Sidecar keeps freezing on iPad

I am on macOS Monterey 12.4 (M1 MacBook Air) and I use Sidecar with my 2018 iPad Pro WiFi on iPadOS 15.5. Ever since Universal Control was introduced, Sidecar has been really unstable. After connecting to my iPad using my Mac, the sidecar display freezes within 20 seconds of use. The iPad does not freeze, it's only the sidecar app that freezes.


I have tried rebooting both my devices. Disconnecting and reconnecting my iPad and other such generic attempts to troubleshoot. This is apparently a big problem for a lot of users and Sidecar is simply unusable. Please fix this ASAP.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]


MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.4

Posted on Jun 14, 2022 12:27 AM

Reply

Similar questions

94 replies

Mar 2, 2023 12:01 AM in response to ShivamK

Im at Mac OS Monterery and my Ipad Pro 2018 is iPadOS 16.3.1 . It was working fine being a sidecar until I updated my ipad and my Mac OS. Previously I am on Big Sur and my ipad OS were still previous version which I am not sure which one. The sidecar kept hanging, whether with USB Cable connection or not. Really disappointing as I have been using my ipad as a make shift tablet while traveling and my 2nd screen for video editing for my youtube channel. Geez. Really disappointing.

Mar 2, 2023 2:02 AM in response to Motorgrapher

I have managed to solve my problem through Apple Technical support over imessage! Ended up, it was the login items that actually cause the glitch. So I tested with Adobe Photoshop and tried using pen tool with my ipad wirelessly and also with USB C Cable connected to my macbook pro and it works like a breeze. No more freezing. Hope this comment help!

Mar 7, 2023 3:50 AM in response to ShivamK

i did a test by editing my video on premiere pro on my MacBook Pro retina with Touch Bar 2016 connecting extended desktop to my Apple TV wirelessly,run the whole edit fine. I connect the iPad via original usb c cable to my MacBook Pro and it freezes after I just added a text overlay over my video . I use the iPad to see my Program monitor. So really the iPad OS is crap after update!

Mar 7, 2023 4:30 AM in response to Motorgrapher

Also via cable? It should work fine for a day or two if you restart the iPad.

It’s been glitchy over a year now ever since the OS versions of 2021.

I’ve contacted Apple Support countless times since a year now and every time they just end up responding no more or telling me they are still “investigating”.

WTF!

Mar 10, 2023 9:16 AM in response to Z-fan

Like all of you guys, I've been having the same issue with sidecar to an old 2016 iPad Pro that I purchased only for this use. I like having my messaging apps on a separate screen and a second monitor would be an overkill for that.


I also have an iPad Air 3rd Gen which I share my Mac keyboard and mouse with so I can run iPad apps on it or watch the news through the Fire TV or Pluto app while I work, so both Sidecar and the Universal Control should be working for me. I don't have any issues with Universal Control, only Sidecar disconnecting or lagging really bad.


I had tried all the resetting, reconnecting, network reset, even reformatting the iPad and getting a wired ethernet adapter for it. None of it fixed the issue. I also tried the USB connection solution, which fixed the issue, but wouldn't keep the iPad charged.


I believe I may have found a workaround by luck as this solution I'll describe below has been working well for 3 days now:


I recently purchased an Orico Thunderbolt hub model TB3-S2, which connects to my Mac Studio via thunderbolt port and has an additional thunderbolt port behind it for daisy-chaining. The hub itself is powered through an 85W power supply, but only provides the host Mac with 60W, meaning it uses the other 25w to power itself and for additional hardware plugged to it. I used a USB-C to lightning cable to connect my iPad to the hub and now I don't get any disconnects anymore and the iPad remains 100% charged at all times. I didn't have to touch any login items config.


Even though my proposed solution uses a specific third-party hardware, I believe any powered Thunderbolt hubs capable of providing power over USB-C should be able to power the iPad at least enough for it to not turn off during the day.


I hope this helps meanwhile they work to fix it, but the wifi disconnecting issue definitely remains...

Mar 10, 2023 2:21 PM in response to BetaoMA

I don’t have the charging issue and in the solution you are basically connecting iPad via a hub to mac? This should also stop the freezing.

Sometimes it also shows such ****** colors or just black, then restarting the Mac is necessary to get rid of it and go back to “freeze mode”.

And I discovered if you turn off iPad Display when in “freeze mode” and turn it back on after a certain time(too short it keeps frozen while too long it permanently disconnects), sidecar will show connecting for a few seconds and refresh the frozen picture and this repeats for ever or ends up with an error (-71148).

Don’t know if you guys experience the same. Meanwhile someone l asked don’t have problem using sidecar, which makes me upset.

Sidecar keeps freezing on iPad

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.