iPad PRO M2 with iPadOS 16.4.1 external display only mirroring and there is no option to extend the display

You monitor screen resolution will impact the available settings and external screen capabilities.

While undocumented, testing has demonstrated that 4:3 monitors with a display resolution of 1280x1024 and below are only usable with iPad screen mirroring; as such, associated settings to disable screen mirroring in favour of Stage Manager are not available in iPad Display settings.

When used with a 16:9 widescreen monitor, with a native display resolution of 1920x1080 or greater, the full set of Display settings - and access to Stage Manager - become available.

The iPad User Guide lists the upper resolution limit as 6K - but the Guide offers no lower limit, or suggestion of aspect-ratio, being a factor for compatibility:

Connect iPad to a display with a cable - Apple Support

This discussion thread may be of additional interest:

iPad Extended Desktop not working - Apple Community

In conclusion, your monitor must be capable of 16:9 widescreen 1920x1080 (FHD) to support iPadOS16 Stage Manager extended desktop. Unless the monitor meets the minimum required specifications, you will not see the full range of controls in iPad settings.

Thanks for the additional information.

This essentially confirms that the lower resolution limit, supported for Stage Manager, is 1920x1080 (i.e., full HD). Lower resolution monitors are only usable as mirrored display.

Just got off the phone with apple support for this same issue: extended display mode not working after upgrading to iPadOS 16.4.1. Spoiler, was able to resolve issue (with caveat that issue might come back, and if it does, I need to let them know).

I found that when plugging into my Sceptre brand dumb-TV with any adapter/dongle/hub the extended display support was not working and the iPadPro would only mirror its display to the TV. We tried plugging my iPadPro into my home office setup, with a Dell WD19DCS dock and Dell P2415Q display, the extended display support worked just fine.

It was suggested to try clearing out the brains on the TV, similar to how you might clear out the SMC on a mac. I then did the following

Turned off the TV

unplugged the TV from the iPadPro

unplugged the TV power cord from the wall outlet

pressed and held the TV power button for greater than 10 seconds

plugged the TV power cord back into the wall outled

Turned on the TV

plugged the TV back into the iPadPro

Then, like magic, extended display support was working just like it was supposed to on the TV. After this I retested it with all my usual hubs and found them all to be working as they had before. The hubs/docks tested were:

ElGato thunderbolt 3 professional dock

Caldigit SoHo dock

Twelve South StayGo hub

Cable Creations usb c hub

Apple Digital AV adapter

Now mind you that this was a very surprising result, as the same docks and TV were still working just fine with a 2017 MacBook Pro, so it didn’t seem like the issue should have been related to the TV. Best we could figure is they just weren’t communicating correctly and resetting the TV made the iPadPro try its handshake a little differently (figuratively speaking). Maybe something was cached weirdly that made it act up after the iPadOS update.

So try resetting the memory on whatever display you are attempting to plug in to and that might just resolve your issue!

Why would Apple choose to change that limit with an update and not state anything in the update information?

Extended display has obviously been working for people on lower resolution displays before this update.

To write it off as just something to expect doesn’t root out the issue for people without higher resolution displays.

My monitor offers full external display support but doesn’t have the “more space” option for display zoom that I see available on the iPad screen. Is “more space” limited to certain resolution monitors only?

Thanks for the speedy reply. I should clarify. My work monitor is an HP Elite 24” with a native 1920x1200 resolution. It doesn’t offer the “more space option.” However, I have an LG 32” 4K personal monitor that does, and I’ve seen in online videos the apple studio display offers it as well. So, I am only guess there is some sort of restriction on lower res monitors. Extremely hard to confirm without any apple documentation on it.

Again, thanks for getting back so quick.

Hey, i have same problem as well. My ipad pro does not support my LG Ultragear monitor which is 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920 x 1080 resolution FHD as an external monitor after update. Its only mirroring have been looking for a solution long time but unfortunately couldn’t.

The Display Zoom setting, to which you refer, applies only to the iPad - and not to an external display:

You’re very welcome.

If you could confirm the native resolution of the monitor(s) that you have tried already - and/or the monitor manufacturer/model, this information will doubtless help others.

This is absolutely a joke right? The accepted ‘answer’ is that Apple instigated a new arbitrary limitation on external displays without any notice or documentation? Come on…

Same here. My display meets the mentioned requirements. Was hoping somehow it would start working with 17, but no change.

Hi,

I finally made it work when adding a mouse. Before I had just the Smart Keyboard Folio. Hope it works for you as well.