Macs and iPads support a handy feature called Sidecar that allows you to use your iPad as a secondary display for your MacBook. Unfortunately, your iPad may sometimes freeze while using Sidecar. The image on your iPad’s screen freezes and the only way to fix the problem is to reset the connection between your devices. If you’re experiencing the same issue, follow the troubleshooting steps below.
What to Do if Your iPad Freezes When Using Sidecar
Check Your Connection
Check your iPad’s connection to your Mac and ensure it’s working properly. If you’re using a wireless connection, do the following to reduce wireless interference:
Bring your devices closer to your Wi-Fi router.
Bring your iPad and Mac closer together. They must be within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.
Avoid using Sidecar near wireless video cameras, cordless phones, fluorescent lights, and so on.
Make sure your iPad and Mac are not sharing their cellular connection with other devices.
Disconnect other Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices that could be interfering with your Mac or iPad.
For more information on how to reduce interference when using a wireless connection, go to Apple’s Support page.
Additionally, try using a different connection and check if you notice any improvement. For instance, if using Wi-Fi, switch to a cable connection. Some users confirmed they managed to stop the iPad from freezing using a wired connection. Make sure to disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your iPad before connecting your devices.
Disable Streaming Services on Mac
If your iPad freezes when you try to stream video content, disconnect Sidecar and play the video separately on your iPad. Streaming services use Digital Rights Management (DRM) to protect video content. When you connect a secondary display or device, DRM requires that the respective device supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). This is an anti-piracy mechanism.
If HDCP is not supported or fails to work on the secondary device, content is not mirrored. That could explain why your iPad’s screen freezes. Check if streaming video content directly on your iPad solves the problem.
Install the Latest OS and App Updates
Check if this issue occurs only when using specific apps, and then update or reinstall the problematic apps. If this glitch is affecting all of your apps when using Sidecar, install the latest macOS and iOS/iPadOS versions on your devices. If the Sidecar glitch that you’re experiencing is caused by a software bug, maybe the issue has already been ironed out in the latest OS version.
Don’t forget to update all of your apps as well. Restart your Mac and iPad, enable Sidecar again, and check the results.
Disable Face ID on iPad
Navigate to iPad settings, and disable all Face ID options. Many users confirmed that disabling Face ID stopped their iPads from freezing while using Sidecar. Give this workaround a try and check if it does the trick for you as well.
If you’re still experiencing the same problem, contact Apple Support. For more information on how Sidecar works and best practices when using this feature, see How to fix Sidecar problems on iPadOS and macOS.
Conclusion
If your iPad’s screen keeps freezing when using Sidecar, ensure the connection to your Mac is working properly. If you’re using a wireless connection, switch to a cable connection. Make sure to update your Mac, iPad, and all of your apps to the latest version, and disable Face ID on iPad. If this issue occurs when streaming video content, close the streaming app on your Mac.
Did you manage to solve the problem? Which solution worked for you? Let us know in the comments below.
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer. She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies — AI and DNA computing in particular.
None of the above works according to many posts.. However the problem is with the DOCK.. This occurs only, and consistently, when the dock on my Macbook pro is on the left of my screen. If I put it at the BOTTOM, which I normally never do, the problem is solved. Yes, Apple should fix this.
None of that works for me. I have USB-C connection, I have turned-ff code and Face ID on my iPad Pro, I have all the newest updates installed on both iPad and my Intel iMac Pro, I tried restarting mac is safe mode, and the connection keeps breaking all the time. So far I have tried many fixes, but I haven’t found solution that works. This is super disappointing.
I’m following all those advices and still having a lot of freezing problems while working with both connected using sidecar. It’s an awesome concept but I believe Apple still have a long way to go improving this feature.
The freezing issue won’t go away no matter what you do until you plug the USB-C cable between your iPad and Mac. I switched to the USB-C cable today and life is much easier now!
None of the above works according to many posts.. However the problem is with the DOCK.. This occurs only, and consistently, when the dock on my Macbook pro is on the left of my screen. If I put it at the BOTTOM, which I normally never do, the problem is solved. Yes, Apple should fix this.
None of that works for me. I have USB-C connection, I have turned-ff code and Face ID on my iPad Pro, I have all the newest updates installed on both iPad and my Intel iMac Pro, I tried restarting mac is safe mode, and the connection keeps breaking all the time. So far I have tried many fixes, but I haven’t found solution that works. This is super disappointing.
I’m following all those advices and still having a lot of freezing problems while working with both connected using sidecar. It’s an awesome concept but I believe Apple still have a long way to go improving this feature.
The freezing issue won’t go away no matter what you do until you plug the USB-C cable between your iPad and Mac. I switched to the USB-C cable today and life is much easier now!
I’m using an Apple-supplied USB-cable and the issue still occurs.
I’m also using an Apple supplied USB cable and the issue still occurs