Mac extending display to IPad just freezes my main screen and input devices

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Level 1

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Mac extending display to IPad just freezes my main screen and input devices

I recently bought Mac Mini M4, it’s plugged in to my Hisense TV via HDMI cable.

At first everything worked fine, I could extend display to my iPad Pro no problem. However in recent days any attempt to extend screen to iPad either completely freezes the screen on my TV or just switches it off. Input devices also disconnect (Bluetooth mouse and Magic Keyboard). Screen does not extend to iPad either, usually nothing happens on iPad when I click extend or move to iPad on Mac, sometimes iPad Home Screen just lights up but that’s it.

When this happens I cannot do anything on my Mac until I restart it, or disconnect and reconnect hdmi cable again.

I tried everything, restarted Mac, restarted iPad, changed HDMI input, disconnected and reconnected WiFi on both iPad and Mac, disconnected and reconnected Bluetooth on my iPad. Nothing worked.

For some reason in the menu bar I’m getting an icon stating that screen mirroring is on and screen is currently extending to Hisense tv… the thing is that’s my main screen, it’s connected via hdmi so I don’t think it should be „extending” to it. Guessing this might have something to do with it, but I have no idea how to fix it.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac mini

Posted on Jan 15, 2025 07:29 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

88,804 points

Feb 13, 2025 07:59 AM in response to marcin388

The M4 Mac mini supports three cabled external displays.

see > Connect a display to Mac mini - Apple Support

If you require more display area, then a more reliable option is to use an external display instead of the iPad.

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Answer 2

kyle.j

Level 1

5 points

Feb 12, 2025 02:22 PM in response to marcin388

I am experiencing the same freeze with nearly the same setup as yourself. I have the 2024 iMac (M4) using a new Samsung TV as a monitor via HDMI. It freezes when I am in Settings>Displays and try to mirror or extend screen to my iPad Pro as well as trying the same thing from the shortcuts in the menu bar.

I have not tried as many scenarios as you have attempting to find whatever it is that this specific function is conflicting with, if that’s even the reason we’re getting this result.

Like yourself, I didn’t have this problem at first. I used this feature without a hitch a for maybe 3-4 (successful) attempts to mirror/extend. I was using my iPad as an extension to my main monitor/screen, running the mouse between the two of them easily. I don’t remember what I did differently those 3 or 4 times, if anything at all. That’s why I think it might be a conflict with something I added to it, hardware (external drives, etc) or new software that could be the issue but that’s a guess. I don’t really like to continue trying different things because I hate having to hard reboot my Mac every time.

I too have noticed that from the menu bar it saying something about “extending to” my main monitor. I was confused as to why it said that. Today, however, it’s not listed like that and appears to be “normal”. I’m just afraid to attempt it again. It consistently freezes and is not hit and miss.

Are you able to access the “Force Quit” options (Cmd-Option-Esc)? Or is your Mac frozen completely?

I was hoping the latest MACOS update might do the trick. No such luck there.

I’ll reply here if I happen to find a work-around or a solution.

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Answer 3

marcin388 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 13, 2025 02:26 AM in response to kyle.j

I’ve found what caused the issue. I reset my Mac to factory settings and I could use my iPad as second screen again. Then I clicked on “stop extending” under my TV and screen froze. I had to unplug and plug in my hdmi back in for signal to return and screen to be displayed. From then on any attempt to extend to my iPad caused that same issue though.

So what can be done but is not ideal, is to reset Mac to factory settings, and then avoid the “stop extending” button under your tv screen like fire. As long as you won’t click it you should be able to extend screen to iPad fine.

There’s also a “better display” app by “waydabber” that can supposedly fix this issue by forcing tv as main display but I haven’t tried it.

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Mac extending display to IPad just freezes my main screen and input devices

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