macOS Catalina Sidecar Feature Doesn’t Work With These Mac, iPad Models

Apple recently released macOS Catalina, the latest macOS version for the Mac, MacBook and iMac. This new version brings a slew of features, including one that allows users to turn their iPads into secondary displays. Sadly, this feature, called Sidecar, won’t work with some Mac and iPad models.

The new Sidecar feature in macOS Catalina allows Mac users to turn their iPads into a very useful accessory for the Mac. Apple said that with the feature, iPads can be used as secondary displays extending or mirroring the desktop, or use them as input displays sort of like a drawing tablet.

Apple designed the Sidecar feature so that the iPad can be paired with a Mac for maximum productivity. It turns the iPad into additional screen space that’s very useful when editing videos or doing research; allows users to present ideas more easily and without the need to share just one screen; and allows graphic artists to be as creative as they need to be with images, photos and other visual media.

Sidecar allows users to pinch and do all their multi-touch and editing gestures on the iPad and see its effects on the Mac. It also adds a Touch Bar support to the bottom of the iPad, even if the Mac it is connected to doesn’t have one.

That said, Apple has decided to limit Sidecar’s functionality to iPads with Apple Pencil support, 9To5Mac noted. This means not all iPads can be used as a secondary display or input device even if they’re updated and running on iPadOS 13. Here’s the list of iPad models that have Sidecar support:

iPad (6th generation)
iPad (7th generation)
iPad mini 5
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad Pro (all generations)

These iPads can be used with the Sidecar function, even without an Apple Pencil. Older iPad models such as the 5th-gen iPad, the iPad mini 4 and the iPad Air 2 cannot be used with Sidecar.

Similarly, not all Mac models are capable of using Sidecar. The list below includes all compatible Macs, MacBooks and iMacs. Other models not mentioned here won't have Sidecar support.