How to Use an iPad with an External Monitor

It seems like iPads are everywhere in modern organizations these days — from ordering devices in restaurants to point-of-sale systems in retail stores and beyond, it’s hard not to see them in use. Given their power and versatility, it’s not uncommon to see them connected to external screens for extra flexibility. But not all iPads are created equal, especially if you’re looking for a bit of extra multitasking power. 

Here’s everything you need to know about connecting an iPad to an external monitor. 

First Things First: Let’s Talk About Compatibility

If you want to connect your iPad to an external monitor, there are a few nuances to be aware of. First of all, there are two variations of support for external monitors: 

• Screen mirroring
• Full external screen support (extended display mode) 

Knowing which method your iPad supports will help you decide what’s possible. You have more options if you simply want to mirror the iPad’s display on a larger screen. If you’re looking for full monitor support with extended display mode, you’ll need a newer, more powerful monitor. Here’s the breakdown. 

Display Mirroring Support Only

Apple introduced display mirroring for iPads many moons ago — back in 2011! It was initially launched with iOS 4.3 on the iPad 2. Given that, here’s a list of all iPads that support display mirroring: 

• iPad 2 to 9th Gen (base model)
• iPad Mini 1st gen to 6th gen
• iPad Air 1st gen to 3rd gen
• iPad Pro 1st and 2nd gen

With any of these models, you’ll need an appropriate adapter — 30-pin to HDMI for older models, Lightning to HDMI for more modern iPads, or USB-C to HDMI adapters for iPad Pro models. Consult your current device’s connector to decide which one you’ll need. 

Full External Monitor Support with Stage Manager 

As processors became more complex and powerful, Apple introduced broader support for external monitors. This started with the M1-powered iPad Pro 12.9 (3rd gen) and is available on all iPad models running the company’s M-series processors. 

• iPad Pro 12.9 (3rd gen and later)
• iPad Pro 11 (1st gen and later)
• iPad Air (5th gen and later)

Again, however, there are some nuances. All of the above devices have USB-C, but not any USB-C adapter or dock will work — Thunderbolt docks are only supported by iPad Pro models, for example. Compatibility can be tricky, so research before buying any docks or adapters! 

How to Connect an iPad to an External Monitor

You just plug it in, right? Yes. 

Okay, no. 

It depends on what you want to do! If you’re looking for simple display mirroring, then it’s a pretty simple plug-and-done situation. Assuming your dock/adapter is compatible with your iPad, it should just work. 

If you want full external support, however, there are a few additional considerations you’ll need to think about.

For starters, Stage Manager (Apple’s multi-tasking feature that is automatically enabled on external monitors) is best experienced with a keyboard and mouse connected to the iPad. That could be as simple as using the Magic Keyboard (which has a keyboard and touchpad), but you can also use any Bluetooth-equipped keyboard and mouse as long as you pair them with the iPad. Without this, you’ll have no way to interact with the apps on the external screen (assuming it’s not a touchscreen, of course). 

Best Practices for Using an iPad with an External Monitor

While using an external screen with an iPad is fairly straightforward, there are some ways to optimize the experience. Here are some pro tips for maximizing your monitor experience on the iPad. 

• Use a dock instead of an adapter: A straight USB-C or Lightning to HDMI adapter (or even a direct connection to a USB-C monitor) is great for short term use, but a dock will allow you to charge your iPad while it’s connected to an external monitor. These can be as simple as an HDMI connector with a Lighting or USB-C charging port or as complex as a full dock (for USB-C devices only) with support for additional USB devices, card readers, 3.5mm audio jacks, and more. For iPad Pro devices, a Thunderbolt dock will provide optimal performance.
• Tweak display settings: Once connected to the external screen, you can jump into Settings > Display & Brightness to tweak various settings. You can adjust display zoom settings on devices that only support screen mirroring, but devices with Stage Manager support will allow you to tweak the resolution, scaling, placement, and more. 
• Use Stage Manager: If the iPad supports Stage Manager, you’ll get resizable windows on the monitor by default. But you can also get this on the iPad itself, too — click the Control Center, then the three dots with the square next to it to enable Stage Manager on the iPad. Bonus tip: You can even use Stage Manager without an external monitor!
• Make the most of multitasking on iPad: iPad natively supports two different multitasking modes (three if you count Stage Manager): Split View and Slide Over. You can pair either on the iPad display and use Stage Manager on the external screen. Learn more about iPad multitasking options here. 

It’s also worth noting some downsides of using an external monitor with an iPad. The biggest is probably the lack of Guided Access support for the external screen only — if you enable Guided Access with a monitor connected, it will default to screen mirroring mode. You'll need a third-party tool if you want a more robust solution for kiosk mode.

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