If you own multiple Apple devices, you probably already know how easy it is to seamlessly use them together. But did you know you can also use your Apple Pencil with your Mac?
Of course, you can't draw on the screen, as Apple is yet to release a touchscreen Mac. But you can pair your iPad to your Mac in various ways and use the Apple Pencil through that. Here are all the ways to make it happen.
1. Use Continuity Sketch
Sometimes while using your Mac, you might want to add a handwritten signature to a document or draw a sketch to use in a note. With Continuity Sketch, you can do that by drawing on your iPad with an Apple Pencil and, without any fuss, transferring it to your Mac to use wherever you want it.
You can use Continuity Sketch in Apple apps like Finder, Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and TextEdit, and the process is simpler than with many other drawing tablets.
First, see Apple's Continuity system requirements page to ensure your iPad and Mac are compatible. Next, ensure both devices have their Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and are both signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
On your Mac, open the document you want your sketch to appear in. From here on, there are two ways of enabling Continuity Sketch.
The first is to click in the exact spot in the document you would like to see your sketch appear. Then look to the top-left corner of your desktop screen and select File. From the dialog that pops up, choose Insert from iPhone or iPad and select Add Sketch.
Alternatively, you can Control-click in a document and select Insert from iPhone or iPad from the action menu. Select the Add Sketch option under your iPad's name.
Now, on your iPad, a blank canvas should appear with Apple's familiar Markup tools. Use your Apple Pencil to draw a sketch. Once you've finished, tap Done. Your sketch should appear on your Mac immediately, without you saving or sending it.
If you have trouble using this feature, it might be down to one of two reasons. Either your devices aren't connected to the same network or the Continuity Feature may be incompatible with the third-party app in which you want to add a sketch.
2. Use Sidecar
Sidecar transforms your iPad into an extension of your Mac, with which you can use your Apple Pencil. So your iPad becomes a secondary display to duplicate your Mac's display or open additional apps and windows. You can use the iPad as a touchscreen display for the Mac, interacting with it using your Apple Pencil.
The first thing to do when setting up is to confirm from Apple's Continuity system's requirements page that your devices support the Sidecar feature. Next, turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both your iPad and Mac, and confirm they are both signed in with the same Apple ID.
On your Mac, click on the Apple () logo, and then select System Preferences. A new window with several options should appear. Choose Displays. To connect your iPad, click on the Add Display popup menu and select your iPad.
Your Mac screen should appear on your iPad at once. The Displays preferences on your Mac will also change to show the display alignment. You can now use your Apple Pencil on your iPad to effectively control your Mac. The cursor will click wherever you tap the pencilon the screen.