How I can get my iPad working in Sidecar mode with MacBook Air M4?

Question

Level 1

19 points

How I can get my iPad working in Sidecar mode with MacBook Air M4?

I have a macbook M4 Air 13", OS: Sequoia 15.4. I am trying to use sidecar with my iPad, iPadOS 18.11.

When I go to Displays, it only shows 'Built-in Display' and there is no option to add the ipad for screen mirroring or extended display.

Both are signed in to the same apple account. It doesn't show up whether using wifi or wired connection (USB-C to Lightning cable, and yes, I did accept to trust the device). It works fine with my M1 Studio, but just doesn't show up on the M4 Air.

From the thread here: iPad not showing up for mirroring/ sidecar - Apple Community the advice given is to reset the SMC and PRAM. When you read those articles, resetting the SMC is just restarting the macbook and resetting the PRAM is only for older Intel based Macs. I have restarted the Macbook (and shut it down and turned back on) and fully shutdown and powered back on the iPad, but there is no difference.

Can anyone advise how I can get my iPad working in sidecar mode with the M4 Air?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: iPad not showing up for mirroring/ sidecar

iPad, iPadOS 18

Posted on Aug 7, 2025 11:52 PM

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Answer 1

Dave Kennard Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 9, 2025 01:56 AM in response to Dave Kennard

Finally got it working!

According to this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/kktplt/ipad_not_showing_up_on_sidecar/ you also need Location services turned on and find my Mac (neither of these are mentioned as requirements at Use iPad as a second display for your Mac – Apple Support (UK)).

I had Location Services turned on for both the iPad and Macbook, and find my Mac was on for the iPad. But when I came to check it on the Macbook I noticed it didn't show any of my devices under my apple account. So I logged out, logged back in, and now it's all working okay.

Seems a pretty stupid requirement, but at least I have it working now.

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Answer 2

TheLittles

Level 10

201,521 points

Aug 8, 2025 12:26 AM in response to Dave Kennard

"iPad not showing up for mirroring/ sidecar"

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Sidecar? Like on a motorcycle?

Update both Devices to the latest updates. IMPORTANT: Back Up your iPhone First: Make a backup of your iPhone using iCloud or your computer. That way you can have something to restore you iPhone from, should anything go wrong with the new installation.

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Answer 3

Dave Kennard Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 9, 2025 01:37 AM in response to TheLittles

I've done that, now the Macbook is on MacOS 15.6 and the iPad is on iPadOS 18.6. But no difference, the Macbook still can't see the iPad as an available display.

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