011), 2 is for MacBook Air (Mid 2012 - 2014), MacBook Pro Retina (Mid 2012 and later), MacBook Pro 15-inch (Early 2011 and later), MacBook Pro 17-inch (Early 2011 and later), Mac mini 2.5 GHz (Mid 2011), Mac mini (Late 2012 - 2014), iMac (Mid 2011 - 2013) and iMac 21.5-inch (Mid 2014), and 6 is for Mac Pro (2013).
Conclusion
To use old iMac as the external display monitor is a good solution for those who needs the large screen. You can use the target display mode to do it by connecting PC/Mac to iMac with the cable. Moreover, QuickTime also shares the mirror way to get iMac as the monitor for iPhone and iPad. As for watching the large screen on PC from iPhone/iPad, you can also use Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder.
Do you have any idea to use the large screen as the monitor for your device?
Let me know by leaving your comments below.
Long gone are the days when a single monitor is able to track everything we have to do. Today there are constant meetings, messages, tasks, reports, Safari tabs, and more — all fighting for a slice of our attention. At this pace, switching between windows on your laptop is quite tiring after a while.
To be able to do more during their workday, many turned to buying Apple external monitors (called Cinema Displays): one, two, and even more (especially if you’re a high-frequency trader). But with those being gradually phased out and replaced by Pro Display XDR (starting at $5,000), what options are still available?
Enhance Catalina with Setapp
Get a collection of 170+ apps that work perfectly well on macOS Catalina. This will save you a lot of time and the trouble of downgrading.
Benefits Of Using iPad As Second Monitor
On balance, the best course of action for nearly everyone today is to use iPad as monitor, in additional to their MacBook or iMac.
True. It’s possible to go ahead and purchase an external monitor that’s not made by Apple. But that too carries some tradeoffs. For one, a traditional external monitor severely diminishes your portability — you suddenly need to stay at your desk to get things done and travelling for business, for example, means your productivity takes a hit.
In addition, iPad external monitor is cheaper than getting a full second screen, and iPad display is likely much more detailed, sharp, and beautiful than any of its potential alternatives.
So when you want to use iPad as second screen, how do you do it?
How to set up iPad external monitor in macOS Catalina
By now, you might have heard that with the latest macOS release, Catalina, you’re able to use tablet as monitor via the new function called Sidecar.
Sidecar is not just a simple support for a second screen, it brings a wealth of features:
- Either extend your desktop or display exactly the same content, so you can show what you’re doing to someone else
- Use Apple Pencil for creative input, so you can say goodbye to costly Wacom tablets
- Display Touch Bar, even if your Mac doesn’t have one
- Navigate with all the same gestures as your Apple Trackpad
- Connect with cable or enjoy at a distance of up to 10 meters
All this sounds like a really good deal, so let’s walk through the setup process step by step.
First, let’s make sure your Mac is compatible with Sidecar. You should have either an iMac (2015+), MacBook (2016+), MacBook Pro (2016+), iMac Pro (2017+), MacBook Air (2018+), Mac mini (2018+), or Mac Pro (2019+).
Then check that your iPad is either iPad Air (3rd gen+), iPad mini (5th gen+), iPad (6th gen+), or iPad Pro (9.7-, 10.5-, 11-, and 12.9-inch will all work fine).
All good? The next thing to do is install macOS Catalina, if you haven’t already:
- Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar
- Choose System Preferences ➙ Software Update
- If you see an update available, select Update Now
- Follow the prompts for installation (usually takes around 20–30 minutes)
Similarly, make sure your iPad sports iOS 13 by going into Settings ➙ General ➙ Software Update.
After that, the way you connect to your iPad using Sidecar is through AirPlay, just like you would connect to Apple TV or a second screen in a conference room:
- Go to System Preferences ➙ Displays
- Make sure that “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” is checked
- Click the AirPlay dropdown in the menu bar ➙ select your iPad as second monitor
Note: If you can’t use iPad as second screen in the dropdown, it might be because it’s not using the same Apple ID as your Mac. Sign out and back in and try once again.
Sidecar second screen should be working swimmingly now. There are also a few extra options you should know about. Although you can simply drag your app windows onto the iPad display, there’s a new menu option that appears if you click and hold the green expand circle in the top-left corner — “Move to [your iPad’s name].”
Use Ipad Pro As Monitor
Within the AirPlay dropdown you can also choose to Show Touch Bar and Hide Sidebar. Where those two options are located on your iPad external monitor could be controlled through System Preferences ➙ Sidecar.
Finally, you can still use your iPad apps even when Sidecar is turned on! Just swipe up to see the Dock and choose to use Slide Over or Split View or come back fullscreen to Sidecar by tapping the Dock icon again.
Overall, Sidecar is an amazing and long-awaited addition to the Apple ecosystem. But what if you don’t have the newest Mac or iPad to run it? Don’t worry, there are a few third-party apps that are almost just as good.
How to use iPad as second monitor with third-party apps
Luckily, you can still use iPad as monitor to increase your productivity, even if neither of your devices fit the Sidecar requirements.
You might know that Android had the SecondScreen app to solve this issue for a long time. Well, iOS is no different. Apps like Duet Display, Air Display, iDisplay, and Splashtop all try to excel at making using iPad as second monitor seamless and affordable.
Most of the Apple external monitor apps work the same way:
- Buy and install the required software on iPad and then a companion app on your Mac
- Open the app and plug your iPad in with a Lightning cable
- Adjust the settings via the app and you’re ready to go!
Note: Third-party apps generally add the ability to connect your iPad to a PC as well — something Sidecar isn’t able to do.
Extra apps for multi-screen productivity
It should also be mentioned that setting up iPad external monitor is not the only way to maximize the benefits of your screen time. Thanks to a rich selection of macOS apps, it’s possible to see this issue from a completely different perspective.
Manage all windows in Mosaic
Install a powerful app that gives you control over every active window on Mac. Make the most complicated desktop setup easy.
Mosaic is not an iPad display app, but it helps you get the most out of your existing setup by being the best app window manager on Mac. This utility lets you specify the exact arrangement of your windows, which in turn ensures you don’t lose as much as a pixel of precious screen space you already have.
You can even change your settings on the fly with Touch Bar support or your iOS device. Speaking of iOS, if you decide to get Sidecar after all, Mosaic will be your perfect companion by managing app windows on both your Mac and your iPad.
Screens is another valuable boost to your productivity, regardless of where you are. That’s because this neat little app lets you access all the monitors you already own remotely. You can easily fire up a computer at your office or home while you’re away and have complete control not only of the screen but also of much more powerful processing power of your work desktop compared to your MacBook, for example.
With a single drag and drop functionality in Screens, you can still work on your MacBook (even with Sidecar) and outsource resource-heavy tasks to your desktop remotely, keeping your portable setup nimble and fast.
So here we go. Now you know how you can use tablet as monitor with Sidecar, what to do when Sidecar isn’t available to you, and even which apps you should check out to effortlessly add more productivity with minimal efforts.
Best of all, you can try both Mosaic and Screens mentioned above absolutely free for seven days with a trial from Setapp, a Mac platform for over 150 best-in-class apps that are all about making your digital life a breeze. Just sign up and give it a try, being a pro Mac user has never been so accessible.
Setapp lives on Mac and iOS. Please come back from another device.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
Read onSign Up
Setapp uses cookies to personalize your experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our cookie policy.