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iPad Q&A

Update Published April 10, 2018

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1. Have you ever wanted to use MacOS on the iPad? Or use your iPad as a second monitor display? Can you use Final Cut Pro on the iPad? Can you use Photoshop.
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What exactly is the iPad? What is the iPad used for?

In basic terms, the iPad is a tablet or 'slate' computer. Upon the release of the original iPad, Apple formally declared that it is a 'magical and revolutionary' device for 'browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and more.'

Although 'magical' might be a bit much, the iPad definitely is a new type of product.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Original iPad)

Software Support & Lineage

Specifically, Apple originally designed the iPad to occupy a new product category between the iPod touch/iPhone and the Mac, and consequently, it is really neither an iPod or iPhone nor a Mac.

However, it does run a version of the same operating system as the iPod touch and iPhone. Likewise, the iPad is compatible with the vast majority of applications written for the iPhone and iPod touch as well, it is not unreasonable to consider it a member of the iPhone/iPod touch 'family' of products.

The iPad does not run Mac OS X or Mac OS X applications, so it is not Mac, although the iOS is derived from Mac OS X.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Original iPad with Keyboard/Regular Dock)

Additional Usage

In addition to its original list of 'official' uses, the iPad also can be used like a basic computer with the original external keyboard dock accessory (above, subsequently discontinued) or any number of Bluetooth wireless keyboards.

When combined with the iWork software Pages, the external keyboard capability makes it possible to comfortably compose full documents on the iPad, which can then be saved in Pages, Word, or PDF format and printed, if needed. Spreadsheets and presentations, likewise, can be prepared with versions of the Numbers and Keynote applications from the iWork suite and saved in either native formats or in Excel or PowerPoint, respectively. Native versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available now, too.

Of course, the iPad can be used for any number of other tasks by taking advantage of thousands of third-party apps. Like an iPod or iPhone, the iPad models also can be synchronized with a compatible Mac or Windows PC, if desired.

Later iPad models, especially the iPad Pro line, have been created with the production of creative content -- music, photos, and video -- very much in mind, and elevate the iPad to the level of a definite competitor with 'traditional' computers.

Also see:

• What market is the iPad designed to reach? What type of needs does it address? Who is expected to buy it?
• Can the iPad be used to type documents? Can it open and save Microsoft Office files? Can it open and save PDF files?
• How do you print directly from the iPad without transferring files to a computer first? Is it possible?
• How do you connect an iPad to a television or projector to display photos or video? What formats and resolutions does it support? What are the video out differences between the iPad models?
• Can you connect a camera to the iPad to transfer photos? How do you connect a camera to transfer photos? Does it have an SD card slot? Does the iPad work with the iPod Camera Connector?

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Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar

Follow these steps on a Mac and iPad that meet the Sidecar system requirements. You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to keep your iPad charged during use, connect it directly to your Mac with the USB charge cable that came with your iPad.

Start a Sidecar session

• If you're using macOS Big Sur, click the Display menu in Control Center or the menu bar, then choose your iPad from the menu.
  
• If you're using macOS Catalina, click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar, then choose your iPad from the menu. (If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Displays, and select “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available”.)
• Or just move a window to your iPad, as described in next section.
• Or connect using the menu in Sidecar preferences.

Switch to screen mirroring

• By default, your iPad shows an extension of your Mac desktop. You can move windows to it and use it like any other display.
• To mirror your Mac display so that both screens show the same content, return to the Display menu or AirPlay menu, which shows a blue iPad icon while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display.

End the Sidecar session

• If you're using macOS Big Sur, return to the Display menu in Control Center or the menu bar and choose your iPad again to disconnect from it.
• If you're using macOS Catalina, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect.
• Or use the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad, or in Sidecar preferences on your Mac.

Learn more about using external displays. For example, you can use Displays preferences to arrange displays so that your iPad extends the left, right, top, or bottom of your desktop.

Move a window to your iPad display

If you hover your pointer over the full-screen button of a window, you can choose to move that window to or from your iPad display. It's faster than dragging the window, and the window is perfectly resized for your display.

The sidebar puts commonly used controls on the side of your iPad screen. It includes Command, Shift, and other modifier keys, so you can choose essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead of a keyboard.

Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the sidebar or change its position.

Tap to show or hide the menu bar when viewing a window in full screen on iPad.

Command. Touch and hold to set the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.

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Option. Touch and hold to set the Option key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Control. Touch and hold to set the Control key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Shift. Touch and hold to set the Shift key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Undo the last action. Some apps support multiple undos.

Use the Touch Bar

Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, you get a Touch Bar on your iPad screen even if your Mac doesn’t have a Touch Bar. Tap its controls with either your finger or Apple Pencil.

Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the Touch Bar or change its position.

If the Touch Bar doesn't appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then make sure that “Displays have separate Spaces” is selected.

Use gestures for scrolling and other actions

Multi-Touch gestures on iPad remain available when using Sidecar. These gestures are particularly useful with Sidecar:

• Scroll: Swipe with two fingers.
• Copy: Pinch in with three fingers.
• Cut: Pinch in with three fingers twice.
• Paste: Pinch out with three fingers.
• Undo: Swipe left with three fingers, or double-tap with three fingers.
• Redo: Swipe right with three fingers.

Use Apple Pencil

To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.

Sidecar also supports double-tap, which you can turn on in Sidecar preferences. Double-tap enables apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).

Use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad

During your Sidecar session, you can type using a keyboard connected to either your Mac or iPad, such as the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad.

To point, click, or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac, or use an Apple Pencil on your iPad.

Use iPad apps

While using Sidecar, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This suspends your Sidecar session until you switch back to the Sidecar app or disconnect Sidecar. The Sidecar app appears on your home screen only while using Sidecar.

Use Sidecar preferences

Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Sidecar. These preferences are available only on computers that support Sidecar.

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• Show Sidebar: Show the sidebar on the left or right side of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
• Show Touch Bar: Show the Touch Bar on the bottom or top of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
• Enable double tap on Apple Pencil: Allow apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
• Connect to: Choose an iPad to connect to, or click Disconnect to stop using Sidecar.

Sidecar system requirements

Sidecar requires a compatible Mac using macOS Catalina or later and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13 or later.

• MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
• MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
• MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
• iMac introduced in 2017 or later, or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
• Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
• Mac Pro introduced in 2019
  

• iPad Pro: all models
• iPad (6th generation) or newer
• iPad mini (5th generation) or newer
• iPad Air (3rd generation) or newer

Additional requirements

• Both devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.
• To use Sidecar wirelessly, both devices must be within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. Also make sure that the iPad is not sharing its cellular connection and the Mac is not sharing its Internet connection.
• To use Sidecar over USB, make sure that your iPad is set to trust your Mac.

Learn more

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• Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference, which can affect Sidecar performance when using Sidecar wirelessly.