Mac mini｜Four ways to change the screen from Sidecar to remote control of iPad in seconds

My point is: if they are not useful, don't bother with them! Unless you have a specific need, it is better to buy a MacBook.
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Not many people buy Mac mini, but many people buy iPad. Therefore, people who buy Mac mini always want to make use of iPad. So there are automatic operations and shortcut commands, using Sidecar function, "blind operation" to make iPad automatically connect to Mac mini, so as to be applied in specific scenarios. This includes:

(1) On the premise of connecting a screen, you can use the iPad as an extended screen for the Mac mini. In addition to making use of more screen space, you can also use the iPad's touch function and use the Apple Pencil to perform operations such as drawing.

(2) Use Mac mini as a server. Normally, there is no need to connect it to a screen. When visual operation is occasionally required, use iPad to connect it.

(3) If there is no monitor, the iPad is used as the main monitor; or if a Mac mini is needed for some reason, the iPad needs to be used as a temporary monitor;

There are many tutorials of this kind on the Internet. As usual, I will first put the operation tutorial. Then I will focus on the inconveniences of various methods that I personally think after actual operation. I hope it will be helpful to those who want to try it.

1. Installation Instructions

You can watch the video to see the completed operation process. I put the most critical "automatic operation" code and shortcut instructions here.

Make sure you are using the same Apple ID for both your Mac mini and iPad.

1. Automatic operation - application program

Path: Settings-Automation-New Document-Application-Run AppleScript

Key points:

(1) Change "KuroiPad" in the command to your iPad's name (iPad-Settings-General-About This Device-Name)

(2) After copying the command, click Run, complete various authorizations according to the prompts (Mac mini-Settings-Privacy and Security-Accessibility), and then save it as: Open Sidecar.app

on findLastTargetIndex(targetItem, itemList) set lastIndex to 0 repeat with i from (count of itemList) to 1 by -1 if item i of itemList is targetItem then set lastIndex to i exit repeat end if end repeat return lastIndex end findLastTargetIndex beep 1 beep 1 tell application "System Settings" activate delay 1 tell application "System Events" tell process "System Settings" click menu item "Display" of menu "Display" of menu bar item "Display" of menu bar 1 delay 0.3 tell group 1 of group 2 of splitter group 1 of group 1 of window "Display" try delay 1 -- Delay is required here because the system settings cannot load the interface on the right immediately after a cold startclick pop up button "Add" -- Get the names of all menu itemsset menuItems to name of menu items of menu "Add" of pop up button "Add" -- Searching by name is more accurate. Here we find the index of the last name. If the adjustment meets the general control, two names will appear, one is the general control and the other is the navigation set targetIndex to (my findLastTargetIndex("KuroiPad", menuItems)) -- Click target menu item delay 0.3 click menu item targetIndex of menu "Add" of pop up button "Add" say "Followship connected" on error delay 0.5 say "Not found" end try end tell end tell end tell delay 1 beep 1 --tell application "System Settings" to quit

2. Quick Commands—SSH Commands

Path: Shortcut Commands - (click the + sign) New - (search box) Run script via SSH

Key points: The host can be the IP address or the name of the Mac mini***.local (Mac mini-Settings-General-Sharing-Local Host Name). The username and password are the Mac mini login username and password.

open -a turns on Sidecar #. Turning on Sidecar refers to the app name of the automated application.

2. Sidecar and General Control

Some of you may not be familiar with the difference between Sidecar and Universal Control, so let me briefly explain it.

When we click "+" in "Settings-Display", we will see two iPads: one is connected to the mouse and keyboard, and the other is mirrored or extended. The former is universal control, and the latter is Sidecar.

The function of Universal Control is to use one Apple device to control all other devices; Sidecar is to expand the desktop of the Mac computer.

So, here comes the point——

1. General control and sidecar cannot be used at the same time;

2. Sidecar is designed for Mac computers, and its purpose is to expand the usage scenarios of Mac computers, not iPads or other devices. Therefore, the functions of iPad's Magic Keyboard will be limited.

Specifically, the touchpad of the Magic Keyboard cannot be used in the Sidecar function.

This is a very strange setting: when you connect the iPad to the Mac mini, the Magic Keyboard can be used for typing, but if you want to move the cursor, you must use a Bluetooth mouse or touchpad. Of course, if you want touch function, you can either move with two fingers or use Apple Pencil. Anyway, it is not possible to operate with only a Magic Keyboard.

