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How to Change an iPad's Sidecar Position

Use Display Preferences to swap your Mac and iPad screens

By Evan Killham Evan Killham Writer University of Nebraska Evan Killham has been writing about tech and pop culture since 2008. His work has appeared in publications that include Fandom, VentureBeat, and ScreenRant. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 8, 2022 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

What to Know

With Sidecar active, click the Sidecar icon at the top of the screen and choose Display Preferences.Then, drag the iPad screen to the side you want.The iPad display can be above, below, to the left, or to the right of the Mac. In this article, you'll learn how to change the relative positions of your Mac and iPad screens when you're using Sidecar. Instructions apply to Macs running macOS Catalina (10.15) or later and iPads running iPadOS 13 and up.

How Do You Move Sidecar to the Right of Your Mac

When you're using Sidecar to use your iPad as a second monitor for your Mac, the iPad screen is to the left of the Mac display by default. But that doesn't always align with your workspace setup, and you can move the screens around to make them make more sense. Here's how. With Sidecar active, select the Sidecar icon in your Mac's task bar. It looks like two offset rectangles. Choose Display Preferences at the bottom of the menu. In the window that opens, you can drag either the Mac or iPad screen to align them in the way that works best for you. You can put the iPad screen to the left, right, above, or below the Mac screen. If you aren't sure which screen is which, you can tell in one of two ways: The Mac screen will be larger, or the device name will appear when you hover your mouse over one of them. The orientation you choose affects which edge of the screen you'll move your mouse "through" to reach the second device. For example, if you put the iPad to the right, you'll move your mouse through the right side of the Mac screen to put the pointer onto the iPad. You'll move it back through the left side of the iPad display to return it to the Mac.

What' s the Best Orientation for Sidecar

The placement of your Mac and iPad depends on several factors, including the size of your workspace and what makes sense to you, personally. For example, if you're using your iPad as a drawing tablet, you should probably put it "below" the Mac in Display Preferences. If you use an iPad stand on your desk, it might make more sense to put it opposite your mouse (that is, on the left if you're right-handed). In this case, you'd match the screen layout to their actual positions on your desk so it makes the most sense. You won't find many setups where it makes sense for the iPad to be above your Mac, but the option remains available. FAQ Why don't I have Sidecar on my Mac? Sidecar only works with specific Macs running macOS Catalina and later. Compatible hardware are MacBooks and MacBook Pros from 2016 and later, 2018 and newer MacBook Airs, 2017 and later iMacs, 27-inch Retina iMacs, iMac Pros, Mac Minis 2018 and up, 2019 Mac Pros, and Mac Studios. Why is Sidecar not working on my Mac? If your Mac and software are sufficient to run Sidecar, but it isn't working, it could be for several reasons. First, make sure your iPad and Mac are using the same Apple ID. The feature also won't work if your iPad is locked. You should also make sure Handoff and Bluetooth are on for both devices and that they're close together. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor How to Reboot Your iPad (Even If It's Frozen) How to Use Apple Stage Manager How to Use Split Screen on iPad What Is Sidecar on a Mac? How to Hold the iPad Correctly 12 Ways to Fix it When Sidecar Isn't Working on iPad How to Force-Quit or Close an iPad App How to Change the Font Size on Your Screen How to Change the iPad's Side Switch Behavior How to Record Your iPad Screen to Your Mac for Free How to Print From an iPad The 18 Best Tips to Get More iPad Battery Life (Updated for iPadOS 15.5) How to Capture an iPad Screenshot How to Fix a Disabled iPad by Connecting to iTunes How to Splice and Edit Video on the iPad Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies