Turns out macOS Catalina’s stricter privacy settings require enabling Air Display Host under System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Screen Recording. Although I could move the cursor onto the iPad screen, nothing else seemed to work. While installing Air Display 3 was simple enough, my first attempt at using the external display wasn’t quite as smooth.
Newer systems fared better, especially when larger devices like iPad Pro are connected via USB. Testing confirmed this works better than you might expect, although my late 2015 iMac Retina 5K became a little less responsive with each display added. Up to four devices can be connected to the same host. There’s no need to stop at just a single external display. There’s also an option to connect automatically whenever your device becomes available.Īir Display Host includes preferences for enabling or disabling conference mode, HiDPI, and Retina Display options. Connecting wirelessly is done via a menu bar app on the host Mac, which doubles as a shortcut for rearranging display settings or toggling preferences between normal, HiDPI, and Retina Display resolutions. While a USB connection is recommended for best results, Air Display also works wirelessly, provided your computer and mobile devices are on the same local Wi-Fi network. Both screens will go black for a moment as the resolution is adjusted, but when they reappear you’ll be ready to enjoy a more expansive dual-display experience.
You install the free Air Display Host software on your Mac, and then launch Air Display 3 on your smartphone or tablet that’s connected using a standard Lightning cable.
More displaysĪir Display 3 turns any iPhone or iPad running iOS 11 or later into an external Mac display. Air Display 3 adds up to four external displays using the iOS devices or other Macs you already own.