Sidecar usually fails to appear because of a setting, and in those cases the fix takes less than two minutes. In some cases, though, the feature is not available for your combination of devices, and no setting will fix it. The checklist below is ordered by frequency, from the most common cause to the rarest.
Checklist, ordered by frequency
1. Both devices are signed in to the same Apple Account
This is the most common cause. On the iPad, open Settings and tap your name at the top. On the Mac, open System Settings and check the name at the top of the sidebar. The email must be the same on both. Different accounts will not connect, and no setting gets around that.
2. Two-factor authentication is on for both
Apple requires two-factor authentication to enable Sidecar. Check it in Settings, your name, Sign-In & Security. If your account does not use it yet, turn it on for both devices and try again.
3. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Handoff are on
Sidecar uses all three at the same time. If any of them is off, the iPad does not show up in the list. On the Mac, Handoff is in System Settings, General, AirDrop & Handoff. On the iPad, it is in Settings, General, AirPlay & Continuity.
4. The devices are within 10 meters (about 30 feet) of each other
That is the official range for the wireless connection. A wall in between or a congested network shortens that distance in practice. For the test, place the two devices side by side.
5. Nobody is sharing a connection
If the iPad has Personal Hotspot turned on, or the Mac is sharing its internet connection, Sidecar will not connect. Turn both off and try again.
6. Your Mac is on the compatibility list
That means Macs from 2016 or later, the MacBook Air from 2018 or later and the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display from 2015, running macOS Catalina or later. Outside that list the option does not even appear in the menu, and it is not a settings problem.
7. Your iPad is on the compatibility list
iPad Pro in any generation, iPad (6th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later) and iPad Air (3rd generation and later), running iPadOS 13 or later.
If your case is one of the three with no fix
Three situations cannot be solved with settings: you have an iPhone and not an iPad, the Mac and the device use different accounts that you cannot merge, or the Mac is older than the compatibility list. In any of them, Sidecar will not appear, no matter what you adjust.
For these three cases there is an alternative. WiPhoneMonitor streams your Mac screen to an iPhone or iPad without asking you to sign in to an Apple, Google or Microsoft account, and it runs on any Mac with macOS 14 or later. The trial is free for 7 days and requires no card. If your case is the iPhone, see the step-by-step guide to using your iPhone as a second monitor for your Mac.
Before you decide, it is worth checking how much each paid option costs in Brazil, including Duet Display and Luna Display, with the five-year math.
No credit card required. The key arrives by email within moments. See the full comparison between Sidecar and WiPhoneMonitor.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Sidecar disappear after a macOS update?
It is almost always the account. The update can sign you out of your Apple Account, ask you to confirm two-factor authentication again, or turn off Handoff. Check these three points before anything else. Your Mac's compatibility does not change with a system update, so if Sidecar used to appear, the device is not the cause.
Does Sidecar work over a cable?
Yes. Connect the iPad to the Mac with a cable and tap Trust on the prompt that appears on the iPad. A wired connection removes distance and network problems, and it is usually the way out when Wi-Fi is unstable.
Can I use Sidecar with two different Apple Accounts?
No. Apple requires the same account on both devices, and no setting changes that. If the Mac belongs to your company, with a managed account, and the device is yours, the way forward is an app that does not depend on an account.
Does Sidecar work with iPhone?
No. The official list of compatible devices includes only iPad models, and no version of macOS adds the iPhone to it. To use an iPhone as a Mac screen, you need a third-party app.