While reviewing Apple’s macOS Catalina one feature that’s appreciated the most is without any doubt, Sidecar. Even though I have posted an update about it on my Instagram, after successfully setting up the Sidecar screen sharing between MacBook Pro and iPad.
Sidecar is actually a life saver for many designers, presentation creators and app developers who always require a secondary screen with additional functionality.
Many users are benefitting from it, who are usually working on-the-go and need secondary screen for their work requirements. Sidecar cures that pain point and make their work easier.
To get started with Sidecar you should have:
- An Apple Mac computer with macOS Catalina Beta installed on it. Minimum required generation for Mac machines are:
- MacBook 2015 and later
- MacBook Air 2012 and later
- MacBook Pro 2012 and later
- Mac mini 2012 and later
- iMac 2012 and later
- iMac Pro 2017 and later
- Mac Pro 2013 and later
- An iPad of minimum 5th generation with iPadOS beta installed on it. Following are other iPad devices iPadOS beta will support:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro
- 11-inch iPad Pro
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad (6th generation)
- iPad (5th generation)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Air 2
In order to work with Sidecar first update your desired Mac to macOS Catalina Beta, then check for Sidecar in System Preferences:
Also update your iPad to iPad OS 13 beta then connect your iPad with your Mac computer either with Lightening Cable or Bluetooth. Then follow the following steps to setup and get started with Sidecar to extend or mirror your screen with iPad.
- Select iPad icon in the top bar where you have Bluetooth, WiFi and other icons are there.
- Select your iPad to share your screen on it.
Sidecar selecting iPad from the list - Then you will see that after a few seconds your screen may flicker and you will see extended view of your desktop on you iPad.
Sidecar demo on both MacBook Pro and iPad - Keep selecting a window and move your mouse to right-side of the screen to move it to iPad screen.
To customize your options on iPad screen, navigate to System Preferences > Sidecar
There you can open all the Sidecar settings and make changes for Sidebar, Touch Bar and Apple Pencil options on iPad screen, whereas from the Sidecar settings windows only you can select the iPad device to connect with.
So you can use Apple Pencil for photo and video editing with Adobe Illustrator and other tools like Affinity Photo, Cinema 4D, Maya, ZBrush also you can mark notes with it in your favorite apps, from your iPad screen.
