Apple Pencil cursor misaligned on iPad when using sidecar with MacBook Pro

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Level 1

12 points

Apple Pencil cursor misaligned on iPad when using sidecar with MacBook Pro

Hi,

I recently bought an iPad Air and an Apple Pencil to use with my MacBook Pro.

I want to the use the iPad as a mirror or extended screen for the the MBP, using the sidecar functionality.

However, the cursor produced by the pencil on the iPad is always approximately 1 cm below the tip of the pencil. This is always the case, whether the iPad is connected wired or wirelessly to the MBP.

I've tried various display settings but without success.

MBP MacOs Sonoma 14.3
iPadOS 17.4.1

The MBP is connected to a Dell U2722D external monitor.

I'd really like to get this one sorted, as I bought the iPad and Pencil just to use as input devices to my MBP.

iPad Air

Posted on Apr 3, 2024 6:16 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Donal-UK

Level 1

5 points

Jul 13, 2024 8:29 AM in response to ConchuirM

OK. So I finally figured it out, but it was much less obvious than it should be.

Goto Settings, select displays - when that first opens the main Mac display screen is selected and options are limited to the graphics properties.

Click on the iPad as an extended display. Options include “Show Sidebar” and “Show Touch Bar”. Switch Touch Bar to Never and Voila - precise Pencil position.

Photos below - sorry about quality.

Donal

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Answer 2

ConchuirM Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 15, 2024 3:54 AM in response to Donal-UK

Many thanks Donal-UK,

it seems that you need to set either 'Show Sidebar' or 'Show Touch Bar' to 'Never' for the pencil tip to align with the cursor.

So while I am happy to get a partial solution, this is a sub-optimal functionality (You have to disable Sidebar or Touch bar) and a dreadful user experience (It's not intuitive to find and disable these options).

Looking through Apple discussions, people have been encountering this pencil alignment problem in Sidecar for three years.

I will put in a bug report - but one would hope that Apple would have created a fix in that time other than forcing people to discover a hack.

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Answer 3

Jul 14, 2024 3:03 AM in response to Donal-UK

Given your observations, you would be well advised to submit a detailed bug report to Apple using its product feedback portal. Given that two different devices and OS versions are involved, you might be well advised to submit your report for both iPadOS and macOS:

Product Feedback - Apple

When submitting a Bug Report, ensure that you include details of your iPad and Mac model - and installed versions of iPadOS and macOS within the body-text of your report. Don't rely upon the pick-list - as this rarely includes the current versions. You might also usefully include a link to this discussion.

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Answer 4

ConchuirM Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 12, 2024 5:01 AM in response to ConchuirM

Well, I've been through Apple support on this one, updated the OS on both my MacBook Pro (M1 Max) and my new iPad Air and Apple pencil - but with no success.

The cursor still does not align with the tip of the Apple pencil when the MacBook Pro is mirrored on the iPad.

My conclusion is that this functionality does not work as advertised by Apple. If you are hoping to use your iPad as an input device or extended desktop for a MacBook Pro, be advised that many people have run into this cursor misalignment problem.

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Answer 5

Donal-UK

Level 1

5 points

Jul 13, 2024 7:41 AM in response to ConchuirM

I am also having this problem: Latest iPad Pro 17.5.1, Pencil Pro, and iMac with Sonoma 14.5.

Sidecar settings do not seem to have the same options that were reported to have worked for previous generations, such as: Turn off “Show Touch Bar”.

A solution would be greatly appreciated.

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Answer 6

Donal-UK

Level 1

5 points

Jul 13, 2024 1:45 PM in response to Donal-UK

PS. An easy fix which would likely assist most of those who have posted with this concern over the years would be for Apple to set the default setting for Touch Bar to off or never. Not sure what problems that might cause, but those could be mitigated by better advisory boxes.

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Answer 7

Jul 14, 2024 10:05 AM in response to Donal-UK

Thank you.

Hopefully others that encounter the same issue will (a) find your remedy helpful - and (b) will similarly report the same bug to Apple. Apple can't fix bugs and issues unless reported - and may need to see multiple reports before assigning resources to fix the underlying issue.

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