Sidecar - Has anyone got it working?

[jackluke]

Apple strangely introduced the "iPad strings" exactly when released the Catalina beta 4 (build 19A512f) , right after when people shared continuously among the forums the "defaults write" copy/paste method (valid only till Catalina beta 3), then I preferred to not share soon those strings (but anyone could open the binary with any hex-editor and check inside) maybe until the final Catalina release, because inside that binary, while apple labels the newest ipad as this example:

"com.apple.iphone-x com.apple.ipad-pro com.apple.ipad-pro-11-1 com.apple.ipad-pro-11-2 com.apple.ipad-pro-12point9-1 com.apple.ipad-pro-12point9-2"

about the Air 2 and Mini 4 (for example) they grouped inside the iPad5,x models .

I repeat when a binary patching is properly done it works until the next Catalina update without any side-effect.

FYI my SidecarCore Catalina beta9 pre-patched (including all the whitelisted iPadOS and Catalina machines) still worked with the current Catalina release 19A603, however I attached a picture of my patching method, but I repeat the most important step handling frameworks is the codesign.

edit:
Starting from Catalina 10.15.1 build 19B88 the SidecarCore has changed, my previous uploaded files will work only on Catalina 10.15.0

 

[jackluke]

Just noticed that with 10.15.1 Catalina release build 19B88, the SidecarCore unix binary exec has a bit changed, from 269 Kb now it is 278 Kb, so to those interested to use a pre-patched tested and working file, totally safe and harmless for any Catalina Mac and any iPadOS device, I attached here, to apply it follow these steps:

- disable SIP, at power-on CMD+R, then from Recovery Terminal: csrutil disable ; reboot
- from a Catalina Terminal make temporary writeable the System folder: sudo mount -uw / ; killall Finder
- from Catalina Terminal copy/paste:
open /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SideCarCore.framework/Versions/A/
- replace the file with the one attached
- While usb plugged iPadOS device click Trust from Catalina Finder and at the same time tap Authorize from the iPad

optional post-patch

- re-enable SIP , at power-on CMD+R, then from Recovery Terminal: csrutil enable ; reboot

 

[startergo]

I patched the sidecar, but I get an error with 10.15.1:

 

[jackluke]

I patched the sidecar, but I get an error with 10.15.1:
View attachment 876148

Try using a usb-lightning cable in wired mode, or better if you have a Wifi 802.11ac in wireless mode.

However the pre-patched file I made is essentially for supported Catalina machines.

 

[David Burris]

Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and remove anything under that list. Other than that be sure both devices are logged into the same Apple ID, both devices have Bluetooth on, and both are logged into the same Wifi network.

 

[ruslan120]

+ Trying a different connection method. USB vs. Wireless.

 

[rez07]

I need help @jackluke : i reapplied your latest patch in 10.5.5 and now every Apple App, like Safari, stopped opening. The error is Termination Reason: DYLD, [0x5] Code Signature safari

Eectron apps like Slack also do not work

 

[jackluke]

I need help @jackluke : i reapplied your latest patch in 10.5.5 and now every Apple App, like Safari, stopped opening. The error is Termination Reason: DYLD, [0x5] Code Signature safari

Eectron apps like Slack also do not work

I've no more updated my Sidecar patch since 10.15.1 (because also many here provided other scripts), SidecarCore has many dependencies with apple stock apps, surely from 10.15.4 they changed some signature security check (example AMFI), anyway I can attach a non-patched Sidecar file from 10.15.6 beta (currently I don't have any 10.15.5 install) , it should work to fix the code signature issues.

Before replace, you need SIP disabled (from macOS recovery csrutil disable) open a Catalina terminal:

sudo mount -uw / ; killall Finder

open /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SidecarCore.framework/Versions/A/

replace the file and reboot.

 

[jackluke]

Hello, I just updated to Catalina 10.15.6 build 19G73 , noticed the SidecarCore unix binary exec has a bit changed, now it is 291 Kb and it requires a disabled library validation, so to those interested to use a pre-patched tested and working file, totally safe and harmless for any Catalina Mac and any iPadOS device, I attached here, to apply it follow these steps:

- disable SIP, at power-on CMD+R, then from Recovery Terminal: csrutil disable ; reboot
- from a Catalina Terminal make temporary writeable the System folder: sudo mount -uw / ; killall Finder
- from Catalina Terminal copy/paste:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.security.libraryvalidation.plist DisableLibraryValidation -bool true

(credit to ASentientBot to disable library validation)

open /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SideCarCore.framework/Versions/A/
- replace the file with the one attached and reboot
- Plug wired to the usb your iPadOS device, and while usb plugged open Catalina Finder, select your iPadOS and click Trust (from Catalina Finder) after at the same time tap Authorize from the iPadOS touch screen.

optional post-patch

- re-enable SIP , at power-on CMD+R, then from Recovery Terminal: csrutil enable ; reboot

edit:
After applied my patched file, iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 2 are still supported but only through a lightning to usb cable (when using an apple Broadcom 802.11n wifi card), Sidecar wireless is only allowed with recent iPad Pro and the Catalina Mac needs to have an 802.11ac apple Broadcom Wifi card.

 

[EugW]

I tried giving a talk in Zoom yesterday with Sidecar active using my Catalina MacBook + iPadOS 14 beta 2 iPad Pro over WiFi. PowerPoint worked worked fine initially using this dual screen mode. However, I had to stop the presentation briefly, but then when I came back to it, Sidecar locked up. It was always stuck on the same screen. I had to exit Sidecar and then restart it.

I wonder if it's because I was on iPad OS 14 beta.

 

[rez07]

Hello, how about Big Sur, anyone tried it? I´m running the betas since July but I´m afraid to try the sidecar hack...

 

[GlenK]

I can see the desktop on my iPad but that's it. No control over it from my mac.

 

[mortmela]

Not working on BigSur 11.1. Any help?

 

[zebenetti]

Here is an updated fix to make Sidecar work again between iPadOS 13.1 (final release) and Catalina Beta 9 (probably also on the next Catalina GM seed) with iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 only in wired mode (using a lightning cable to usb).

The improved patched file is totally safe and will work on any iPadOS device and any Catalina supported Mac.

It works also with the iPad 5th-6th gen (the non-Pro and non-Air edition), non-HEVC GPU Catalina supported Mac, moreover applying the patch doesn't affect the others "HEVC capable GPU Catalina Mac" and modern iPad Pro that are Sidecar natively supported.

Requirements to apply the patch:

- either iPadOS 13.1 and Catalina must be logged into the same iCloud account (with two-factor authentication)
- SIP disabled (booting with CMD+R from Recovery Terminal typing "csrutil disable")
- sudo mount -uw / ; killall Finder (from a Catalina Terminal to overwrite the file to patch)
open /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SideCarCore.framework/Versions/A/
- the plugged iPadOS device must be Trusted from Catalina Finder (click Trust) and Authorised from the iPad (tap Authorize).

other tips:

- to use the virtualised "Sidebar" on iPadOS, from Catalina Mac open the little ipad blue icon (or the Airplay icon) on finder top-right menu and select "Use as Separate Display"
- while to use the virtualised "Touch Bar" select "Mirror as Sidecar display"

For reference and other details here is my original post: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/side-car-has-anyone-got-it-working.2184104/post-27561537

Thank you very much for you contribution on this issue!
;-)

I have a MacBook Pro 2011 with Catalina (Patch) and an iPad 6th generation with iPadOS 14. After follow your tips, including your file, my iPad appears in the options of sidecar, but when I click, the only thing that occurs is the iPad have the screen blocked. Any other tip to fix it?

Thank you very much!