connecting two ipads to Macbook Pro M4 Max to use as extended displays

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connecting two ipads to Macbook Pro M4 Max to use as extended displays

(I accidentally posted this in the iPad community forum first rather than here, sorry for the double-posting)

Hi, I’ve got a MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip and am trying to connect two iPads to use as extended displays, in addition to the computer’s screen (so three simultaneous displays total). I’ve read that the M4 Max supports up to four displays, but can’t figure out how to make it work. From the Screen Mirroring or Display Settings menus, I’m able to extended the display to either one of the iPads, but not both at the same time; while one is active (and the icon colored blue), the other is just greyed out and waiting. I’ve tried doing it both over WiFi and with the iPads directly connected to different USB-C ports on the Mac. Are there instructions somewhere on how to do this, or is it not possible with iPads (or mine, at least, since they’re both a few generations old)?

The specs on the iPads are:

iPad mini (5th gen), A12 Bionic chip with neural engine

iPad Pro 12.9 inch (3rd gen), A12X Bionic chip with neural engine and embedded M12 coprocessor

Thanks!

MacBook Pro (M4)

Posted on Feb 13, 2025 9:31 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

141,901 points

Feb 13, 2025 10:08 AM in response to prc123b

You can indeed connect multiple directly-connected displays to the MacBook Pro MAX you describe using HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C or ThunderBolt CABLES that are high enough spec and appropriately short.

The typical data stream to EACH of those (up to about 4K sized) displays is an incessant about 20,000 M Bytes/sec data stream. But your Mac can do that. Higher than 4K displays are even higher data rates, and it can do most of those as well.

If you would like to connect an iPad IN ADDITION up to four cable-connected displays, using your local network, your local Network typically provides a pathway at LESS that 1,000 M Bytes/sec -- often FAR less. Your Mac can use the compression built into its processor to squeeze that data down to fit over a link that is, well, pathetic, by comparison to a cable. The result is far less than Full-motion video, but works for a lot of purposes.

BOTH the local data link AND the processor compression are fully engaged supporting ONE such iPad or similar device. Support for a second or subsequent compressed-data-stream device will NOT be available at the same time.

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Answer 2

Feb 13, 2025 11:55 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

So sorry. I consistently wrote Bytes/sec in my numbers above, where the correct units in every case are bits/sec.

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connecting two ipads to Macbook Pro M4 Max to use as extended displays

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