iDisplay FAQ

Select your iDisplay devices

iPhone / iPad

Android

Mac

Windows

iOS Questions

What are the compatibility requirements for iDisplay on iOS?

Any iPhone, iPad,or iPod with iOS 7 or later can be used with iDisplay.

How do WiFi and USB differ?

Both options are stable and fast, however a USB connection has generally lower latency. A good WiFi network can support many connected iOS or Android devices simultaneously. With a USB connection, your connected devices are limited to the amount of USB ports on your computer.

How do I connect through my IP Address?

Check the IP Address and Port information on your computer. Click on the iDisplay logo in the Menu Bar on your Mac, or the taskbar on your Windows PC, and then click on “IP Address and Port information”. Then enter this information in iDisplay on your iOS or Android device

iDisplay cannot connect to my Mac OS computer.

First, please try to connect via QR code or USB.

If this doesn’t help, when you open iDisplay and it starts connecting please press Cancel in the top left corner. Then you will see Low/High Resolution toggle. Change Resolution to Low and connect again.

You can also decrease the frame rate and/or set compression type to Software in iDisplay Desktop app. Click on iDisplay icon in the status bar, select in the menu iDisplay-> Preferences, then please select appropriate device, uncheck ‘Auto configuration for optimal speed/quality’ and then decrease ‘Frames per second’ value.

If you are trying to connect via WiFi please ensure that USB cable is unplugged .

If you tried all the above and iDisplay still can't connect please send Troubleshooting report from iDisplay software on your Mac and inform us at support@shape.ag.

iDisplay cannot connect to my Windows computer.

When you open iDisplay and it starts connecting please press Cancel in the top left corner. Then you will see Low/High Resolution toggle. Change Resolution to Low and connect again.

If the above trick doesn't help:

1. In WiFi settings there is an option to make your computer discoverable by other computers in the local network. Turn on the 'Make this PC discoverable' toggle switch (The option is disabled by default).

2. Also, your Windows Firewall may block any inbound traffic that hasn’t been specifically allowed. You may need to add a rule to allow inbound connections on PCs firewall for iDisplay.exe.

If you tried all the above and iDisplay still can't connect please send Troubleshooting report from iDisplay software on your Windows computer and inform us at support@shape.ag.

Can I use the Apple Pencil on my iPad Pro with iDisplay?

You can use the Apple Pencil on iPad Pro, however pressure sensitivity is not supported yet.

I cannot activate a Landscape/Portrait Mode

If the screen on your iOS device won't rotate Orientation Lock is on. Turn it off and re-open iDisplay.

iDisplay connects but the font is too small when I use my iPad to extend my Macbook Pro display.

When you open iDisplay and it starts connecting please press Cancel in the top left corner. Then you will see Low/High Resolution toggle. Change Resolution to Low and connect again.

I see ‘Connection not allowed’ on my iPhone

When iDisplay tries to connect for the first time to your computer you should allow the connection from desktop.

If you didn’t allow the connection or see 'Connection not allowed' please restart both iOS device and computer and try to connect again.

Сan I use iDisplay for photo editing? How much colors can it handle?

Yes, you can. iDisplay supports 24-bit depth (True Color).

Known Issue: On OS Yosemite 10.10.3 iDisplay freezes in Additional Monitor mode with Hardware compression

When Compression type is set to Hardware, in Additional Monitor mode iOS device freezes and doesn't update content.

In iDisplay Desktop open Preferences and set Compression type to Software and try to connect again.

Can I transfer my purchased app between Android to iOS?

No – you need to buy the app again in the respective store.

Android Questions

What are the compatibility requirements for iDisplay on Android?

Any Android tablet or phone with Android 4.0 or higher can be used with iDisplay.

Can I try iDisplay before purchasing?

iDisplay, as well as all paid Android apps in Google Play offers a two-hour trial period. During the two hours after you purchase iDisplay, you can return it for a full refund.

How can I connect my Android device to my computer?

