Whenever trying to use the touch bar on sidecar with my iPad Air 5th Generation and M1 MacBook Air, it doesn't work and instead it shows a black bar with a circle and dot showing where I am tapping on my main screen of my MacBook.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.5
Hi,
Sidecar Touch Bar issues on your M1 MacBook Air and iPad Air (5th Gen) usually stem from hidden system preferences, app compatibility, or connection glitches. The Touch Bar only appears on the iPad screen when using specific Mac applications and must be manually enabled in your settings.
1. Enable Touch Bar in Settings
The feature may simply be toggled off.
2. Ensure App Support
The Touch Bar in Sidecar does not stay on the screen constantly. It is context-sensitive and will only pop up on your iPad when the Mac app you are currently focusing on natively supports Touch Bar controls (e.g., Safari, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, or Pages).
3. Connection and Continuity Glitches
If the Touch Bar is enabled but fails to appear when using a compatible app, try restarting the Sidecar connection:
4. Third-Party Accessories
Some users have noted that heavy magnetic folios or third-party cases on the iPad can occasionally interfere with the display sensors and Sidecar connectivity. Try removing any heavy magnetic cases.
If the problem persists, check for any pending macOS updates or iPadOS updates, as software mismatches can sometimes cause the overlay features to glitch.
Hi,
Sidecar Touch Bar issues on your M1 MacBook Air and iPad Air (5th Gen) usually stem from hidden system preferences, app compatibility, or connection glitches. The Touch Bar only appears on the iPad screen when using specific Mac applications and must be manually enabled in your settings.
1. Enable Touch Bar in Settings
The feature may simply be toggled off.
2. Ensure App Support
The Touch Bar in Sidecar does not stay on the screen constantly. It is context-sensitive and will only pop up on your iPad when the Mac app you are currently focusing on natively supports Touch Bar controls (e.g., Safari, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, or Pages).
3. Connection and Continuity Glitches
If the Touch Bar is enabled but fails to appear when using a compatible app, try restarting the Sidecar connection:
4. Third-Party Accessories
Some users have noted that heavy magnetic folios or third-party cases on the iPad can occasionally interfere with the display sensors and Sidecar connectivity. Try removing any heavy magnetic cases.
If the problem persists, check for any pending macOS updates or iPadOS updates, as software mismatches can sometimes cause the overlay features to glitch.
Sidecar Touch Bar issue: iPad Air 5th Gen, M1 MacBook Air
