Extend & mirror

Use an iPad or Android device as another screen. Connect over USB or Wi-Fi, choose an independent workspace or a copy of your screen, and configure display, sound, touch and pen input.

1. 1

   Sign in to the same account

   On the computer and mobile device, open Settings → Sign in. Use Google, Apple, Microsoft or email; on first launch, continue directly from the sign-in screen. Use the same provider and account on both devices, then verify the account name and access. Another account may not appear in device discovery. Complete the trial/license prompt on an unlicensed computer before connecting.

2. 2

   Launch both apps and grant permissions

   Install and open Any Display on the computer and tablet. On Mac, Screen Recording permits screen transmission and Accessibility permits touch, keyboard and mouse input. Restart Any Display when the permission prompt requires it. On Windows, complete the virtual display driver setup offered by the installer.

3. 3

   Choose Extend or Mirror on the tablet

   Open Extend & mirror on the tablet. Choose Extend for a separate workspace or Mirror for an existing computer screen. Choose the mode before connecting. My computers lists computers signed in to the same account.

   ANDROID TABLET

4. 4

   Choose the computer and connect

   Check the computer name under My computers. A data cable offers USB; a shared network offers Wi-Fi. Press Connect beside the connection method. On the computer, check the device name and Connected status in Extend & mirror. If Android is missing, open Set up Android USB and follow the debugging and device authorization prompts. A charge-only cable cannot carry the connection.

   

5. 5

   Move a window onto the extended display

   Check Extend on the computer. This creates a separate workspace rather than duplicating the desktop. Drag a document or drawing window across the display edge onto the tablet. An empty desktop can simply mean no window has been moved there yet. If the pointer crosses on the wrong side, correct the arrangement first.

6. 6

   Arrange displays and Apply

   Open Display arrangement at the top right. Drag the tablet tile to match its physical position: right, left, above or below the computer monitor. Tiles must share an edge for the pointer and windows to cross that boundary. Press Apply, then move the pointer and a document window across that edge. With multiple monitors, arrange the tablet against the intended monitor.

   

7. 7

   Set operating-system scale and display role

   Display Settings opens the operating system display panel. On Mac, select Any Display in Displays and check Use as → Extended display. A lower displayed resolution makes text and controls larger. On Windows, open Settings → System → Display and check extension, scale and orientation for the selected display. Operating-system scale and the app’s transmitted resolution are separate settings.

   

8. 8

   Mirror a screen or a window

   Choose Mirror on the computer and open Change target. In Mirror Source, Screens selects an entire monitor and Windows selects an app window. Choose the source and press Mirror. Open the document or drawing app first when sharing its window. Sharing a whole monitor includes other windows appearing there. Reopen Change target if the selected window has closed or the picture is black.

   ANDROID TABLET

   

9. 9

   Rotation, resolution and frame rate

   In Display & Audio, Auto Rotate follows the tablet orientation in Extend. Mirror follows the source aspect ratio. Resolution controls video size and Frame Rate controls smoothness. Start with Native and 60 FPS, then lower resolution or frame rate to compare when the connection stutters. Start with Auto for Encoder and follow any compatibility status shown.

   

10. 10

    Send computer audio to the tablet

    Open Extend & mirror → Display & Audio → Audio Output. This Computer plays locally; Connected Device sends audio to the tablet. Test music or a video and check tablet media volume, headphones and computer mute. This sends computer sound; it does not turn the tablet microphone into a computer input.

    

11. 11

    Use touch or trackpad gestures

    Open Input → Touch Screen and choose Touch Gestures or Trackpad. Touch Gestures acts at the touched position: tap clicks, double-tap double-clicks, one-finger drag scrolls, double-tap and drag moves/selects, and a two-finger pinch zooms. Trackpad moves the pointer with your fingers. Open How to use for the selected mode. Natural scrolling sets scroll direction; Sensitivity adjusts response.

    

    

12. 12

    Draw with Apple Pencil or S Pen

    Check Pressure, Tilt and Hover support in the connected Pen Input status. On Mac, choose Pen action → Draw; Scroll is for moving pages. Adjust Pressure sensitivity, then draw light and firm strokes in a drawing app to check thickness. On Windows, also check Windows Ink in the drawing app. Use the capabilities actually reported by the device; finger gestures pause while the pen is near the screen.

    

13. 13

    Disconnect and troubleshoot

    Use Disconnect on the computer or Back on the tablet. For a missing device, check the account, both apps, network, data cable and authorization. For a black picture, check Screen Recording and the Mirror source; for missing input, check Accessibility. Resolution, FPS and Encoder readings describe the current session, not a guaranteed performance level for every device.