iPad iPad as primary screen with Mac mini and then use an external display for second screen???

[Leaf.]

Using iPad as primary screen and my MacBook Pro in clamshell mode connected to an external display as secondary screen.

Been searching everywhere for this but I believe due to the ipasOS it’s not possible for it to be the main primary display and then MacBook Pro the secondary display.

HOWEVER I just discovered the Mac mini on YouTube. I’ve seen people connect the Mac mini to their iPad and essentially it’s running macOS.

NOW what I haven’t seen and want to know if it’s possible is….if I connect Mac mini to iPad = iPad becomes macOS. Can I then connect the ipad running macOS somehow to the MacBook pro so the iPad becomes primary display and MacBook in clamshell mode connected to an external display becomes secondary display.

Hope that makes sense. Not seen anything on you tube tried this or any info if it works.
Really want it to work…

 

[cupcakes2000]

You want to use the iPad as a primary display for the Mac mini - I do this and it works until a restart. It’s very cool. It’s like macos as an app. I use jump desktop amd sidecar to help facilitate. It’s not perfect but works fine. But I’m puzzled about the next step. You also want it to be connected to the MacBook to use the MacBooks attached second screen? Why don’t you just plug the second screen into the Mac mini? You can choose the primary display in system prefs, I’m not sure the need for the MacBook Pro. What am I not understanding?

 

[Absrnd]

 

[Leaf.]

You want to use the iPad as a primary display for the Mac mini - I do this and it works until a restart. It’s very cool. It’s like macos as an app. I use jump desktop amd sidecar to help facilitate. It’s not perfect but works fine. But I’m puzzled about the next step. You also want it to be connected to the MacBook to use the MacBooks attached second screen? Why don’t you just plug the second screen into the Mac mini? You can choose the primary display in system prefs, I’m not sure the need for the MacBook Pro. What am I not understanding?

Oh right I didn’t realise you could just plug any external monitor to use as a second screen directly into the Mac mini. That’s so cool. I thought you had to use something like side car.
In terms of using macOS on iPad does all the touch screen stuff work and Apple Pencil?
Thanks

 

[cupcakes2000]

Oh right I didn’t realise you could just plug any external monitor to use as a second screen directly into the Mac mini. That’s so cool. I thought you had to use something like side car.
In terms of using macOS on iPad does all the touch screen stuff work and Apple Pencil?
Thanks

You need an external display for the Mac mini, you can plug several in if you like, depending on the model, not just one) it’s necessary to set it all up, and after a reboot, you need to set it up again (short of a few terminal commands which can be a way round it, but you still will need the external to hand for several reasons).

when it’s all set up you can use something like jump desktop to access, or sidecar. Though you need to initiate sidecar from the Mac which is a little annoying. Side car is excellent quality- but touch doesn’t work on everything, though the pencil does. You definitely need a mouse and keyboard though. The mouse needs to be connect via the Mac, not the iPad. But pencil latency is amazing.
Jump desktop is great quality and you can fully use touch etc, and onscreen keyboard and mouse even when it’s connected via the iPad. You can also remote in from an external location.


This is right now, macOS Monterey changes or at least adds, to this experience.

You can also look into Luna Display.

 

[Leaf.]

You need an external display for the Mac mini, you can plug several in if you like, depending on the model, not just one) it’s necessary to set it all up, and after a reboot, you need to set it up again (short of a few terminal commands which can be a way round it, but you still will need the external to hand for several reasons).

when it’s all set up you can use something like jump desktop to access, or sidecar. Though you need to initiate sidecar from the Mac which is a little annoying. Side car is excellent quality- but touch doesn’t work on everything, though the pencil does. You definitely need a mouse and keyboard though. The mouse needs to be connect via the Mac, not the iPad. But pencil latency is amazing.
Jump desktop is great quality and you can fully use touch etc, and onscreen keyboard and mouse even when it’s connected via the iPad. You can also remote in from an external location.


This is right now, macOS Monterey changes or at least adds, to this experience.

You can also look into Luna Display.

Thanks for your reply!

so just to get this straight:
1) I need an external display for the Mac mini. Can I use my MacBook Pro for this purpose as I don't atm have an external monitor right now?
2) Once the Mac mini is connected to my display (i.e. MacBook Pro, stand alone monitor etc), I then via the Mac mini start up side car.
3) This will allow me to then make the iPad as my primary screen?

basically my issue is in the past I've tried using my iPad as a primary screen with the MacBook Pro being used as a second screen but the way sidecar is set up it doesn't allow us to use iPad as primary screen just the MacBook Pro. sorry if I'm being confusing lol

 

[Leaf.]

Thanks for your reply!

so just to get this straight:
1) I need an external display for the Mac mini. Can I use my MacBook Pro for this purpose as I don't atm have an external monitor right now?
2) Once the Mac mini is connected to my display (i.e. MacBook Pro, stand alone monitor etc), I then via the Mac mini start up side car.
3) This will allow me to then make the iPad as my primary screen?

basically my issue is in the past I've tried using my iPad as a primary screen with the MacBook Pro being used as a second screen but the way sidecar is set up it doesn't allow us to use iPad as primary screen just the MacBook Pro. sorry if I'm being confusing lol

Also when I try to use note taking apps on iPad with side car connected to MacBook Pro its really slow.

 

[Leaf.]

just checked this luna display thing. No way I can get that. In the UK and its going to take a while to come plus its like over £100 just for the dongle.

No way to connect the Mac mini to iPad so iPad becomes macOS without the dongle?

 

[Amethyst1]

just checked this luna display thing. No way I can get that. In the UK and its going to take a while to come plus its like over £100 just for the dongle.

I got my Luna Display dongles off eBay - at a steep discount. I paid less than 50 bucks for one.

1) I need an external display for the Mac mini. Can I use my MacBook Pro for this purpose as I don't atm have an external monitor right now?

No way.

And this thread is a duplicate of...

iPad as primary screen using Mac mini and then MacBook Pro as secondary screen is it possible???

That can be done using e.g. Luna Display, which, in my experience, is the fastest solution for this kind of thing. Luna Display allows using only one iPad or Mac as additional display, so you'd have to resort to some other solution (Duet Display?) for that. However, this begs the question why...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[cupcakes2000]

Thanks for your reply!

so just to get this straight:
1) I need an external display for the Mac mini. Can I use my MacBook Pro for this purpose as I don't atm have an external monitor right now?
2) Once the Mac mini is connected to my display (i.e. MacBook Pro, stand alone monitor etc), I then via the Mac mini start up side car.
3) This will allow me to then make the iPad as my primary screen?

basically my issue is in the past I've tried using my iPad as a primary screen with the MacBook Pro being used as a second screen but the way sidecar is set up it doesn't allow us to use iPad as primary screen just the MacBook Pro. sorry if I'm being confusing lol

No you cannot use your MacBook as a monitor for the Mac mini. You need an dedicated external display to set it up, amd to troubleshoot after. But the Mac mini has hdmi, so you can probably plug it into your telly for this purpose.


I’m not sure as I’m away from my set up just now, but it’s something like - When you start up side car you get the option of mirroring or separate display. I’m system prefs you can adjust which is thw main display by moving the menu bar to the iPad display. It’s a bit convoluted so I use an app which sits in the menu bar that makes the process automatic- systemresX or something it’s called.

A warning with all of this though- it’s not exactly plug and play. It’s a bit of a pita. But it does work with some caveats.