Quick answer: The answer to how to use drawing tablet as second monitor depends on the tablet type. If it is a pen display, connect its video and USB cables, set your computer to Extend displays (Windows Settings > System > Display, or macOS System Settings > Displays), arrange the screens, then map the pen to the pen display in the tablet driver. An iPad can act as a second Mac screen through Sidecar, and Android or Windows tablets can do the same with display-extension apps or wireless projection. Screenless pen tablets cannot work as monitors.
A pen display is, technically, a monitor that also accepts pen input. That makes it a natural second screen: reference images on one display, the canvas on the other, or email on the main monitor while you draw on the tablet. The setup takes about ten minutes, but a few settings decide whether it feels seamless or frustrating.
This guide covers pen displays on Windows and macOS, iPads with Sidecar, Android and Windows tablets, and the pen-mapping and color settings that make a dual-screen drawing setup work. If you are thinking about adding a dedicated screen for art, our guide to the best drawing monitors for digital painting compares sizes, resolution and pen performance.
Which Tablets Can Be a Second Monitor?
| Device | Can it be a second monitor? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Pen display (screen tablet) | Yes, natively | Video cable or USB-C with video |
| Screenless pen tablet | No | Has no screen; it only controls the cursor |
| iPad | Yes, with a Mac | Sidecar, built into macOS and iPadOS on supported models; third-party apps for Windows |
| Android tablet | Yes | Display-extension apps over USB or Wi-Fi; some brands offer built-in features |
| Windows tablet or 2-in-1 | Yes, often | Wireless projection to another Windows PC, or display apps |
Part 1: Pen Display as a Second Monitor on Windows
Step 1: Connect the cables
Connect the pen display’s video cable (HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C) to your computer, plus the USB cable that carries pen data, and power if needed. Many models use a 3-in-1 cable that splits into video, USB and power at one end.
Step 2: Install the driver
Download and install the manufacturer’s latest driver for your exact model. Restart if prompted.
Step 3: Choose Extend mode
Press Windows key + P and select Extend. Or open Settings > System > Display, scroll to the multiple displays dropdown, and choose Extend these displays.
Step 4: Arrange the displays
In Display settings, drag the numbered rectangles to match how the screens sit on your desk. If the pen display is below your main monitor, place its rectangle below. This makes the mouse move naturally between screens.
Step 5: Set resolution and scaling
Select the pen display, set it to its native (recommended) resolution, and choose a scaling percentage that makes menus readable. Small high-resolution pen displays often need 125 to 150 percent scaling.
Step 6: Map the pen to the pen display
Open the tablet driver and find the display or mapping setting. Select the pen display as the target. If the pen is mapped to all screens, the cursor will appear on the wrong monitor or stretch across both.
Step 7: Calibrate
Run the driver’s calibration tool so the cursor sits under the nib.
Part 2: Pen Display as a Second Monitor on macOS
Step 1: Connect and install
Connect the cables (USB-C with video is common on recent Macs; adapters may be needed for HDMI). Install the driver and allow it under System Settings > Privacy & Security for Accessibility and, if listed, Input Monitoring.
Step 2: Extend the desktop
Open System Settings > Displays. Select the pen display and choose to use it as an extended display rather than mirroring. Exact wording varies by macOS version.
Step 3: Arrange
Click Arrange and drag the display icons to match their physical positions. The white menu bar on one icon marks the main display; drag it to whichever screen you want as primary.
Step 4: Set resolution
Choose the default or a scaled resolution that makes text comfortable.
Step 5: Map the pen
In the tablet driver, set the pen to work on the pen display only, then calibrate.
Part 3: Use an iPad as a Second Monitor With Sidecar
Sidecar lets a compatible iPad act as a second display for a compatible Mac, and it supports Apple Pencil input in apps that accept tablet input.
Requirements
- A Mac and iPad that support Sidecar, running compatible macOS and iPadOS versions (Sidecar arrived with macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13).
- Both devices signed in to the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication.
- For wireless use: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Handoff on, devices within about 10 meters. Or connect with a USB cable.
Steps
- On the Mac, open Control Center or System Settings > Displays, click the add-display option, and choose your iPad.
- Choose whether to extend or mirror the desktop.
- Drag an app window, such as your painting program, onto the iPad.
- Draw with Apple Pencil. Sidecar shows an optional sidebar with modifier keys and a Touch Bar strip on screen.
Note that Sidecar sends the image from the Mac, so drawing relies on the Mac app. Pressure support depends on the app supporting tablet input. Wired connections typically feel more responsive than wireless.
Sidecar vs Universal Control
These two Apple features are easy to confuse. Sidecar turns the iPad into an extra Mac display, so Mac apps run on it. Universal Control instead lets one keyboard and mouse or trackpad operate both the Mac and the iPad side by side, with each device running its own apps. For drawing in Mac software, you want Sidecar; for using iPad drawing apps while controlling both devices from one keyboard, Universal Control is the better fit.
Part 4: Android and Windows Tablets as Second Monitors
Android tablets
Several display-extension apps install a small companion program on your computer and an app on the tablet, then send the extended desktop over USB or Wi-Fi. Some of these apps support stylus pressure on certain devices, and some tablet makers include built-in second-screen features that connect to their own laptops or to Windows PCs.
- Install the app on both the tablet and the computer, following the developer’s instructions.
