How to Use a Tablet as a Second Monitor
Short answer
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. You can test the connection with the free version before paying for Pro.
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 free version 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 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 free version 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 8, 2026 against Any Display's published support scope and setup flow. 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.