How to Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor (Windows & Mac)
I have another tip and trick video for you guys. This one is for anyone who owns an iPad and who might have thought about getting a second portable monitor for their computer to help them be more productive.
Instead of buying that second monitor, you can easily turn the iPad into one instead. And this will work on Mac but also Windows PCs, as well.
Use it on a Mac
So let’s start with what to do if you have a newer Mac.
1. Make sure you are logged in to the same iCloud account on the Mac and on the iPad.
2. Make sure WiFi and Bluetooth are both turned on on both devices and they are both connected to the same WiFi network.
3. On the Mac, go to Settings > General > check on Allow Handoff.
4. On the iPad, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff and turn on Handoff.
5. Click on the AirPlay icon on your Mac and select the iPad from the list to connect to it.
After that, you’ll be able to drag and drop to it as a separate monitor.
You can also click on the icon that was the AirPlay icon to change settings like whether you want to mirror the display or extend it, show or hide the Sidebar/Touch Bar on the iPad, etc.
Use it on a PC (or Older Mac/Older iPad)
Now, if you are using a PC or just happen to have an older Mac or an older iPad, then we’ll use a program called Duet Display to get it to work instead.
Firstly, Duet Display costs $10 but it’s a one-time payment for the iPad app and that’s that (you can add optional features for a subscription cost if you want but we’ll get to that in a bit).
There is however a free option called Splashtop Wired XDisplay and it will work the same way as I’m about to show with Duet (just download the Splashtop app for your computer and iPad instead of Duet one and follow the instructions to set it up).
Honestly, though, Duet just works so much smoother and in my mind is well worth the $10 so that’s what I’m going to show here.
1. Download the desktop app from Duet Display’s site here, install it, and open it.
2. Once opened, find Duet Display in the App Store on the iPad and install that and open it.
3. Next, plug the iPad in via a USB cable to the computer and it should automatically recognize it as a display and you’ll see your desktop on the iPad.
You can adjust the resolution, frame rate, and energy efficiency from the Settings panel of the desktop Duet Display app (but I’d recommend leaving it on 60fps, High Power, and whatever resolution you want).
You can also click on the Start menu and go to Settings > System > Display to adjust where the iPad screen is in relation to your original one by dragging it around and clicking Apply. You can also change whether the iPad display is a duplicate of the original or, the more useful usually, extension of the original display.
Use the iPad as a Second Monitor Wirelessly on Windows
Now, if you want to lose the cable:
1. Click on Profile in the desktop Duet Display app and sign up there for an account.
2. Start the free trial there for Duet Air.
3. Go to Settings in the Duet desktop app and check the box to enable Duet Air.
4. Sign in to the same account you just created in the Duet Display iPad app.
Now, so long as both are on the same network, open the apps on both the computer and the iPad and you should be able to click on iOS and then the Air tab and click the iPad there to connect without the cable.
And there you go, guys! Let me know how this went for you and how you felt about the tutorial (or if you have any extra things to add for others) below!
