Sidecar is a slick new feature that’s arrived with macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13 that lets users turn their iPad into an external Mac display either wirelessly or wired. Follow along for how to check iPad and Mac Sidecar hardware requirements and more.
Sidecar worked with any iPad that was able to run iPadOS 13 during the developer beta period. But with the official release, only newer iPads are able to take advantage of the feature (Apple may have seen performance issues with Sidecar on older iPads or other problems).
In addition to your Mac running macOS Catalina and your iPad running iPadOS 13, read on below for what hardware you’ll need, along with a few other software requirements.
How to check iPad and Mac Sidecar requirements
If you’re not sure, check what Mac and iPad model you have
On Mac: > About This Mac / On iPad: Settings > General > About
Check them against the hardware requirements below
Make sure Bluetooth, WiFi, and Handoff are turned on for both devices
Make sure you’re using the same Apple ID for iCloud on both your iPad and Mac
To use Sidecar, on your Mac head to System Preferences > Sidecar > Connect to.
If you’re having trouble getting Sidecar to work, Apple notes two more things:
Both devices are within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other.
The iPad is not sharing its cellular connection and the Mac is not sharing its Internet connection.