How do I get my Mac to recognize my iPad for sidecar?

Answered by Ricardo McCardle

To get your Mac to recognize your iPad for Sidecar, you can follow the steps below:

1. Make sure your Mac and iPad meet the system requirements for Sidecar. Sidecar requires a Mac running macOS Catalina (10.15) or later and an iPad running iPadOS 13 or later.

2. Connect your Mac and iPad to the same Wi-Fi network.

3. On your Mac, go to the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”

4. In System Preferences, click on “Displays.” This will open the display settings for your Mac.

5. If you’re using macOS Ventura (12.0) or later, click on the “Sidecar” tab. If you’re using macOS 10.15 to 11.6, click on the “Arrangement” tab.

6. In macOS Ventura (12.0) or later, you’ll see a list of available iPads under the “Mirror or extend to” section. Select your iPad from the list.

7. In macOS 10.15 to 11.6, click on the “Add Display” button. This will open a drop-down menu with a list of available displays.

8. Select your iPad from the list of available displays.

9. Once you’ve selected your iPad, your Mac will attempt to connect to it. If it’s the first time you’re connecting, you may be prompted to enter a passcode on your iPad to establish the connection.

10. After successful connection, your Mac will recognize your iPad as a secondary display and enable Sidecar functionality.

11. You can now use Sidecar to extend or mirror your Mac’s display on your iPad, allowing you to use your iPad as a second screen or as a drawing tablet with Apple Pencil.

It’s important to note that Sidecar requires a compatible Mac and iPad, as well as a stable Wi-Fi connection. If you’re still having trouble getting your Mac to recognize your iPad for Sidecar, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

– Make sure both your Mac and iPad are updated to the latest software versions.
– Restart your Mac and iPad.
– Disconnect and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
– Disable any firewall or security software that may be interfering with the connection.
– Try using a different Wi-Fi network to see if the issue persists.
– If possible, try connecting your iPad to your Mac using a USB cable instead of relying on Wi-Fi.

By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you should be able to get your Mac to recognize your iPad for Sidecar and enjoy the additional display and productivity options it offers.