But before starting, make sure you know which macOS you have. Luckily after Apple released its Sidecar feature, there was no need to use any extra software. Until recently, using the iPad as a second monitor was possible only through third-party software. This feature became better with Universal Control. Hence, if the iPad is compatible, the iPad screen is selected as Display on a compatible Mac. Using the iPad as a second monitor is possible after the launch of macOS Catalina in 2019 when Apple introduced a new feature called Sidecar.

– What Are Some Other Features of Sidecar?.

– Can I Use the iPad as a Second Monitor for Windows Without an App?.

– Which iPad Models Can Be Used as a Second Monitor?.

How To Connect a Mac and iPad Using Duet Display?.

iPad as a Second Display for Older Macs.

Requirements To Use the iPad as a Display for Mac.

– Alternative Option: Mirror Mac Display to iPad.

– Version 1: macOS Monterey 12.4 or Later.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have a macOS tablet, this is the closest you'll probably get to that exact experience. But no matter which iPad you use, you'll now have a touchscreen serving as your Mac's primary display, one that you can take with you all around your workspace. But if you have an older iPad or iPad Pro, that should work fine, too. Of course, you don't need Apple's latest iPad Pro to do this with your own Mac mini, but with its symmetrical bezels on all four sides, it certainly makes a handsome small display for your Mac. And since Luna runs over WiFi, you have the flexibility of a completely wireless workspace.

It offers more ways to interact with your macOS too, where you can seamlessly flow from mouse, to keyboard, to Apple Pencil, to touch interactions. Using Luna, we're able to take full advantage of every pixel on the iPad at full retina resolution.

It's strange and exciting all at the same time, but once you settle into your workflow, it makes you wonder why this hasn't been an obvious product pairing for Apple all along.This setup truly combines the best of both Mac and iPad, with the processing power of the Mac Mini and the edge-to-edge retina display of the iPad. When you launch Luna, you're running your macOS on your iPad and when you close out of the Luna app, you have a regular iPad Pro again. There's definitely an element of inception to using your iPad as a display for your Mac. But still, this setup was mind-blowing in other ways.

Mac mini use ipad as monitor