This portable tablet can do everything your Mac does while keeping up with your on-the-go routine. IPad models like the iPad Air and iPad Mini are so slim and light, you can take carry them around everywhere. With the built-in front and back cameras, the iPad lets you shoot amazing photos and videos, scan documents and FaceTime your friends. Small enough to hold in one hand but still powerful, the iPad mini is perfect for Web browsing, making video calls, snapping and storing photos, reading books and more. The iPad Air is larger than the iPad mini and designed to better handle apps for creativity and productivity. Connect your device to your Mac. You can connect your device using a USB or USB-C cable or using a Wi-Fi connection. To turn on Wi-Fi syncing, see Sync content between your Mac and iPhone or iPad over Wi-Fi. In the Finder on your Mac, select the device in the Finder sidebar. Select General in the button bar. Click Restore Backup.
It seems like Apple promotes its iPad Pro as a computer and encourages young users to get more mobile with iPad. And lo, I came to know about a cool new product that can turn an iPad into a Mac mini display. It is Luna Display, a dongle that helps you turn your iPad into a wireless display for Mac mini. This small product creates a new workspace that boasts the best of Mac and iPad. The best thing is, it works on all major iPads except the first generation.
How to Use iPad as Mac Mini Display or Secondary Display for Any Mac with Luna Display
Your iPad becomes a wireless display for Mac mini, which is a stationary hub. The processing power of Mac mini and edge-to-edge retina display of iPad are at your fingertips.
Before we delve into the method, you need to put a few things into place:
- Your Mac mini (or any MacBook Pro/Air, iMac that has USB Type C port.)
- Any iPad (except the first generation iPad.)
- Accessories: A Bluetooth keyboard case, Mouse, and Apple Pencil (Second Generation)
- Strong Wi-fi network
Step #1. You need to download Luna for Mac app on your Mac mini; for this purpose, keep your existing external display connected to the Mac mini. Game captures for mac.
Step #2. Next, launch System Preferences on your Mac mini.
Step #3. Now click “Users and Groups” and choose your preferred account for automatic login.
Step #4. Connect your iPad to the same Wi-fi network as your Mac mini.
Note: If Wi-fi is not available, you can connect your two devices using a USB cable.
Step #5. Then you are required to download Luna Display app on your iPad.
Step #6. When both apps are installed on both devices, open Luna Display app and follow on-screen instructions.
You will be asked to insert Luna device into Mac mini.
Ipad For Mac Mini
Step #7. It is time to disconnect the external display from your Mac mini.
Note that if you use FileVault, you’ll still need an external display to unlock your drive whenever you reboot.
There you go!
Video: iPad touchscreen Mac Mini Setup
Now you can use your iPad as a Mac mini display.
Since Mac mini is shipped without a display, Luna Display finds a suitable usage for Mac mini users. One should not limit the use of Luna Display to Mac mini as users can always use this dongle with MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or an iMac.
Users, who wanted to experience superior graphics on iPad, can now use programs like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro on iPad.
When you wish to go back to iOS on your iPad, simply swipe up like you used to bring home screen on your iPad. Coming back to macOS is equally easy; just tap on Luna Display app to go back to macOS.
Is it a good deal?
Only if you have both devices at home or office. You should not buy an expensive iPad only to use it as your Mac mini display.
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Luna Display: A sincere effort to rework Apple ecosystem
Apple is creating competition among its own devices; my article (linked above) hints at this point. For the last three years, Apple has made tremendous efforts to improve its iPad 12.9″ as the company knew that the large-screen tablet has nearly replaced laptops, though it hasn’t replaced computers yet.
Makers of Luna Display have not failed to sense this practice of Apple, as they note, “Anyone with a close eye on Apple will notice there’s a common theme with each hardware announcement: Apple is always trying to outdo itself by creating more powerful standalone products, as if each product is slowly creeping up on the boundaries of another product.”
iPhones are so big now that they’re practically mini iPads, and iPads are marketed as “like a computer, unlike any computer.” But the reality is that even though the iPad keeps getting more powerful, it hasn’t replaced the computer yet, and people are still reaching for their Macbooks to get real work done.
Summing up…
While Apple could not (or they don’t want to) combine the iPad and Mac mini, Luna Display has successfully done this. Users will surely welcome this product to make their life more comfortable and mobile.
Related Posts:
Ipad As A Screen For Mac Mini
Do you think people will adopt Luna Display to use their iPad as a Mac mini display? Share your feedback with us in the comment below. Heroes of might and magic 6 for mac torrent pirate bay.
Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com who has a keen eye for news, rumors and all the unusual stuff that happens around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting contents on social media.
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/iosblogger/
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/iosblogger/How to Share Purchased Apps Between iPhones and iPads
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Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar
- Make sure that your Mac and iPad 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.
- Click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar on your Mac, then choose the option to connect to your iPad. Or use Sidecar preferences to connect.
If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then make sure that ”Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” is selected. - Your iPad should now show 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 AirPlay menu, which is a blue rectangle while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display. This is a great way to share your Mac screen with others.
- To end your Sidecar session, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect. Or click the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad.
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.
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. It works just like the Touch Bar on Mac, and you can 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, including 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.
Ipad Mac Mini Remote Desktop
- 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 and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13:
Mac using macOS Catalina
Ipad Remote For Mac Mini
- 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, plus iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in 2019
iPad using iPadOS 13
- iPad Pro: all models
- iPad (6th generation) or later
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
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.
Ipad For Mac Mini Monitor
Learn more
Use Ipad For Mac Mini Display
- Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference, which can affect Sidecar performance when using Sidecar wirelessly.