- Connect via USB (with USB debugging enabled if required) or the same Wi-Fi network.
- Start the connection and choose extend mode.
- Check the app’s settings for stylus or pressure support and enable it.
Windows tablets and 2-in-1s
Windows can project to another Windows PC wirelessly. On the tablet, install and enable the “Wireless Display” optional feature and open Settings > System > Projecting to this PC. On the main PC, press Windows key + K and select the tablet. Wireless projection can add latency and may not pass pen input, so it suits reference display better than drawing.
How to Set Up a Productive Dual-Screen Drawing Layout
- Canvas on the pen display, everything else on the main monitor: reference images, tutorials, layers panel or chat.
- Use your app’s multi-window features: many painting programs let you open a second view of the same canvas on the other monitor, zoomed out to show the full image.
- Move panels off the canvas: drag tool palettes and layers to the main monitor to free drawing space.
- Use a keyboard shortcut to move the cursor between screens or keep a mouse for the main display and the pen for the tablet.
- Keep color-critical decisions on one calibrated screen.
Color Consistency Between Screens
Two screens rarely show identical colors out of the box. A painting can look warm on one and cool on the other. To minimize the difference:
- Calibrate both with a hardware colorimeter if possible.
- Match brightness and white point settings as closely as you can.
- Decide which screen is your reference for color decisions, typically the one with the wider and more accurate color coverage.
Wired vs Wireless: What to Expect
| Connection | Latency | Image quality | Pen input | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pen display, wired | Lowest | Native resolution | Full pressure and tilt | Serious drawing |
| iPad Sidecar, wired | Low | Very good | Apple Pencil in supported apps | Mac users with an iPad |
| iPad Sidecar, wireless | Low to moderate | Very good | Apple Pencil in supported apps | Flexible, desk-free use |
| Android app, USB | Low to moderate | Good | Varies by app and device | Budget dual screens |
| Wi-Fi apps and projection | Moderate to high | Can compress | Limited or none | Reference display |
Example Setups for Different Artists
The illustrator with one laptop
A 13- to 16-inch pen display connected by a single USB-C cable sits in front of the laptop, which is raised on a stand behind it. The canvas lives on the pen display; the laptop screen shows layers, references and a zoomed-out navigator. The pen is mapped only to the pen display, and the laptop trackpad handles everything else.
The desktop artist with a large monitor
A large main monitor stays at eye level for browsing, communication and color checks, while a pen display on an adjustable arm or stand sits lower and closer, angled for drawing. Arranging the pen display directly below the main monitor in display settings makes the cursor move between them naturally.
The Mac user with an iPad
The iPad connects by cable through Sidecar when drawing in Mac software, then disconnects and works as a standalone drawing tablet with its own apps on the go. This setup gives two devices for the price of one, though pen support depends on the Mac app.
The budget setup
An Android tablet with a stylus runs a display-extension app over USB to hold reference images and chat, while drawing happens on a screenless pen tablet mapped to the main monitor. It is not a full pen-display experience, but it adds screen space cheaply.
Ergonomics With Two Screens
- Keep the main monitor at eye level and roughly an arm’s length away.
- Tilt the pen display to around 15 to 30 degrees and bring it close enough to rest your forearm.
- Avoid twisting your neck between screens all day. Place the screen you look at most directly in front of you.
- Take breaks and look into the distance periodically to reduce eye strain.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Pen display shows “no signal” | Check video cable, power and input; try another port or cable; confirm the port supports video |
| Cursor appears on the wrong screen | Map the pen to the pen display in the driver |
| Screens mirror instead of extend | Choose Extend in Windows (Win + P) or macOS Displays settings |
| Mouse moves strangely between screens | Rearrange display positions to match your desk |
| Text too small on pen display | Increase display scaling |
| Sidecar option missing | Check device compatibility, same Apple Account, Handoff and Bluetooth on |
| No pressure over a tablet app connection | Check app’s stylus settings; some combinations do not support pressure |
| Lag on wireless connection | Switch to USB connection or reduce resolution in the app |
FAQs
Can I use a drawing tablet as a second monitor?
Yes, if it has a screen. Pen displays work as monitors natively, and iPads, Android tablets and Windows tablets can act as second screens with Sidecar, apps or projection. Screenless pen tablets cannot.
How do I extend my display to a pen display?
On Windows, press Windows key + P and choose Extend. On a Mac, open System Settings > Displays and set the pen display as an extended display.
Why is my pen drawing on the wrong monitor?
The pen is mapped to the wrong screen or to all screens. Open the tablet driver and map the pen to the pen display.
Can I use an iPad as a second monitor for Windows?
Not with Sidecar, which is Mac-only. Third-party apps can extend a Windows desktop to an iPad, with varying pen support.
Does Apple Pencil work in Sidecar?
Yes. Apple Pencil can be used to draw in Mac apps that support tablet input while the iPad is in Sidecar mode.
Is a pen display better than using an iPad as a second monitor?
For drawing on a computer, a wired pen display usually offers lower latency and full pen support across apps. An iPad offers portability and doubles as a standalone drawing device.
Final Thoughts
Using a drawing tablet as a second monitor is mostly about three settings: extend the display, arrange the screens and map the pen correctly. Pen displays do this natively; iPads and Android tablets need Sidecar or an app. If you want a dedicated, color-accurate screen built for drawing, browse our list of top drawing monitors for artists.
