Mirroring replicates the content of an iPad on a Mac, displaying the same content on both screens. This feature is beneficial for screen sharing or streaming content to another device, such as a TV or external monitor. Users can activate Screen Mirroring directly from the iPad by swiping down on the Control Center, tapping the Screen Mirroring icon, and selecting their Mac.
Using Sidecar involves extending the display much like a traditional external monitor. Users can drag windows between the Mac and iPad using the cursor. To move an app’s window, one can select Window > Move Window to Mac or Window > Move to iPad.
The iPad’s Side Bar presents different action icons, which allow users to hide or show the dock, display the onscreen keyboard, and utilize shortcuts such as Shift, Control, Option, and Command. The Side Bar can be hidden by accessing the Control Center on the Mac, clicking the Screen Mirror icon, and selecting Hide Side Bar.
Users can choose to display or hide the Touch Bar, located at the bottom of the screen, which offers functions based on the application in use. For instance, if typing, the Emoji key and predictive text appear; if using a browser, a URL text box with navigation buttons is displayed.
When mirroring the display, the iPad allows for normal use with gestures like swipe, tap, scroll, and zoom, and navigation with an Apple Pencil is supported. The second-generation Apple Pencil enables custom actions with a double-tap feature in compatible apps.
Turning Off Sidecar can be done through the Mac or iPad when the iPad is no longer needed as a secondary display. On a Mac, users can access the Control Center, click Screen Mirroring, and deselect the iPad. On the iPad, tapping the icon with a rectangle and diagonal line on the Touch Bar and then selecting Disconnect will end the session. For display mirroring, users can swipe down from the Control Center on the iPad and tap Stop Mirroring.