Wired second screen

Your tablet,as a wired second screen.

Plug in a cable and your computer gets an extra screen, with touch. Works with tablets old and new. No Wi-Fi, no account, and completely free.

Download the desktop appFree · macOS 13 or later Get the tablet appFree · iOS 15 or later

You need both: the desktop app (this download) and the tablet app.

Works on tablets from 2015 onward · iOS 15+

Use the hardware you already own

That tablet in the drawer still has a great screen. 2nd Display puts it to work, without a monthly fee.

Wired and fast

Video and touch travel over the cable, so there's no Wi-Fi to set up and nothing to compete with on a busy network.

Old tablets welcome

Runs on anything with iOS 15 or later, including models from 2015 that newer display features leave out.

Touch included

Tap and drag on the tablet to click and move things on your computer. Press and hold to right-click.

Private by design

No account, no analytics. Your screen goes down the cable to your tablet and nowhere else. The desktop app only goes online when you click Check for Updates.

Set up in a minute

Install once, then it's just plug in and go.

  1. Install both appsDownload the desktop app and drag it to Applications. Install 2nd Display on your tablet from the App Store.
  2. Allow two permissionsOn your computer, allow Screen Recording (to capture the extra display) and Accessibility (so touches can click). You're asked the first time.
  3. Plug in and openConnect the tablet with its cable and open 2nd Display on it. A new display appears in your display settings. Arrange it like any monitor.

Requirements

If it runs iOS 15 or later, it can be a display.

ComputermacOS 13 Ventura or later.
TabletiOS 15 or later.
CableThe cable your tablet charges with (Lightning or USB-C) into a USB port on your computer.

Questions

Is it really free?

Yes. Both the desktop app and the tablet app are free, with no subscription, no ads and no in-app purchases.

Why do I need a desktop app as well?

The desktop app creates the extra display and sends it to the tablet. The tablet can't do that on its own, so the computer side is a small menu-bar app you download here.

How is it different from Duet Display?

Both turn a tablet into an extra screen for your computer. 2nd Display is completely free, with no subscription and no account, and it's wired only: video and touch go over the cable, so there's nothing to set up on your network. Duet Display is a paid app that also works wirelessly and on more platforms. If you want a simple, free, wired second screen, 2nd Display does exactly that.

Does it work over Wi-Fi?

No, it's deliberately wired. That keeps it simple, reliable and independent of your network.

Why does my computer ask for Screen Recording and Accessibility?

Screen Recording lets 2nd Display capture the extra display it creates (only that display, not your main screen). Accessibility lets it turn your touches into mouse clicks. If you don't need touch, you can skip Accessibility.

Is it laggy?

It's tuned for responsiveness. Older tablets have less decoding power, so on a very old model you may get smoother results by choosing Sharp quality in the 2nd Display menu, or a smaller Screen space.

Touch or keyboard stopped working after an update?

macOS can quietly stop honouring a permission when an app is updated, even though the switch still looks on. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, select 2nd Display and click − to remove it, then + to add it again (or switch it off and on), and relaunch 2nd Display. If the picture doesn't appear, do the same under Screen Recording. The 2nd Display menu shows a warning, with a button to the right page, whenever a permission isn't working.

Does it work with Windows?

Not yet. Windows support may come later.

Is it affiliated with Apple?

No. 2nd Display is an independent app by Low Voltage Ltd.