What is Apple Sidecar and how to use it – Setapp

One of the long-awaited features of Mac users is the touch screen. With Sidecar, Apple can achieve this without changing the hardware of its Mac.

Instead of limiting the desktop to a Mac, Sidecar uses the iPad as a second display for any Mac, extending functionality and providing a touch environment. iPad users using Sidecar can even use Apple Pencil to draw and interact with Mac apps in a completely new way.

This article will introduce you in detail about macOS Sidecar, including how to use Sidecar for Mac and iPad, and how to keep your Mac running optimally.

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By adding Sidecar, the Mac gets a second screen. Sidecar is a built-in feature in macOS and iPadOS, allowing users who have both devices to connect wirelessly or wired. Once connected, the iPad will become the second screen for your Mac; you can switch the app to your iPad and direct it to your main Mac screen just like you would with any other external monitor.

The best part is that you can still use the iPad app when you run Sidecar on your iPad. The second screen scene of the iPad presented by Sidecar doesn't limit what you can do on your iPad - it only adds to the functionality of your Mac.

Sidecar compatibility

Here are Macs that support Sidecar:

• MacBooks launched in 2016 or later
• MacBook Air Launched in 2018 or After
• MacBook Pro launched in 2016 or later
• Mac mini launched in 2018 or later iMac launched in late 2015 iMac launched in 2017 or later Mac Pro launched in 2019

Here is a list of iPads that can be used with Sidecar:

• 12.9-inch iPad Pro
• 11-inch iPad Pro 10.5-inch iPad Pro
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro iPad (6th Gen or later)
• iPad mini (fifth generation) iPad Air (third generation)

Requirements for using Sidecar

If you want to use your iPad as a Sidecar macOS second screen setup, you need to do the following:

• Make sure your Mac and iPad are logged in with the same Apple ID
• For wireless connections, enable Bluetooth on both devices
• Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network to connect wirelessly
• Make sure your Mac and iPad are fully charged or plugged in
• Keep the distance between the equipment within 10 meters
• Make sure your Mac is running macOS Catalina or later

How to set up Sidecar on Mac

Setting up a Sidecar environment on your Mac is very simple. No software or application is required. As long as you are using macOS Catalina or later, and your iPad is also running the latest iPadOS version, Sidecar is already part of your setup!

Enabling the Sidecar environment starts with your Mac. The specific operation method is as follows:

1. From the Mac menu bar, select the Apple logo

2. Select System Preferences

3. Select "Sidecar"

4. Select the iPad you want to connect to and the settings you like

That's it! Now the iPad you connect to will become the second monitor for your Mac.

For macOS Big Sur users, you can click the Control Center icon in the upper right corner of the Mac menu bar. Select Monitor and select the iPad you want to connect to. You can also use Sidecar to connect to your iPad on your Mac by selecting the AirPlay icon in the menu bar and selecting the iPad from the list of available devices.

Sidecar works best when the Mac is in the best performance state. Remember that the second monitor (whether it is Apple or other brands) will still take up the hardware resources of the Mac. It must keep the connection stable and communicate with your iPad. Even if you choose a wired connection between the two devices, your Mac must monitor and accept input from the iPad.

That's why CleanMyMac X is so important. It organizes your Mac system and digs deeper into your Mac's settings and files than any other available app or service. It can monitor malware, provide the option to discard unnecessary files, and help you reset settings that may cause your Mac to run slowly. No one wants a delay, so use CleanMyMac X to keep the Mac running smoothly and make Sidecar run perfectly.

How to set up Sidecar on iPad

As long as you have a compatible iPad and run the latest version of iPadOS, there is no need to make any setup. Like macOS, iPadOS also has a built-in Sidecar feature.

You don't even need to do anything on your iPad to start or stop a Sidecar session. Once you connect your iPad to your Mac to use as a second monitor, it becomes passive; all Sidecar sessions start and end on your Mac.

Please read also:

• Apple Pencil Ultimate Guide
• Universal control does not work
• Best Notes Apps for iPad
• Use iPad as a drawing board

What are the features of Sidecar?

