iPad Pro Magic Keyboard and Sidecar

[inhalexhale1]

Hi all. Is there a way to use the magic keyboard (keyboard and trackpad) to control the Mac desktop on the iPad screen when in sidecar?

If not, is there an option where the does work (Duet, Luna, etc.)?

Thanks!

 

[LogicalApex]

Hi all. Is there a way to use the magic keyboard (keyboard and trackpad) to control the Mac desktop on the iPad screen when in sidecar?

If not, is there an option where the does work (Duet, Luna, etc.)?

Thanks!

Coming in iPadOS 15 and macOS 12 (Monterey)

 

[inhalexhale1]

Coming in iPadOS 15 and macOS 12 (Monterey)

Good to hear, but do you know of any solutions for the interim?

 

[AutomaticApple]

Good to hear, but do you know of any solutions for the interim?

No, there aren't any alternatives.

 

[haruhiko]

Coming in iPadOS 15 and macOS 12 (Monterey)

It seems that it’s the Mac which controls the other devices.

 

[LogicalApex]

It seems that it’s the Mac which controls the other devices.

In the Demo Apple showed it goes all ways. Meaning whatever mouse and keyboard you are using controls all devices. So you can move from Mac to iPad or iPad to Mac just by moving to the respective input device.

 

[inhalexhale1]

In the Demo Apple showed it goes all ways. Meaning whatever mouse and keyboard you are using controls all devices. So you can move from Mac to iPad or iPad to Mac just by moving to the respective input device.

I just watched the demo. It does show the cursor going both ways, but only control from the Mac to iPadOS is mentioned and shown in the demo. The magic keyboard is not shown at all, or control from the iPadOS to MacOS in sidecar or otherwise.

 

[Ludatyk]

Coming in iPadOS 15 and macOS 12 (Monterey)

Im not entirely sure… I believe that’s more of a macOS feature compared to iPadOS, I could be wrong.

I just watched the demo. It does show the cursor going both ways, but only control from the Mac to iPadOS is mentioned and shown in the demo. The magic keyboard is not shown at all, or control from the iPadOS to MacOS in sidecar or otherwise.

Yeah, I doubt you’ll be able to do that come fall..

 

[LogicalApex]

I just watched the demo. It does show the cursor going both ways, but only control from the Mac to iPadOS is mentioned and shown in the demo. The magic keyboard is not shown at all, or control from the iPadOS to MacOS in sidecar or otherwise.

Nothing on the preview site says this is limited to Mac inputs to the iPad only.

iPadOS 18

iPadOS 18 brings new ways to work with Apple Pencil, new experiences in apps, deeper customization options, and support for Apple Intelligence.

www.apple.com

I am not running the betas on everything though so I can’t test limitations. From the wording and demo I expect this to work though.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Hi all. Is there a way to use the magic keyboard (keyboard and trackpad) to control the Mac desktop on the iPad screen when in sidecar?

If not, is there an option where the does work (Duet, Luna, etc.)?

Thanks!

Using the keyboard should just work? I don’t know about the magic keyboard as I don’t have one, but my bluetooth Logitech one does.

The mouse doesn’t though its well annoying I put in an issue to Apple. My mouse can switch bt connections on the fly so it’s mitigated a bit but still.

 

[inhalexhale1]

Using the keyboard should just work? I don’t know about the magic keyboard as I don’t have one, but my bluetooth Logitech one does.

The mouse doesn’t though its well annoying I put in an issue to Apple. My mouse can switch bt connections on the fly so it’s mitigated a bit but still.

Yea, very surprised this doesn't "just work" with their magic keyboard. It feels broken, even if by design, the iPad cursor is usable on a small sidecar area, and then disappears when trying to scroll to the extended display.

 

[inhalexhale1]

Just going to follow up for anyone else searching about this. Everything below is directly from the developer and/or my direct testing.

1. Apple sidecar does not allow MacOS control with the magic keyboard. Unclear if Continuity in MacOS 12 will allow this.

2. Luna Display does not support the magic keyboard and has no ETA on when or if this will happen.

3. Duet does support the magic keyboard, and it does work, but the cursor action is not smooth and judders. They are aware of the issue but have no plans or ETA to address this.

 

[LogicalApex]

Unclear if Continuity in MacOS 12 will allow this.

What do you mean here?

if it were to work I expected it would require macOS 12 and iPadOS 15 to work via Universal Control unless they disable it during Side Car use.

 

[inhalexhale1]

What do you mean here?

if it were to work I expected it would require macOS 12 and iPadOS 15 to work via Universal Control unless they disable it during Side Car use.

I mean that Magic Keyboard compatibility with sidecar in MacOS 12 and iPadOS 15 is uncertain.

I agree with you that it should work. It "should" work already with sidecar, but it doesn't. I don't see them explicitly stating the Magic Keyboard for Universal Control, much less this allows control of the MacOS screen in Sidecar.

 

[cupcakes2000]

I mean that Magic Keyboard compatibility with sidecar in MacOS 12 and iPadOS 15 is uncertain.

I agree with you that it should work. It "should" work already with sidecar, but it doesn't. I don't see them explicitly stating the Magic Keyboard for Universal Control, much less this allows control of the MacOS screen in Sidecar.

It’s weird. I’m currently downloading the beta, but as it stands at the moment I can use my bt keyboard with sidecar when it’s linked to the iPad. But not the mouse. If that changes I’ll not be happy. But it seems it’s already restricted with a keyboard linked via the three dots?