Therefore, this kind of operation method that is convenient but not completely convenient is very confusing. We will discuss it in detail later.

Three, four iPad screen configuration methods

According to the usage scenario, you can choose the appropriate operation method by yourself.

Since you need to operate blindly without a screen, you need to configure the computer in advance.

(1) User automatic login

Path: Mac mini-Settings-Users and Groups

(2) The computer restarts automatically after power failure

Path: Mac mini-Settings-Energy

(3) Software startup

Path: Mac mini-Settings-General-Login Items and Extensions

1. Screen expansion

Operation path: Mac computer - Settings - Display - "+", select iPad

This is the simplest and does not require additional configuration. You can choose mirroring or expanding the screen according to your needs.

For example, when using Photoshop, if you need to draw some lines or graphics with Pencil, you can move the canvas to the iPad. After drawing, move it back to the computer screen. It is said that this operation experience is comparable to that of a digital tablet. Although I have never used a digital tablet, it is still very convenient to use temporarily.

Especially for the "Screenshot-Annotation" process, you only need to take a screenshot on the computer, and the picture will be automatically displayed on the iPad. After annotating with pencil, it will be seamlessly synced to the computer and saved.

2. Wired expansion

Software: Duet and Apple-certified data cable

If you don't have a screen for your Mac mini and want to use an iPad as a screen, using duet and a data cable is a relatively stable and simple method.

Duet is a paid software on Apple, priced at 68 yuan. It also has many versions (including wireless connection), basically all of which are subscription-based, and not cheap. So, no matter how convenient it is, I don't recommend it. I bought this software a long time ago, but I have hardly used it. This time I can use it to my advantage.

After configuring automatic user login and duet startup, set up automatic connection in duet. This way, as long as the Mac mini is turned on and connected to the iPad with a data cable, the automatic connection will be completed.

The duet wired method is more stable than any wireless connection method, and there is no delay. The only problem is that the resolution needs to be adjusted, and it cannot be adapted to the iPad screen by default, and the picture looks a little blurry. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t subscribe to other services.

3. Expand your business

Watch the video for specific operations.

When it comes to wirelessly connecting screens, Apple's own Sidecar is undoubtedly the best, except that the configuration is a bit more complicated.

In fact, as mentioned above, the iPad's own Magic Keyboard cannot use the trackpad, which greatly reduces the convenience of using the iPad as a Mac mini screen. This is not just a matter of adding an extra Bluetooth mouse or trackpad. Instead, you need to find an extra place to put this extra peripheral.

If the trackpad of the Magic Keyboard is available, we can hold the iPad and operate the Mac mini anytime and anywhere without having to consider finding a place to put the mouse. If you can't use the iPad to control the Mac mini anytime and anywhere, why use the iPad as a screen?

This is a paradox in this usage scenario.

I wonder if the trackpads of third-party keyboards can be used? If they can, then the official keyboards are useless.

Regarding setting up a virtual screen through betterdisplay, I personally think it should be used with caution. During testing, I mistakenly set the virtual screen as the main screen many times, and then I could only see a black mass and could no longer perform other operations. This is an operation with a very low error tolerance rate. Therefore, I suggest that you do not set betterdisplay to start before completing other settings. In this way, if you mistakenly set the virtual screen as the main screen, you can also solve it by restarting the computer.

4. Remote control

In remote control, Apple's own screen sharing has a better operating experience. However, this method can only be used between computers. If you want to use iPad for remote operation, Apple's built-in VNC function does not have a good user experience. The resolution is low, the delay is touching, and the connection is unstable.

Among the third-party free remote software, you can consider using "ToDesk".

After setting up the startup, you can use the iPad to remotely connect to the Mac mini through the set password. The delay is very low, and the image resolution and refresh rate are also within an acceptable range, but the color is not correct, which is not suitable for operations such as photo editing.

The above are four ways to use iPad as Mac mini. From the perspective of convenience and operation experience, I would recommend the fourth method, which is to use third-party remote control software to view the screen. Of course, the best way is to use a Mac computer and operate it through screen sharing.

So, you can try to use iPad as Mac mini screen, but the experience is average. Instead of doing this, it is better to spend two or three hundred to buy a portable monitor, plug it in whenever you need it, saving time and effort.

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