How To Enable Sidecar On iPad | Start From Your Mac

Sidecar is enabled from your Mac, not the iPad itself—here’s exactly how to connect a compatible iPad as a second display.

Using an iPad as a second screen for a Mac is one of the best built-in features of the Apple ecosystem, but you have to know where to look—the toggle lives on the Mac, not on the iPad. Sidecar lets you extend or mirror your Mac desktop onto a compatible iPad wirelessly or over a USB cable. This guide covers the exact steps for recent macOS versions, the requirements both devices need, and the most common fixes if the iPad refuses to show up.

Can You Enable Sidecar Directly on the iPad?

No. There is no Sidecar toggle, app, or control panel inside iPadOS that activates the second-screen feature. The iPad automatically advertises its availability to the Mac once every requirement is met. You control Sidecar entirely from the Mac by selecting the iPad as a display.

Sidecar Requirements: Check These First

Before the iPad appears as a display option in your Mac’s menu, both devices must meet specific hardware, software, and account conditions. If any of these is missing, the iPad will stay invisible to Sidecar.

How to Turn On Sidecar (macOS Sequoia, Sonoma & Ventura)

On modern versions of macOS, you connect the iPad directly from the Displays section in the new System Settings app.

1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click Displays.
3. At the top of the window, click the iPad pop-up menu and select your iPad.

The iPad screen will go dark for a moment, then show your Mac desktop extension.

How to Turn On Sidecar (macOS Monterey & Earlier)

Older macOS versions use a slightly different menu path or a dedicated Sidecar preference pane.

1. macOS Monterey (12): Click Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays. Click Display Settings and select the iPad in the sidebar.
2. macOS Big Sur (11) and earlier: Click Apple menu > System Preferences > Sidecar. Select the iPad from the device list.

If you use macOS Big Sur or later, you can also open Control Center on the Mac, click Screen Mirroring, and choose the iPad from there.

Using Sidecar Wirelessly vs. Via USB

Sidecar works wirelessly within about 30 feet (10 meters), but a direct USB connection provides noticeably lower latency and a more reliable signal. Apple’s official Sidecar documentation supports both methods.

To use a cable, plug the iPad into the Mac with a USB cable, tap Trust on the iPad if prompted, then select the iPad in the Mac’s display settings.

Sidecar Not Working? (The Most Common Fixes)

If the iPad doesn’t show up as a display option, the problem is almost always one of these overlooked settings. Check them in this order.

• Check the Apple Account: Go to System Settings > [your name] on both devices and confirm they use the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication on.
• Turn on Handoff: On the Mac, go to System Settings > General > Allow Handoff and turn it on. On the iPad, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff and turn on Handoff.
• Disable Sharing: Turn off Internet Sharing and Content Caching on the Mac in System Settings > Sharing. Disable Personal Hotspot on the iPad.
• Bring Devices Closer: Wireless Sidecar works within 10 meters (30 feet). Move them closer together.
• Restart Both Devices: A simple restart often clears the discovery cache and forces a fresh handshake.

Sidecar Setup Checklist

• [ ] Mac hardware is supported (2016 or newer).
• [ ] Mac is running macOS Catalina or later.
• [ ] iPad hardware is supported (6th gen or newer).
• [ ] Both devices are signed into the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication.
• [ ] Handoff, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi are enabled on both devices.
• [ ] iPad is selected as a display in Mac > System Settings > Displays.