Help · Sidecar
Why does my iPad show up on the wrong side of my Mac?
You connect your iPad with Sidecar, move your mouse toward it, and the pointer goes off the opposite edge instead. macOS has put the iPad on the wrong side.
Why it happens
macOS decides where a new screen goes when it connects. For Sidecar, it often picks a default spot to the side of your main display. That spot has nothing to do with where the iPad actually sits on your desk. Plenty of people also find that their arrangement is forgotten the next time they connect, especially if they switch between a monitor and no monitor, or between desks.
How to fix it in System Settings
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Click Displays in the sidebar.
- Click Arrange….
- Drag the iPad's rectangle to the side where your iPad really is. Line up the edges so your pointer crosses where you expect.
- Click Done.
That works, but it's seven clicks deep, and you may need to do it again after the iPad reconnects.
Make it stay on the right side
Lineup is a small menu bar app that remembers the arrangement for each combination of screens. Once you've put the iPad on the right side, Lineup puts it back there automatically every time it reconnects. You can also turn Sidecar on and off from the same menu.
