Using your iPad as a monitor for the Mac is excellent for two reasons. First, it’s convenient to need only one display for two computers. Second, it enables you to use your Mac as if it were just another app on your iPad. I’m sure we can spend the whole day discussing its brilliance, but how is it done? How do you use your iPad as a Mac mini display?
To Use Your iPad As A Mac Mini Display, You Connect Them Wired Or Wirelessly:
- Find A Reliable Display App To Pair Your iPad And Mac
- Plug Your Luna Display Dongle Into Your Mac Mini
- Download And Install The Luna Display Primary App
- Download And Install The Luna Display Secondary App
1. Find A Reliable Display App To Pair Your iPad And Mac
First, you need an app to help you pair your iPad to your Mac mini. While numerous apps are available for this purpose, one of the best is arguably Luna Display. It’s famous for its reliability and functionality is Luna Display. We’ll use this as our base for this article.
Luna Display
Luna Display is a dongle that is available in two versions to work with all modern Macs. You need the USB-C model if you’ve got a 2018 Mac mini and a Mini DisplayPort version of Luna Display for older Mac minis. They both plug into the USB-C or Mini DisplayPort hole on your Mac.
Your Mac will detect the Luna Display dongle as an external display, although the output will reach your iPad wirelessly over your wifi network. You’ll also need to launch an app on your iPad to receive the output signal.
You’ll have access to Luna Display’s wireless display capabilities for as long as it remains in your Mac mini. Suppose you opt for a MacBook instead of a Mac mini; you can still plug or remove the dongle when traveling, and Luna Display will always work for your benefit.
For the Luna dongle to work, you have to download and install the Luna Display app on both your Mac mini and iPad. The app originates from Astropad, whose original intention was for Luna Display to help artists project their drawings onto their Mac or Windows PC from their iPad display. The app is free; you can download Luna Display from the Apple Store or the Astropad website.
Once configured, you may access your Mac anytime by running the Luna app. It supports touch, including the Apple Pencil, giving you touch a macOS. It also makes use of any external keyboard attached to your iPad. Moreover, It’s also wifi, so you can place your Mac out of sight while still using it at any time, provided it remains running.
2. Plug Your Luna Display Dongle Into Your Mac Mini
It’s time to insert your Luna Display dongle into one of your Mac mini ports. Remember, the Luna Display dongle is available in USB-C and MiniDisplay Port variations, so examine your port carefully to ensure you purchase the correct connector.
3. Download And Install The Luna Display Primary App
While you can choose to download the Luna Display app from the Apple Store, it’s more convenient to visit the Astropad Website. They have a brief but useful guide to get you started on your app downloads. First, you’ll start with the luna primary app and move on to the secondary luna app.
- You first need to download the Luna primary app for your primary computer. Luna plugs into your primary computer, in this case, your Mac mini.
- Once you download the primary Luna app, go ahead and launch it and install it in the Applications folder.
- After the installation, open the primary Luna app and run the setup. When prompted, enable accessibility or control of your computer.
- When you click Enable, Luna Display will bring up a new window stating that Luna Display wants to control your computer. Click Open System Preferences.
- A new Security & Privacy windowwill open; click the yellow lock in the bottom-left of the window to allow you to make changes. Type your password and select unlock.
- Click the small white box next to Luna Display. Afterward, you will return to the Luna Display installation window. Then, click next.
- When the installation asks to Allow Screen Recording, choose Enable. Follow the exact process as before when you allowed control of the display. It will take you back to the installation window, where you click next.
- Wait for your firmware to update. Then click next. Feel free to skip the window which asks if you want to Stay in Touch.
4. Download And Install The Luna Display Secondary App
After installing the primary Luna app and during the installation, it will redirect you to installing the secondary app.
- Go back to Astropad and download the second luna app. Once downloaded, open the app.
- Once open, click I am a Luna Display Owner at the bottom of the screen. Click OK when you notice a pop-up asking for permissions. The app will then ask you to head over to your Mac mini.
- Once at your Mac mini, click allow. After a few seconds, it should switch over to your iPad.
- You should now have your iPad as a second display for your Mac mini.
If you experience any difficulties, you can find a collection of troubleshooting guides on the official Astropad webpage under the app download section.
In the Luna Display settings, ensure that you enable retina resolution to avoid an unclear or pixilated display. Remember, you don’t need a live internet connection to complete this process; you only need a reliable wifi connection. If you don’t have wifi, you can connect your iPad to your Mac mini using a USB-C cable.
Furthermore, pencil and touch support will also work, as will your magic mouse.
Where To Next?
This blog is a blog dedicated to using modern computing devices to run and manage a business. If you’re interested in using an iPad for your business, either as an entrepreneur, a small business owner or for your employees to use I recommend reading the following articles:
