The Ultimate Guide to Using Your iPad as a Portable Mac Mini Display

The recent launch and positive reception of the M4 Mac mini have made quite an impact. The blend of remarkable power, compact size, and especially its price point is unprecedented. At under $550 on Amazon, it’s an offer too good to ignore. The new design has sparked interest among users considering the Mac mini as a portable computing option. Consequently, a common question arises: can your iPad serve as a mobile display for a Mac mini setup? The answer is yes, and there are two methods to achieve this!

I delve into both methods in detail in the video below. I encourage you to watch it for a comprehensive step-by-step guide!

Method 1: Using iPad as a Dummy Display

You may have come across a post a few months ago discussing how to utilize an iPad as a dummy display for gaming consoles. We’re taking that concept and adapting it for the Mac mini, and it operates seamlessly.

Requirements:

Setup Instructions

Once you’ve gathered the necessary components, the setup process is straightforward.

• Launch the Orion App
• Connect your HDMI cable to the HDMI capture card
• Attach the USB-C end of the capture card to the iPad
• Power on the Mac mini
• Your iPad is now functioning as a portable HDMI display for the Mac mini!

The Orion app, along with the HDMI capture card, is essential for this setup. The app features a sleek design reminiscent of retro aesthetics! The free version suffices for everyday usage, supporting 1080p resolution while allowing you to enjoy audio through your iPad’s speakers and offering some entertaining CRT filters. The capture card serves as a cost-effective and reliable solution to facilitate this connection!

Method 2: Continuity

Although this method is the simplest, the drawback is that you must have the Mac mini already set up beforehand. However, it’s a fantastic way to experience MacOS running on an iPad, so I felt it was worthwhile to include this option.

Requirements:

• A Mac with the latest MacOS installed
• An iPad with the latest iPadOS installed
• Both devices signed in to the same iCloud account
• Both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network
• Both devices should be within 30 feet of each other (ideally)

For my example, I’ll be using the M4 Mac mini and the M4 iPad Pro running their respective latest operating systems. Preparing these devices makes the process incredibly simple.

• Ensure both devices are powered on
• Access system settings
• Select Displays
• Click on the “+” icon
• Under “mirror or extend to”, select your iPad
• You can now use your iPad as the main, extended, or mirrored display!

This setup is fantastic for anyone aiming to use their iPad as the focal point of their MacOS desktop environment. It operates fluidly with minimal latency and offers an insightful preview of how MacOS operates on an iPad Pro. For those curious, the touchscreen functionality is available but mimics the behavior of a mouse. If a Magic Keyboard is connected to your iPad, the keyboard will work, though the trackpad won’t.

However, as mentioned earlier, an actual display is required to set everything up initially. The most effective method to utilize your iPad as a standalone mobile display is through the first method!

Final Thoughts

Investing $20 in a capture card to turn your iPad into a display for your Mac mini is a decision I wholeheartedly recommend. The first scenario that springs to mind is travel, whether for road trips or vacations. This setup allows you to work from a coffee shop, coworking space, and so much more—just one of the many reasons why iPads stand out as the most versatile computing devices on the market.

What are your thoughts? Would you consider trying this setup? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!