Sidecar and Duet Display alternatives for old iPads on iOS 12
Last updated: 2026-11-06
Most second-screen apps have dropped iOS 12. We checked the App Store on 2026-11-06: the current versions of Duet Display and Luna Display need iPadOS 13 or later, and spacedesk needs iPadOS 15 or later. An iPad Air 1, iPad mini 2 or iPad mini 3 can't install their current versions from the App Store.
| App | Minimum iPad system | Installs on iOS 12 | Computers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidecar | iPadOS 13 and an iPad Air 3 or later | No | Mac | Built into macOS, free |
| Duet Display | iPadOS 13 | No | Mac, Windows | Free app; Duet Pro is an optional subscription |
| Luna Display | iPadOS 13.1 | No | Mac, Windows | Needs Luna Display hardware |
| spacedesk | iPadOS 15 | No | Windows | Free app, for Windows PCs |
| Splashtop Wired XDisplay | iOS 7 | Yes | Mac, Windows | Free; the App Store version was last updated in January 2017 |
| Yam Air | iOS 8 | Yes | Mac | $3.99 on the US App Store, wireless; last updated in September 2022 |
| ZiPad | iOS 12 | Yes | Mac, Windows, Linux | Not on the App Store, sideloaded; free trial, $14.99 full version |
The App Store sometimes offers devices on old systems an earlier compatible version of an app. We haven't tested whether those old versions still work with the current computer apps. Sources: the App Store and Astropad's website, checked on 2026-11-06.
Which one to choose
- A Mac and an iPad Air 3 or newer: use Sidecar. It's free and built in.
- An iPad that runs iPadOS 13 or later: compare Duet Display and Luna Display, or spacedesk if you use Windows.
- An iPad stuck on iOS 12 (iPad Air 1, mini 2, mini 3): Splashtop Wired XDisplay and Yam Air still list support but haven't been updated for years. ZiPad is built for these iPads, also works with Windows and Linux, and is still being developed, but it has to be sideloaded.
Where ZiPad falls short
ZiPad isn't on the App Store, a free Apple ID signature lasts about 7 days, it doesn't support Apple Pencil, and the Linux version has only been tested in virtual machines. Read the known risks and try the free trial before you buy.