Multi-Screens (iPad, iMac, MacBook Air, etc)

Question

Multi-Screens (iPad, iMac, MacBook Air, etc)

Hi:

I have multiple devices and I'm trying to find a better way to have them operate in tandem. I've learned that my Macbook Air and iMac cannot be connected (in the dual-monitor sense). I now have two questions:

Can my iPad and Macbook Air operate dual-screen?
Someone mentioned I could simply have my Macbook Air and iMac mirror one another -- I thought I was doing this via iCloud.....but now I'm second guessing myself because both machines have different apps (and currently have different things on the desktop). If I factory reset my iMac, how do I set it up to perfectly "mirror" my Macbook Air?

Specs:

Macbook Air M1 2020

iMac 21.5" 2017 (2.3 GHz Dual Core Intel Core i5)

iPad Air 2 (wow - ancient!)

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.1

Posted on May 12, 2021 5:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

LotusPilot

Level 10

303,632 points

May 12, 2021 5:41 AM in response to historyprof1210

An iPad can be used with a compatible Mac to extend the Mac display to the iPad using the Catalina/iPadOS Sidecar feature.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT210380#systemrequirements

An alternative third-party product, Duet, can be used to extend a PC or Mac to an iPad:

https://www.duetdisplay.com/

It isn’t possible to do the reverse, i.e., extend the iPad display to another computer. You can, however, use iPad’s mirroring function to display a replica of the iPad screen on a TV or external monitor - using either AirPlay or over an HDMI connection.

One other product that might be of interest to you is Reflector3:

https://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector

Reply

Answer 2

LotusPilot

Level 10

303,632 points

May 12, 2021 6:31 AM in response to historyprof1210

You’re very welcome. Whilst the referenced alternative solutions are third-party, they are stable - well regarded and extensively used.

If you search thought the App Store, you will find some additional alternatives - such a Luna Display, YAM Display and others.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/luna-display/id1250259715

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/yam-display-free/id1044915567

Reply

Answer 3

Jack-19

Level 8

46,266 points

May 12, 2021 5:49 AM in response to historyprof1210

Your iPad is too old for Sidecar.

I don’t ever recommend any third party display options, but they are out there…

Reply

Answer 4

May 12, 2021 5:41 AM in response to Jack-19

Thanks, Jack. That's such a bummer. So you are really saying that once a device "dies", there is no way to repurpose it for another monitor. It seems strange that I can simply AirPlay my computer to all sorts of other non-Apple products (for example: my Roku or Samsung TV) but I can't use my devices as monitors. So odd.....

Reply

Answer 5

May 12, 2021 5:46 AM in response to LotusPilot

THIS! This is what I'm looking for - perhaps I was just using the wrong language to describe what I need. I'm looking to extend. I don't think my iPad is compatible with sidecar (I think it's too old), but I wonder if I can use the Duet product you are describing. Thanks so much!

Reply

Answer 6

Jack-19

Level 8

46,266 points

May 12, 2021 5:36 AM in response to historyprof1210

Hi there,

There is no way to use your devices together for external displays for other devices.

Cheers,

Jack

Reply

Multi-Screens (iPad, iMac, MacBook Air, etc)

Similar questions