Use your iPad as external display with Windows computers

In this article you will find recommendations for apps that let's you use your iPad as an external display for your Windows computer. This article is a follow-up to the earlier article I've written for iPad, Android, Mac and Windows external display solutions.

Most solutions mentioned below will require your tablet and computer to be on the same Wifi network. And choosing higher resolution for your external display (tablet) usually will lead to more latency although usability is still quite good.

I've arranged the solutions below according to pricing (free to paid) and whether there's a need to purchase hardware.

Personally, I'm currently using Spacedesk. I actually have the Luna Display adapter but I could not get it to work on my Surface Pro 8 and Huawei MateBook D 16. There's also Duet Display which is available as on subscription or a US $149 one-time purchase.

Spacedesk (free)

Spacedesk is an external display app developed by German company datronicsoft Technology.

This app is free.

This app lets you use your iPad and Android tablets as external displays for your Windows computer (Mac is not supported). This solution is wireless.

This app doesn't have many features. Just make sure you tablet and computer are on the same Wifi network, then connect. Windows Settings is used to adjust resolution, scaling and orientation.

WiredXDisplay (free)

WiredXDisplay is an external display app from Splashtop, a company that develops remote-desktop software and remote support software.

This app is free.

This app lets you use your iPad and Android tablets as external displays for your Windows computer and Mac. This solution requires cable connection and you'll need a USB-C video cable. Charging cables do not seem to work.

There options for Normal mode and High Quality mode (high-res). Normal mode has the usual latency with such external displays. HQ mode has noticeable latency.

Twomon SE (US $9 to $15)

Twomon is an external display app developed by South Korean company DEVGURU.

Price of this app is US $9 and $15 respectively for the Android and iPad versions.

This app lets you use your iPad and Android tablets as external displays for your Windows computer. This app uses cable connection.

I wasn't able to test this one as their website was down at the time I wrote this review. As such, I could not download the Windows driver.

I'm just putting this up to give you another option to research.

Deskreen (free)

Deskreen is an external display and remote desktop app developed by Pavlo (Paul) Buidenkov from Ukraine. It's an open source app but donations are recommended.

This app lets you use your iPad or Android tablet with Mac, Windows or Linux computers.

With wireless mode, you can only mirror displays.

With a virtual display adapter, you can get extended desktop. The virtual display adapter is to make your computer think it's connected to an external display. If you want to buy a virtual display adapter, use the Amazon affiliate links on Deskreen's website to support them.

Since Deskreen requires a virtual display adapter (hardware), I recommend you try Spacedesk and WiredXDisplay first since those two do not require hardware.

Luna Display (US $59 to $119)

Luna Display is a hardware solution. You connect this wireless adapter to your Windows computer and connect.

This app lets you use your iPad or Mac (iMac, Macbook) as an external display for another Mac or Windows computer. This solution is wireless.

The adapter is available with three connections: USB-C (US$ 119), Mini-DisplayPort ($59) and HDMI ($59). This is more expensive compare to other options recommended in this article. As such, I recommend you check out the lower priced options first.

With the app, you can choose Retina resolution to make everything look sharp with the downside of having more latency. Or choose lower resolution for better response time.

Luna Display works quite well when it works.

The main downside Luna Display only works if your Windows computer meets the following specifications:

• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit, Build 1809 or later
• Processor: Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster
• RAM: 4 GB
• GPU: Intel HD Graphics 520, AMD Radeon RX Vega 3, NVIDIA GeForce 820M or later; or equivalent DirectX 11 compatible GPU.
• Hard drive space: 1 GB
• WiFi/Network: 802.11n or wired ethernet

During my tests, I've discovered it does not work with Surface Pro and Surface Studio devices, Huawei MateBook D 16. I've laptops with Intel Iris Xe that work (e.g. ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3402)) and those that don't Huawei MateBook D 16.

Before you take the risk to buy this, try my other recommendations below first. At least if they don't work, you get get your refund back quickly from Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

EasyCanvas

EasyCanvas allows you to use your iPad as an external display for your Windows computer, which is what Luna Display does but at a much lower price of US $15 and without the need of a physical wireless adapter.

Pros and cons of EasyCanvas:
+ Can turn iPad into external display for Mac and Windows computers
+ Has touch and pen support
+ Decent responsiveness for drawing
+ One time purchase of USD 15

Conclusion

Just test the free ones first to see if they work for you.

Most of these external display solutions have slight latency with normal mode, and more latency with high quality or high-res mode.