Touchbar doesn't work in Sidecar

I've been continuing to fiddle with this since my post on April 3, 2020. I've spent a couple of hours on the phone with an Apple engineer (who reproduced it on his machine but otherwise no help) and hours since then fiddling.

It does now work for me, but is really finicky.

Here's what I think I know:

• The virtual touchbar (VTB) does not mirror the physical touchbar (PTB).
  • The VTB is attached to the most recently used app that's displayed on the Sidecar. It continues to work, even if that app is not the active app, which is really weird.
  • The PTB is attached to the active app -- unless that app happens to be the one running on the Sidecar, in which case the app-specific part of the PTB is blank.
• The VTB is most reliable if the app is moved to the Sidecar using the app's Window -> Move to <iPadName> menu option, although it sometimes works if you drag it there, too.
• The VTB is most reliable if the mirroring menu (enable in the Displays preference panel) says "Mirror Sidecar Display". Note that just because you have Sidecar connected doesn't mean that this menu item shows up. Furthermore, unchecking "Use as separate display" doesn't cause that menu item to be immediately unchecked, nor does it necessarily cause "Mirror Sidecar Display" to show. Using Window -> Move to <iPadName> seems to encourage the "Mirror Sidecar Display" option to show up.
• Using the "Arrangement" tab in the Displays preference pane to put screens where you (virtually) want them to be is really finicky for me. I now try to avoid it unless I really can't stand the arrangement.

Once I got it to work again, it didn't often revert back to its unworking behaviour for me, so the above isn't completely tested. Hopefully it works for you.

An addendum to my earlier post. Sometimes when the TouchBar is not working it's because my iPad is syncing to my Mac. Take a look at Finder to see if it's synching. Once the synch is done, the TouchBar starts working.

Greetings rollerrrr,

Thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities! I understand you're unable to use the Touch Bar in Sidecar with your iPad and MacBook Pro.

I suggest testing the behavior after each of the following troubleshooting steps:

• Restart your devices: Restart iPad - Apple Support & Log out, sleep, restart, or shut down your Mac - Apple Support
• Toggle Handoff off and back on for both of your devices: Use Handoff to continue a task on your other devices - Apple Support
• Toggle Bluetooth off and back on for your devices: Use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in Control Center - Apple Support & Turn Bluetooth on or off on Mac - Apple Support
• Test with wired and wireless connections: Use your iPad as a second display for your Mac with Sidecar - Apple Support
• Test with a different macOS user account: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

Cheers.

I have the same problem.

Attention.

For me, the problem only occurs in the "Mirror ..." option.

In the "use as separate Display" option, the Touch bar (VTB) works correctly on the iPad.

It seems that the problem is the management of access to control these keys, i.e. Which Touch Bar currently adopts the touch function???

I have the same problem, the touchbar is not responsive on the iPad when using the Sidecar, I tried all the mentioned fixes here and nothing worked. I confirmed the touchbar on the iPad Sidecar only works when my MBP led is open.

I really doubt that it's your iPad being too old. My iPad Pro is less than a year old and, as I noted in a post above, it's very finicky. In recent weeks I've often needed to restart my Mac (after I've tried connecting) to get the TouchBar to work.

I have this issue... it doesn’t work for “extended controls” - so no function keys... it also doesn’t work for f keys (showing esc and then f1 etc)

But it will work with all the other options, such as app control - you have to go to the keyboard setting and change what the touch bar displays.

strangely enough for awhile i used duet screen app and that worked fine with the touch bar option...but after the most recent macOS update that now doesnt work :-(

it’s not very good when quite a few people are having the exact same issue on something that is advertised by apple to work... worse when you are having to rely on these for work stuff :-S

I have the same problem -- sharing the screen using SideCar is not a problem. I can interact with the application using the Apple Pencil just fine. But the TouchBar isn't showing on the iPad. It used to, but then stopped. I'm lecturing and displaying slides using the iPad. I NEED that TouchBar for it to work well.

I've tried the above suggestions, right down to another user account on my Mac. No change.

Yes, I know, I never thought much of it until it didn't work - and then I was confused as **** because I never even realised I was using it. I was like "how did I use this thing? I am sure it was working just a moment ago?" - I even tried clicking on it with the mouse and then I realised it was the Touch Bar from the mackbook pro's that shows up when you use sidecar! Anyway mine is still working fine.

Yeah i didnt realize it either until i read up on the additional features. Tried everything and nada. Please help. My labtop is docked connected to lg38uc99 so touchbar would definitely come in handy. Also ive tried with labtop open and nada. Help!

I'm having this problem also. Using Sidecar on iPad Pro (1st Gen 12.9") with Logic Pro X on a new MacBook Pro 13" laptop. Latest OS on both devices. Trying to use "transport" Touch Bar tools (play, record, etc.) on iPad, and no touches of them are recognized, and same result with other Touch Bar menus--nada. I can use the Apple Pencil to click things on-screen though, however not the Touch Bar items which would be ideal for finger-tap use as designed.

hi,

in my case I can see the Touch Bar but I can't use it... it appears correctly with the app but no action can be performed. I tried with mouse/fingers/pen. It's like it miss something.

my configuration is MacBookPro 16" and iPad Pro 12,9" 1st version. Perhaps the iPad is tool old?

Same here - as it is an advertised feature it should work so I am looking forward to a fix or instructions how to fix.

I've tried everything here. Still no touchbar in sidecar. Please help.