Why is SideCar disabled with each iPadOS update?

Question

Why is SideCar disabled with each iPadOS update?

Can anyone provide a work-around for Apple's blatant and hostile disregard for their users who like to use their iPad as a second display for their MacBook Pro? I'm using a 14" M2 MacBook Pro running Sonoma 14.7. I'm at sea on a research ship and love the convenience and increased productivity of having my 7th Generation iPad connected via USB to my laptop. I was just in port and updated the iPad to iPadOS 17.7 (21H16). That's great. Sidecar worked for nine days—until today (6 October), it again failed—the iPad simply vanishes from the Display Preferences for what appears to be no reason whatsoever. My hunch is that the recent iPadOS 18 update to iPadOS 18.0.1 on 3 October disabled Sidecar. Apple did NOT release an update to iPad OS 17.7 as far as I can tell. I'm at sea and cannot connect my iPad to the Internet to run an update even if I wanted to. My laptop is connected to the Internet, and I suspect this connection detected an iPad OS update, and Sidecar is disabled as a result. Come on Apple. Why can I not continue to use this feature with my current configuration? Why break something that is working fine and is so useful to your user? Does anyone have an idea to get this working? Is my hunch correct? Do not suggest WiFi as a solution. It is not available. I'm connecting the iPad to my laptop via a USB cable.

It just works. Until Apple breaks it...

Many thanks,

Michael

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Oct 6, 2024 8:46 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 8, 2024 1:15 PM in response to Raynb0w

Thanks for the response. I know how to use Sidecar, using my iPad as a second display, and have followed the Apple Support page (and numerous others online). I've been enjoying having my iPad as second display. That is, until Apple mysteriously disables it. I'm at sea and cannot update the iPad (a 7th Generation model that meets the system requirements for Sidecar). It is running iPadOS 17.7, and was working fine in port when Apple had already released iPadOS 18.0. It was also working fine at sea until 6 October, three days after Apple released iPadOS 18.0.1. Why does Apple kill my functioning configuration?? I was wondering if there is a workaround. I'm using a USB cable. I should mention we're not allowed to have two devices connected to the ship's WiFi simultaneously. I will also reiterate that it was working fine until iPadOS 18.0.1 was released. Somehow, my laptop, which IS connected to WiFi, detects an iPadOS update and this kills Sidecar. Seriously? Apple remotely enables a kill switch to something that is working perfectly fine? Has anybody else had this problem?

Many thanks,

Michael

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Answer 2

Raynb0w

Level 1

14 points

Oct 8, 2024 10:20 AM in response to Michael Force

Use an iPad as a second display for a Mac - Apple Support

If you follow this, or update your iPad to iPadOS 18.0.1, it may be fixed.

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Why is SideCar disabled with each iPadOS update?

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