Documents, chat, and reference
Use Extend mode for notes, documentation, email, or chat while keeping the main task on the computer display.
How to Use a Tablet as a Second Monitor
Install Any Display on your Mac or Windows PC, open the companion app on an iPad or Android tablet, and select the computer. Use the same Wi-Fi network for a wireless connection or USB when you want a more stable, lower-latency link. After connecting, choose Extend for a separate workspace or Mirror to duplicate the main display.
Built-in options such as Samsung Second Screen and Apple Sidecar can be convenient, but they support specific device and operating-system combinations. Any Display is a cross-platform option with Windows and Mac servers plus iPad and Android clients. The 1-day free trial unlocks every feature, so you can test the connection before deciding which lifetime license fits your setup.
Key points
- Server: Windows 10 or 11, Intel Mac, and Apple Silicon Mac
- Tablet: iPadOS 16 or later and modern Android tablets
- Connection: same-network Wi-Fi or USB, with Extend, Mirror, and touch input
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1. Install the desktop app
Download Any Display for Windows or Mac. The desktop app creates and manages the virtual display and waits for the tablet connection.
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2. Install the tablet app
Get Any Display from the App Store on iPad or Google Play on Android. Start with the 1-day free trial on the tablet you already own.
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3. Connect over Wi-Fi or USB
For wireless use, keep the computer and tablet on the same network. Switch to a direct USB connection when the network is unreliable or you want the most responsive setup.
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4. Choose Extend or Mirror
Extend gives the tablet its own desktop space; Mirror shows the same content as the main screen. Adjust position and scaling in the operating system's display settings.
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5. Check touch and pen input
Touch input controls the computer. If you use an Apple Pencil or S Pen, enable Pen Input on the desktop and check the live capability badges for pressure, tilt, and hover.
How to Use a Tablet as a Second Monitor
When a tablet works well as a second monitor
A tablet display is most useful when it matches the work you want to move off the main screen. Test the exact computer, tablet, cable, and network before replacing dedicated monitor hardware.
Portable dual-screen work
Reuse an iPad or Android tablet you already carry instead of packing a separate portable monitor. USB is the more predictable option on congested or restricted Wi-Fi.
Touch or pen workflows
Mirror a canvas or control panel when direct touch matters. Supported Apple Pencil and S Pen combinations can also forward pressure and tilt through Pen Input.
An older spare tablet
A spare tablet can be practical if it still runs iPadOS 16 or a current Android version supported by the app. The 1-day free trial is the compatibility test, not the device age alone.
- How is this different from Samsung Second Screen or Sidecar?
- Built-in tools are often simplest for supported hardware, but they are limited to particular ecosystems. Any Display connects Windows or Mac computers to either iPad or Android tablets.
- Is this better than buying a portable monitor?
- If you already own a tablet and need space for documents, chat, or tool panels, it avoids another purchase and another device in your bag. A dedicated monitor is better when hardware video input, calibrated color, or independent power behavior matters.
- Does wireless mode require internet access?
- The devices need a local network where they can reach each other; the screen stream does not need a cloud relay. USB reduces dependence on the network.
- Can I use an old tablet?
- The iPad must run iPadOS 16 or later, and an Android tablet must be able to install the current app. The 1-day free trial is the most reliable way to test your exact hardware.
- Can I control the computer from the tablet?
- Yes. Touch coordinates are sent back to the computer. With Pen Input enabled, supported styluses can also send pressure and tilt.
Review basis
Reviewed on August 29, 2026 against Any Display's current support scope and setup flow, plus Apple and Samsung's official second-display guidance. Latency and maximum resolution vary by computer, tablet, and network.
Limitations to know
- AP isolation, guest Wi-Fi, or a firewall can block wireless discovery.
- USB setup differs between iPad and Android and between Windows and macOS.
- It does not reproduce every hardware input or color-calibration feature of a dedicated monitor.