iPad resolution as second display

Question

Level 1

53 points

iPad resolution as second display

I seem to have run into a bug. I run my iPad as a second (expanded) display for my 15" MacBook Pro (Intel) when on the road.

I accidentally set the iPad to mirror the main screen one time, and now the iPad is stuck in the resolution of the MacBook, even in expanded mode.

This creates black bars on the bottom and top and sets a high resolution that makes things very difficult to read on the iPad screen. There is no resolution setting for iPad that I can find.

I have tried mirroring again, setting the iPad as the main screen, restarting the iPad, but nothing so far has reset it to the resolution and aspect ratio it normally uses.

Any thoughts on how to get expected behavior back?

BTW. MBP on Monterey, it will not be updated to Ventura just yet as this is my work machine, I will await all clear signals for my essential software

iPad Air 4 Wi-Fi

Posted on Oct 28, 2022 5:48 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VicCislari

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2022 5:03 AM in response to Kees de Wit

Hi Kees,

what third party did you use? I have the same issue and Apple Support couldn't help either.

Best regards,

Victor

Reply

Answer 2

ArmMan1016

Community Specialist

Oct 30, 2022 3:01 PM in response to Kees de Wit

Hi there Kees de Wit,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. This issue may require resetting the NVRAM on the MacBook Pro. Doing so can help with certain display resolution issues. The steps to do so are found in the Apple Support article:

Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

"If you have an Intel-based Mac

If you're not using a Mac with Apple silicon, you're using an Intel-based Mac.

How to reset NVRAM

Shut down your Mac.
Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, R.
Release the keys after about 20 seconds, during which your Mac might appear to restart. For example, you might hear a startup sound more than once, or see the Apple logo more than once.
When your Mac finishes starting up, you might need to adjust any system settings that were reset."

Next, set up the iPad again using the steps found here: Use iPad as a second display for your Mac - Apple Support

"Set up Sidecar

Make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID on your Mac and iPad.
Use one of the following connections:

Wireless: Make sure you’ve turned on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your Mac, and you’ve turned on Wi-Fiand Bluetooth on your iPad. They need to be within Bluetooth range of one another (about 33 feet or 10 meters).
USB: Connect your Mac and iPad using the appropriate USB cable.

On your Mac, do one of the following:

macOS Ventura: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Displays , click , then select your iPad from the list below “Mirror or extend to.”
macOS 10.15 to 15.2: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays , click Add Display, then select your iPad from the list below “Mirror or extend to.”

Let us know the outcome, and we can go from there if needed.

Best regards!

Reply

Answer 3

Kees de Wit Author

Level 1

53 points

Nov 7, 2022 4:31 AM in response to Chris_C1

I've managed to fix it. I set the MacBook Pro to a 4:3 ratio resolution with a third party app. After mirroring the screen to iPad and then reenabling the "standard for this display" setting, all went back to normal.

Reply