macOS Sidecar Not Working — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Sidecar lets you use your iPad as a second display or drawing tablet for your Mac. When Sidecar stops working or the iPad does not appear as a display option, it is usually a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Apple ID sign-in issue. Confirming both devices are on the same Apple ID and restarting Bluetooth usually restores Sidecar.

Affected Models

macOS Ventura (13)
macOS Sonoma (14)
macOS Sequoia (15)
MacBook Pro
MacBook Air
Mac mini

Common Causes

Mac and iPad are not signed into the same Apple ID
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is disabled on either device
Mac model is too old to support Sidecar (pre-2016)
iPad model does not support Sidecar (pre-iPad 6th gen)
A recent software update has reset Sidecar or Handoff settings

How to Fix It

Confirm both your Mac and iPad are signed into the same Apple ID — check under System Settings > Apple ID (Mac) and Settings > [Your Name] (iPad).

Sidecar requires both devices to use the same Apple ID — different accounts are not supported.
Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices — Sidecar requires both to be active.

Toggle both off and on to force a fresh connection — wait 5 seconds between toggling.
On the Mac, go to System Settings > Displays and click the + button to look for your iPad.

If the iPad does not appear in the list, the devices are not seeing each other — check Bluetooth and Apple ID.
Ensure your Mac is from 2016 or later and your iPad is 6th generation or later — older hardware does not support Sidecar.

Sidecar requires specific hardware — use About This Mac and About This iPad to check your models.
Sign out of iCloud on the Mac and iPad, then sign back in on both.

A stale iCloud session can prevent device discovery for Sidecar.
Restart both the Mac and the iPad, then try connecting Sidecar again from System Settings > Displays.

A clean restart after the above steps clears any remaining connection state.

When to Call a Professional

Contact Apple Support if Sidecar fails after all steps below and both devices meet the hardware requirements. Apple Support can check for iCloud account issues that may prevent device pairing. If your Mac or iPad is below the minimum hardware requirement, Sidecar cannot be enabled regardless of settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Macs and iPads support Sidecar?

Macs: MacBook Pro (2016+), MacBook Air (2018+), Mac mini (2018+), iMac (2017+), Mac Pro (2019+), Mac Studio (all). iPads: iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air (3rd gen+), iPad (6th gen+), iPad mini (5th gen+). Both devices must run macOS Catalina or later and iPadOS 13 or later.

Does Sidecar work wirelessly or does it need a cable?

Sidecar works both wirelessly (via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) and via a USB cable. Wireless Sidecar requires both devices to be within close range and on the same Apple ID. Using a USB cable provides a more stable, zero-latency connection — recommended for Apple Pencil drawing.

Why is Sidecar laggy or flickering?

Wireless Sidecar performance depends on Wi-Fi quality — interference, distance, or congestion causes lag. Switch to a USB cable connection for the best Sidecar performance, especially for drawing or detailed work. Closing unused apps on both devices also frees up processing resources and can reduce Sidecar lag.