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AERODISPLAY SUPPORT

Let’s get you
back in flow.

From your first connection to the occasional hiccup. Find a guide, troubleshoot a connection, or get in touch.

01 Start with a good connection.02 Find your answer.03 Talk to us

01 / SETUP

Start with a good connection.

Before you begin, install the app on both devices and keep them unlocked during pairing.

Download & setup

USB cable

  1. Check the essentials

    Use macOS 14+ and iPadOS 17+. USB streaming requires an active AeroDisplay Pro entitlement. A charging-only cable won’t carry the display stream.

  2. Open and connect

    Open AeroDisplay on both devices. Connect your iPad directly to your Mac using a data-capable cable. If iPadOS asks whether to trust the Mac, confirm only if it is your Mac.

  3. Pair your devices

    Select your Mac in AeroDisplay. Follow the pairing or approval prompt shown by the apps. Keep the Mac companion running in the menu bar.

  4. Allow the right permissions

    On Mac, allow Screen Recording for the display stream. Allow Accessibility if you want touch or Apple Pencil control. Restart the app if macOS requests it.

  5. Arrange your displays

    Choose Extend or Mirror in AeroDisplay. Use macOS System Settings → Displays to arrange the screens so pointer movement follows your desk layout.

Local Wi-Fi

  1. Join the same network

    Connect your Mac and iPad to the same trusted local network. A guest network may isolate devices even when the network names match.

  2. Open both apps

    Start the Mac companion and AeroDisplay on iPad. Allow Local Network access on iPad when prompted so your Mac can be discovered.

  3. Find and pair your Mac

    Choose your Mac from the device list. Use the pairing flow or scan the QR code shown by your Mac. Camera permission is only needed for QR scanning.

  4. Approve and stream

    Approve your iPad on the Mac if asked. Grant Screen Recording on Mac, and Accessibility if you want remote input. Choose Extend or Mirror.

  5. Keep the route clear

    Keep devices near the access point. If discovery fails, check local-network permissions and whether a VPN, firewall, or guest-network isolation is blocking device-to-device traffic.

VPN / Tailscale

  1. Prepare the private network

    Install and enable Tailscale on both devices and join the same tailnet, or configure another VPN that allows direct communication between them. Allow the devices to reach each other in your network access policy.

  2. Keep the Mac ready

    Sign in to macOS and run the AeroDisplay companion. Allow Screen Recording, plus Accessibility for remote input. The Mac must stay awake and connected to its network.

  3. Connect using the VPN address

    In AeroDisplay on iPad, use the manual connection flow with the Mac’s reachable VPN address and AeroDisplay port shown by the Mac app, or choose the saved Mac’s available Tailscale route. Complete pairing and approval when requested; local discovery may not cross networks.

  4. Tune for the connection

    Choose Extend or Mirror. If response is slow, reduce resolution or quality and check the VPN route. Relayed Tailscale connections can be slower than direct connections. Check firewall and device-access rules if the Mac is unreachable.

VPN/Tailscale is a separate service and needs its own setup. Device access rules and firewalls must allow the connection. Internet speed, distance, and VPN relays affect latency and quality.

Tailscale

MAC MINI / HEADLESS

Set up a headless Mac

Complete the initial setup and permissions on Mac first. The Mac must be awake, signed in to macOS, and running AeroDisplay. It cannot unlock FileVault before macOS starts.

  1. Prepare once on Mac

    Use a monitor or an existing access method for the initial macOS login, AeroDisplay installation, permissions, and pairing. Confirm the app can create a display before removing the monitor.

  2. Use iPad as the display

    Keep the Mac awake and the companion running in a signed-in session. Connect the paired iPad over USB, local Wi-Fi, or a configured VPN/Tailscale route. With no physical display, AeroDisplay uses its virtual display as the main screen.

  3. Plan for restarts

    Launch at Login can start AeroDisplay after you sign in. A reboot, FileVault pre-boot unlock, or a missing permission may require local access. Headless streaming does not replace macOS startup authentication.