Sidecar is more than just a feature that allows you to push certain apps onto your iPad. It is a fully immersive environment that adds an example that Mac users have not yet experienced.

The main purpose of Sidecar is always to be the second monitor for Mac applications, and even if you only use it as a monitor, you still use your Mac's keyboard or trackpad to interact with the application. But Sidecar has more features.

Touch bar function in Sidecar

In Sidecar, you can display the MacBook touch bar on your iPad. This is especially useful for users who don't have a MacBook with a touch bar. Any app with touch bar features can display these toggle buttons on your iPad using Sidecar.

The touch bar on the iPad is also a more familiar interface for many people. Macs have never fully adopted touch interfaces, and the touch bar has also been widely criticized by Mac enthusiasts. Now you can have the best of both worlds at the same time.

One feature every Mac has is the menu bar, which can be as confusing and confusing as the touch bar. This is why you should download Bartender.

Bartender provides a quick and easy way to customize the Mac menu bar, hiding all the different icons behind a familiar three-dot menu. Clicking on this menu will display all menu bar icons, which can also be easily reordered using Bartender.

There is also a very convenient search feature in Bartender, which is very useful for users who have too many icons to forget which app each icon represents! If you are a keyboard enthusiast, Bartender has customizable hotkey actions that can open its menu with a few keys. Once Bartender is turned on, you can switch between icons using the Mac's keyboard arrow keys.

How to use Apple Pencil with Sidebar

Using Apple Pencil with Sidebar is as seamless and simple as using it on an iPad. Simply use Apple Pencil as you normally would on your iPad and your edits will appear in the Mac app you are using.

Apple Pencil in Sidecar is basically like a mouse pointer; you can do things like editing images or marking documents. Apps like Pixelmator and Notes also allow drawing with Apple Pencil.

Sidecar can also support this feature if you double-click on your iPad using Apple Pencil. This is a feature in the Sidecar menu in System Settings on your Mac; just enable it and your Sidecar Apple Pencil session will support the Apple Pencil double-click feature.

Which applications support Sidecar

Sidecar will mirror your Mac monitor. This means that any Mac application can be used with Sidecar. Some apps have unique features; for example, photo editing apps will benefit greatly from Sidecar when used with iPads with Apple Pencil.

By default, any Mac app can be moved to your iPad screen and interact with it there (using Apple Pencil or touch) just like interacting with it with a mouse or trackpad.

The iPad app can also be used with Sidecar. Simply swipe up from the bottom of the iPad display to bring up the Dock or navigate to the Home screen. You can also use the iPad app that is suspended on the screen, just like you did when you were using the iPad app natively.

How to easily control your Mac?

Your Mac runs at its best condition is the key to the best Sidecar environment, and there is no better application than iStat Menus to monitor Mac performance.

iStat Menus resides in the Mac menu bar, keeping a close eye on the Mac's CPU, network, sensors, memory, and disk space to help you understand what your computer is doing at any given time. The app will show the Mac operation in real time and provide context information you need (or do not need).

Clicking the iStat Menus icon in the menu bar brings up a menu with an overview of the current performance of the Mac. Hovering over any section will display a submenu with more details about the items monitored by iStat Menus, and hovering over any section in the submenu will display a chart with a historical view of the performance of the Mac in that area.

Sidecar is a very convenient feature. It's very convenient for navigating your Mac with a remote iPad; you can interact with the apps directly on your iPad, almost making your Mac the second monitor!

As a mirrored display, your iPad may be smaller than your Mac, and a small pain point is that the menu bar appears on your iPad. That's why Bartender is so convenient; you can organize the menu bar and make the iPad environment look less cluttered.

Both CleanMyMac X and iStat Menus are ideal for identifying and correcting Mac performance issues and keeping your Mac running optimally. There is no better combination for macOS.

You can get all three of these for free during a seven-day free trial of Setapp, the world's best suite of Mac productivity apps. In addition to these three great apps, you can instantly unlimited access to Setapp’s entire suite of apps, which contains nearly 200 Mac applications, covering dozens of categories and unlimited use cases.

After the trial period, continuing to access the entire Setapp directory is only $9.99 per month; it's an incredible offer, so why hesitate? Try Setapp now!

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