High-end and midrange iPads can make full use of an external display. Anyone who uses a second screen for their iPad needs to know how to tell iPadOS where the external display is positioned: left, right or above the tablet. However, it’s not that simple to find the setting that lets you adjust your iPad display arrangement.
Apple buried the necessary setting. Here’s how to find it.
You’ll need this setting if you use a second screen for iPad
iPad models with an M-series processor offer Stage Manager, which lets you place applications into floating windows on the tablet’s own display and on an external screen. You can connect the secondary display using different types of cables, depending on your iPad. This can bring an enormous productivity boost.
I recently saw a social media post from someone complaining that Stage Manager forced them to always put the second screen above their iPad. The user wanted a way to change it.
There is a way. Apparently Apple didn’t make it easy enough to find.
In Apple’s defense, the method for arranging an iPad external monitor is essentially the same as with a Mac. On the other hand, the iPadOS controls for displays are in a separate section of the Settings app from the controls from other external accessories: keyboards, mice and game controllers. It’s another example of the Settings app being laid out semi-randomly.
iPad external display arrangement 101
Screenshots: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Ready to set your iPad display arrangement? On your iPad, open the Settings app and scroll down to Display & Brightness. Look for Arrangement on the resulting screen and tap on it.
A pop-up window appears that lets you arrange the iPad on the right, left, top or bottom of the external display with only a tap. Unlike with macOS, you can’t exactly position the two screens — with the bottom edges lined up, for example. Now hit Set, and you’re done.
Ordinarily, at this point, I’d send you to the official Apple “How To” on this topic just in case. However, I can’t seem to find one.
Incidentally, the same pop-up window in Settings > Display & Brightness > Arrangement includes a toggle to let you mirror the contents of the iPad screen on the external monitor. This can come in handy when giving a presentation.
