Can you use a tablet as a second monitor on Linux?
Yes, you can use an iPad or Android tablet as a second monitor on Linux. It doesn't work everywhere the way it does on macOS and Windows, though, and the desktop session you log in to decides the outcome. Here is what works and what doesn't, up front.
The session matters more than the distribution
It's hard to say "it's Ubuntu, so it'll work", because the same Ubuntu handles the screen differently depending on which session you picked at the login screen. To extend your desktop, the computer has to be able to create a virtual monitor, and only some sessions allow that.
You can see which one you're in by running echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE in a terminal. If it prints wayland, you've cleared the first condition.
On GNOME Wayland, Extend works
Linux support in Any Display is built around GNOME's Wayland session. On a distribution that uses GNOME by default, such as Ubuntu or Fedora, a Wayland session lets the computer create a virtual display and show it on the tablet as a separate second screen. Mirroring the same screen, touch input from the tablet, and keyboard and mouse input are designed around this environment too.
Some other desktop environments are covered to a degree, but support differs by desktop, so the system requirements on the download page are the accurate place to check what works on yours. We can't promise identical behavior on every distribution and version.
On an X11 session, Extend doesn't work
If the command prints x11, the honest answer is that extending the screen isn't possible. An X11 session can't create the virtual monitor, so the app disables the Extend button before you connect. Only some features, such as mirroring, are available.
If you can switch to Wayland, log out and use the session menu on the login screen (usually a gear icon next to the password field) to pick the Wayland option. If your graphics driver or a program you depend on forces you to stay on X11, giving up on an extended screen and using the tablet as a mirror is the realistic option for now.
After connecting, arrange it in Linux display settings
Open the tablet app and sign in to the same account, and the Linux computer on your Wi-Fi shows up in the list. A USB cable works too. Choose Extend and a new display appears on the computer.
From there it's the usual routine. In the Linux display settings, place the new screen on the side where the tablet physically sits. If the tablet is to the right of your laptop, put it on the right so the pointer crosses over naturally. After changing resolution or scaling, check the text size once. The extend and mirror guide covers the first connection.
Permissions and components you may meet once
On Wayland an app can't simply take the screen, so the first connection may show a prompt about screen-sharing permission or a required component. Allow it as prompted. If you've just installed the GNOME Shell extension that helps with input and window placement, you may need to log out and back in once so GNOME recognizes it.
If the tablet doesn't show the computer at all, the cause is often the network rather than Linux, and what to do when your tablet can't find your computer on Wi-Fi should help.
Limits worth knowing
The computer compresses the screen before sending it, so picture quality and responsiveness depend on its encoding performance, the resolution and the network. A machine with a hardware encoder has an advantage, but we can't promise a particular result on a particular setup.
In short: on GNOME Wayland it's worth trying, on X11 you can't extend, and on anything else check the requirements first. If you picture code on the laptop with logs or docs on the tablet, check this condition before anything else.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I extend to a tablet on Linux if I'm on X11?
- No. An X11 session can't create a virtual monitor, so Extend isn't available and the app disables its button before connecting. If you can log in to a Wayland session, try that instead.
- How do I tell whether I'm on Wayland?
- Run echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE in a terminal. It prints wayland for a Wayland session and x11 for an X11 session.
- Does it work with both iPad and Android tablets?
- Yes. Screens can go to an iPad, iPhone, or an Android tablet or phone. Sign in to the same account as the computer and connect over the same Wi-Fi or USB.
- Does it have to be Ubuntu or Fedora?
- What matters more than the distribution name is whether you're on a GNOME Wayland session. We can't guarantee every distribution and version, so check the requirements on the download page.