A note on permissions.

A note on permissions.

Screen Recording · Mac

Lets AeroDisplay capture the display you choose. The stream goes to your paired device.

Accessibility · Mac

Lets touch, keyboard, and Apple Pencil input control your Mac. Needed for remote input, not simply viewing the display.

Local Network · iPad

Lets AeroDisplay discover and connect to your Mac on the local network.

Camera · iPad

Used to scan the pairing QR code. You can choose the available manual pairing flow instead.

02 / FAQ

Find your answer.

Can my iPad be the only display for a Mac mini?

Yes, after initial setup. With no physical monitor attached, AeroDisplay creates a virtual main display for your iPad. Your Mac must be awake, signed in to macOS, and running the companion with the required permissions. It cannot show or unlock the FileVault pre-boot screen.

Does AeroDisplay support portrait mode?

Yes. Use portrait or landscape on iPad. In Extend mode, the virtual display follows the iPad’s orientation, making portrait useful for documents, code, and long pages. Mirror mode follows the selected source display’s layout.

Can I connect through VPN or Tailscale?

Yes, with a configured network that lets the devices reach each other. Connect using the Mac’s VPN address or an available saved Tailscale route. Install and configure the VPN separately; AeroDisplay does not include a VPN subscription. Remote performance depends on your network and route.

My Mac doesn’t appear on iPad.

Keep both apps open and allow Local Network access in iPad Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network. For Wi-Fi, confirm both devices are on the same non-isolated network. For USB, check the cable, try another port, and complete any Trust prompt. Reopen both apps after changing permissions.

USB asks me to unlock Pro.

Wired streaming is a Pro feature in the public app. Open AeroDisplay settings and use Upgrade, or Restore Purchases if you already own Pro. Use the same Apple Account that made the purchase. TestFlight and development builds may have different testing behavior.

The display is black or doesn’t update.

On Mac, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording (the label may include System Audio Recording on newer macOS versions) and enable AeroDisplay. Quit and reopen the Mac companion after changing permission. Check that you selected the intended display in the app.

Touch or Apple Pencil doesn’t control my Mac.

Enable AeroDisplay under macOS System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Confirm you’re using a supported Apple Pencil with your iPad, and check the selected interaction mode. Reopen the companion after a permission change.

Audio is missing or breaks up.

Turn on Mac System Audio Passthrough in AeroDisplay settings. Check the iPad volume and selected audio output, including Bluetooth devices. Test a direct USB connection or reduce display quality if Wi-Fi is congested. If interruptions continue, email us the connection type, device models, and when the interruptions occur.

The picture feels slow over Wi-Fi.

Move closer to the access point, pause large network transfers, and try a lower resolution or quality preset. USB can offer a more consistent connection. A 120 Hz target applies only to compatible ProMotion iPads with Pro over USB; actual performance varies.

How do I restore Pro?

In AeroDisplay settings, choose Restore Purchases while signed into the Apple Account used for the original purchase. Make sure the device can reach the App Store. If it still doesn’t unlock, contact us with the plan name and purchase date; don’t send payment-card details.

How do I cancel a subscription or request a refund?

Manage cancellation in your iPad’s Settings → your Apple Account → Subscriptions. Refund requests are handled by Apple. See Apple’s cancellation guide and refund instructions.

Can I forget a paired Mac or reset local settings?

Remove the saved host from AeroDisplay’s saved-device controls, or use Reset to Factory Defaults in settings. This clears the app’s saved hosts and preferences on iPad. Keychain and backups are managed by the operating system; uninstalling alone may not erase every secure credential. Contact us if you need help removing a pairing.

03 / Support

Talk to us.

Email is our support channel. Tell us your device models, OS versions, connection type, and what you expected to happen. You can write in English or Indonesian.

rayasatech@gmail.com

Please don’t send passwords, pairing QR codes, payment details, or private screen recordings. Share diagnostic logs only after checking them for personal information.