For both, Mac and Windows computers, Android devices can currently be connected through WiFi.

Can I connect my Android device through USB?

We temporarily disabled this option to resolve reliability issues, but will add it in the upcoming update.

iDisplay cannot connect to my Mac OS computer.

1. Ensure that both the mobile device with iDisplay app and the computer with iDisplay Desktop are in one WiFi network.

2. Then please open iDisplay on your Android device, choose Settings and select lower resolution for faster image rendering.

3. If the above trick doesn't resolve the issue you can decrease the frame rate and/or set compression type to Software in iDisplay Desktop app. Click on iDisplay icon in the status bar, select in the menu iDisplay-> Preferences, then please select appropriate device, uncheck ‘Auto configuration for optimal speed/quality’ and then decrease ‘Frames per second’ value.

If you tried all the above and iDisplay still can't connect please send Troubleshooting report from iDisplay software on your Mac computer and inform us at support@shape.ag.

iDisplay cannot connect to my Windows computer.

1. Ensure that both the mobile device with iDisplay app and the computer with iDisplay Desktop are in one WiFi network.

2. Then please open iDisplay on your Android device, choose Settings and select lower resolution for faster image rendering.

3. In WiFi settings there is an option to make your computer discoverable by other computers in the local network. Turn on the 'Make this PC discoverable' toggle switch (The option is disabled by default).

4. Also, your Windows Firewall may block any inbound traffic that hasn’t been specifically allowed. You may need to to allow inbound connections on PC's firewall for iDisplay.exe.

If you tried all the above and iDisplay still can't connect please send Troubleshooting report from iDisplay software on your Windows computer and inform us at support@shape.ag.

I cannot use iDisplay in a full screen mode.

If the screen on your Android device won't rotate Orientation Lock is on. Turn it off and re-open iDisplay.

On a small percent of Android devices iDisplay cannot resize to a full screen in a landscape mode. We are sorry for the inconvenience. The issue will be fixed in one of the next releases. If you are experiencing this issue please send us an email with your device information (model and OS version).

Can I transfer my purchased app between Android to iOS?

No – you need to buy the app again in the respective store.

Mac Questions

What are the compatibility requirements for the iDisplay desktop Mac app?

Your Mac must be on version 10.9 or newer, and be connected to a WiFi network and/or be connected to your iOS device through WiFi or USB, and your Android device through WiFi.

Can iDisplay be used as a 3rd display?

Yes. iDisplay can be used as a 3rd or even 4th additional monitor.
There is a known issue with connecting iDisplay as a 3rd screen on macOS High Sierra 10.13 that will be fixed in one of the next releases.

Can I connect several devices with iDisplay?

Yes. On Mac, iDisplay can be connected on several devices simultaneously in a Mirroring mode.

iDisplay runs very slowly or does not connect at all

If iDisplay rendering delays occur, please try decreasing frame rate. Please click on iDisplay icon in the status bar, select in the menu iDisplay-> Preferences, then please select appropriate device (iPhone | iPad | iPod Touch | Android), uncheck "Auto configuration for optimal speed/quality" and then decrease "Frames per second" value.

For older devices including iPhone 3G/3GS WiFi performance can be severely impaired when Bluetooth is active, because the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios use the same antenna. Please disable Bluetooth during iDisplay use to avoid connection-related issues.

iDisplay is unable to connect to my Mac automatically

Please make sure to always use the latest versions of both mobile and desktop applications. Outdated versions might cause connectivity difficulties.

Press the iDisplay icon in the menu bar and select "IP address and port information" and try to connect your device with the IP address or QR code.

If you are public wireless network (such as at a Starbucks) we recommend to connect via USB (currently iOS only) as inbound connections to your computer may be restricted.

How can I move windows to iDisplay?

At the first start please check and correct the layout of virtual display in relation to your main screen.

Open System Preferences / Displays / Arrangement.

