Sidecar makes it almost possible
iPad and macOS – for some that is the holy grail.
So what if I told you about an app that lets you transform your iPad into a second display for your Mac that you can use anywhere – wirelessly and clutter-free? And then what if I told you that you probably already have it and the best bit is that it’s free!
Of course, I’m talking about Apple’s Sidecar app. I’ll explain how to set it up, all the tips and tricks I’ve found that make it work at its best and how I use it in my daily workflow.
Previously, I’ve shown you how I work with the iPad connected to my Studio Display. That’s fine – it’s a fantastic set-up, but of course, the big drawback to that arrangement is that it means you are still tied to the desk.
With Sidecar you can take your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with you and have a multi-display set-up wherever you go. I always work with at least two displays as it suits my workflow.
If I’m writing for instance I can have Ulysses on one display with Safari open on another for any research or referencing and then if I have a third display I can keep an eye on emails as I work – a multi-display workflow is essential for me to be as productive as possible.
But if I have to head out and want to continue to work effectively and efficiently then that is where Sidecar comes into play.
iPad and Sidecar system requirements
First of all system requirements – your Mac will need to be running macOS Catalina or later and your iPad will need iPadOS 13 or later. That means your MacBook Pro will have to be at least a 2016 model or newer. All iPad Pros are compatible with Sidecar but if you are using an iPad, iPad mini or iPad Air you’ll need to check beforehand.
Getting going with Sidecar couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is go up to your menu bar, click on Control Centre and then Displays. That will show you any displays that can be used and you can choose to link your Mac keyboard, trackpad and mouse to your iPad. Once you’ve linked it next click on Display Settings.
In the dropdown click the plus to mirror or extend your Mac to your iPad. Next, tap on Arrange to set your iPad so that it sits on whichever side of your Mac that suits you best. Finally, click on the image of the iPad to make the last few settings.
Choose which side you want the sidebar – I’ll run through the actual sidebar options in just a moment. Many apps allow for a touchbar – and you can choose whether you want that at the top or bottom of your iPad – I prefer the bottom for quicker access. Lastly, if you’ve enabled double tap on your Apple Pencil you can toggle that on too so that you have full functionality of it while using your iPad as an extended display – you’ll see why that’s handy in just a moment.
Next, let’s look at those sidebar settings. Right off the bat, let me be honest and say that some of the functionality of the sidebar I don’t get…but let’s look at what choices you get anyway.
Just remember you’ll have to use the iPads trackpad and cursor to access these which is annoying and the same goes for the touchbar functions as well. First up is the menu bar and whether you want that at the top of your iPads display or not. The next icon lets you decide if you want the dock on your iPad or Mac.
After that, you have four common keyboard key options – Command, Option, Control & Shift.
The last three options in the sidebar are an undo key, a button to bring up a soft keyboard and the disconnect button.
Getting the workflow right
To use Sidecar effectively you’ll need some kind of stand that will mean your iPad is at the optimal level to work alongside your Mac. I’d been looking hard for a solution and finally, I’ve found the perfect solution. The guys at Kuxiu sent me their Magnetic Charging Stand – and I can’t get enough of it. It answers all my issues.
The stand is made from high-grade aluminium and crafted using CNC technology to ensure a premium finish – it looks gorgeous against my Mac. It features a revolutionary charging design that, unlike previous solutions which blocked the USB-C port, this stand uses magic connectors to charge your iPad with 18W fast charging, which importantly frees up the Thunderbolt port.
iPads aren’t cheap so Kuxiu has made certain that your iPad is held secure by using 84 neodymium magnets for a secure, aligned hold.
You can create a perfect working setup with its 90-degree horizontal adjustment and it also has a 360-degree rotation meaning you can work in either landscape or portrait orientation.
This stand is wirelessly charged via the pin smart connector and it’s so flexible too. You can fold it down flat to carry with you which makes working on the fly a breeze. The mechanism feels sturdy and robust – the engineering & design quality were a couple of the reasons why this stand attracted me to it. There has obviously been a load of thought given to this stand at the development phase. I look forward to seeing what the guys at Kuxiu come up with next. You can check out their full range of stands, chargers, mic boom arms and even lamps here.
Since the wireless charging stand works through the pin smart connector of the iPad, the iPad thinks there is a physical keyboard attached, but there isn’t! The on-screen keyboard won’t appear but if you need to use the virtual keyboard, just tap to show the keyboard. But if you are already using Sidecar you’ll be using the mouse, keyboard and trackpad from your Mac anyway, so this isn’t a problem.
It is the perfect stand for anyone using Sidecar with their Mac & iPad or just wanting to optimise the ways you can use your iPad – if you want to grab one of these awesome stands for yourself, I’ve left some links at the bottom of this story for you.
Getting going with Sidecar
So how do you get a screen or app from your Mac to your iPad? It couldn’t be simpler – all you have to do is hover over the green arrows in the top left corner of any app on your Mac and you’ll see the last option will be ‘move to iPad’.
It will appear instantly and the best thing about it is there is no latency – it is as if you are working directly on your Mac. I know Sidecar isn’t new but Apple has improved it over the years and this latest iteration is the smoothest yet.
One small detail I love is that you get the Mac arrow-type cursor on the iPad and not the circular one we normally get. It’s as if you’re working on a Mac! This is basically how macOS would feel on an iPad. In reality, of course, you are running an app. If you want to get back to your native iPad apps at any time, all you have to do is swipe up and you’ll get the dock and apps for your iPad. To return to your Sidecar session just tap on the icon in the dock.
Using the trackpad on your Mac you’ll get all the normal gestures that you’d expect if you were working on a Mac. For creatives like myself who rely on colour-critical monitors, what better display is there for me to use than the tandem OLED panel on the M4 iPad Pro? I’ll always check the final edit of any video and the exported video file on the iPad before uploading my videos each week for example just to make sure I’m happy and I do the same with the thumbnails as well. Anything that I need to check the colour on I’ll always look at it on the iPad.
Once you’ve used your Mac’s cursor to access the menu bar in whatever app you’re working in you can then use your Apple Pencil to access the drop-down options (remember I told you that toggling on the Pencil in settings would be handy – well this is why). You even get hover too which I love. In some ways, it’s better working on the iPad than it is on the Mac. The whole Sidecar experience is just getting better and better but because it’s not new, nobody is talking about it which is a shame.
I’m telling you it’s a hidden gem.
Missing nano texture?
With Sidecar and this stand from Kuxiu, you can work productively in a multi-screen environment anywhere including outdoors. Talking about working outdoors I’ve been asked a lot recently if I’ve missed or regretted trading in my original iPad which had the nano texture finish on it.
The answer to that is no – not in the slightest! I mean this summer I am getting out of the studio a bit more often and working outdoors, but when I do, it’s never in direct sunlight and the standard anti-reflective coating does enough to keep glare to a comfortable level.
As I’ve said before, the nano texture worked incredibly well, but the trade-off is that some of the vibrancy, contrast and colours are lost. It just wasn’t for me. I imagine if you draw or game it might well be right up your street though. For my money, a third-party removable magnetic paper-type screen protector would be the route I’d go meaning that I can have the best of both worlds.
This summer I’ve had so much fun learning about life with an iPad – it’s all been new to me. While some of what I’ve written about may not be new to you, it was to me and I’ve had a blast finding out new tricks and features – just like using Sidecar.
We may never get macOS running natively on an iPad – but Sidecar makes it almost a reality.
To get your Kuxiu Magnetic Charging Stand follow these links – these are affiliate links so if you decide to buy one of these awesome stands you’ll be helping me as a creator.
In the US:
In the UK:
Kuxiu Official:
