User profile for user: 孟192
孟192 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Sidecar detects iPad Air but cannot maintain connection with MacBook Air

I’m unable to connect my 11-inch iPad Air to my MacBook Air using Sidecar. The iPad appears in the Mac’s System Settings → Displays menu as “klice的iPad,” so the Mac can discover it, but the connection does not stay active. Both devices have Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff enabled. On the Mac, VPN is inactive, the firewall is inactive, and Internet Sharing is turned off. The Mac is a 2025 MacBook Air with an M4 chip running macOS Golden Gate 27.0, so it should be compatible with Sidecar. Please help identify why Sidecar detects the iPad but cannot establish or maintain a connection.

iPad Air, iPadOS 26

Posted on Sep 18, 2026 5:04 AM

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User profile for user: WheelieNick
WheelieNick
User level: Level 9
66,456 points

Posted on Sep 18, 2026 1:23 PM

Hi there


Please try this


Establish a Trusted Wired Connection First

  • Why: If the devices have never established a secure cryptographic trust pair over USB, wireless handshakes can time out repeatedly even if the device name shows up in settings. 
  • Fix: Connect your iPad Air directly to your MacBook Air using a USB-C cable. Unlock both devices, tap Trust on the iPad if prompted, and try launching Sidecar again via the wired connection. Once a stable wired session works, switch back to wireless if desired. 

2. Reset Network Settings on the iPad

  • Why: Corrupted network cache or peer-to-peer Wi-Fi routing data on the iPad can prevent the sustained data stream required for a second display.
  • Fix: On your iPad, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Network Settings. (Note: This will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords, so you will need to rejoin your network afterward).


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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: WheelieNick
WheelieNick
User level: Level 9
66,456 points

Sep 18, 2026 1:23 PM in response to 孟192

Hi there


Please try this


Establish a Trusted Wired Connection First

  • Why: If the devices have never established a secure cryptographic trust pair over USB, wireless handshakes can time out repeatedly even if the device name shows up in settings. 
  • Fix: Connect your iPad Air directly to your MacBook Air using a USB-C cable. Unlock both devices, tap Trust on the iPad if prompted, and try launching Sidecar again via the wired connection. Once a stable wired session works, switch back to wireless if desired. 

2. Reset Network Settings on the iPad

  • Why: Corrupted network cache or peer-to-peer Wi-Fi routing data on the iPad can prevent the sustained data stream required for a second display.
  • Fix: On your iPad, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Network Settings. (Note: This will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords, so you will need to rejoin your network afterward).


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Sidecar detects iPad Air but cannot maintain connection with MacBook Air

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