After that you can move windows to your iPhone, iPad or Android device by dragging them to the corresponding screen area. For example, if you have your virtual display located by the bottom right corner of the main screen, drag any window to the bottom right corner of your main screen and you'll see it on the mobile device.

I see only a part of screen / do not see wallpapers / main display is limited to a lower resolution

Restart your Mac. When using iDisplay please make sure that "Mirror displays" is unchecked in "System Preferences" -> "Displays" -> "Arrangement". Otherwise your Mac display will mirror secondary display on your iPhone / iPad / iPod / Android and it will not be possible to control your Mac properly.

iDisplay never connects. On my Mac I see the iPad under "Disconnect devices"

Please send Troubleshooting report from iDisplay software on your Mac computer and inform us at support@shape.ag.

What do the different modes of iDisplay mean?

When connecting mobile devices to your Mac, you have the following options for configuring the displays:

Additional Monitor: In this mode you will be able to turn your mobile device into additional display for your Mac.
Mirrored Monitor: If you connect three or more devices to your Mac, you can use this mode to demonstrate your main display on all mobile devices.
View Only: You can see your desktop on iDisplay but cannot click on anything.

Can I connect multiple devices to my computer simultaneously?

If you use iDisplay with a Mac computer, you can connect multiple devices at the same time. All these devices can be used in a mirroring mode.

On "Devices" tab you can see information about your devices and check whether they are connected currently.

iDisplay connects via cable but never connects via WiFi

If you have USB cable plugged in to your computer please unplug it and connect again via WiFi.

I can connect and see a empty desktop. But I cannot click on anything or work with app.

You are connected in Additional Monitor mode. Now you can click the icons on your main monitor and drag them to your mobile device with iDisplay. Or, you can resize a window to stretch it across more than one monitor.

The tablet always comes as the primary display. How can I switch my main monitor to be the primary?

On your Mac under System Preferences > Display drag the white bar to the other screen to set it as the main screen.

iDisplay freezes on ’Rotating’ message in Additional Monitor mode

On OS Yosemite 10.10.3 when Compression type is set to Hardware, in Additional Monitor mode rotating iOS device freezes iDisplay on ’Rotating’ message.

In iDisplay Desktop open Preferences and set Compression type to Software and try to connect again.

Is it possible to extend Mac OS display to Win10 tablet?

No.
iDisplay supports iOS and Android phones and tablets. It can be used as a second or mirrored monitor for your Mac or Windows PC. However, it cannot connect Mac and Windows.

macOS High Sierra10.13 Additional Monitor is not active in menu. Driver is not available.

macOS High Sierra 10.13 introduces a new feature that requires user approval before loading newly-installed third-party kernel extensions (KEXTs).

When a request is made to load a KEXT that the user has not yet approved, the load request is denied. You need to approve it during installation process.

Please reinstall iDisplay and follow instructions during installation: Open Settings and press Allow on the screen “System software from developer “Shape GmbH” was blocked from loading.” For more details please see In-Depth Explanation from Apple here.

How can I uninstall iDisplay from Mac?

Uninstaller sits in the installation package for Mac OS. Open iDisplayUninstall and click OK.

Windows Questions

What are the compatibility requirements for iDisplay Desktop on Windows?

iDisplay Desktop requires Windows 8.1 and up.

If you are using prior versions of Windows, such as Windows XP, Windows Vista Windows 7, you may download the old version of iDisplay Desktop. Please note that this is very old software that is no longer updating.

How can I switch between Additional Monitor and Mirrored Monitor modes?

You can switch between Additional/Mirrored Monitor modes in Windows tray where the icon of iDisplay sits. Please note that you can switch the mode only when iDisplay in NOT connected. Turn off iDisplay on mobile, switch the mode and connect again.

Can iDisplay be used as a 3rd display?

Yes. iDisplay can be used as a 3rd or even 4th additional monitor.

Can I connect several devices with iDisplay?

Yes.

On Windows, iDisplay supports up to 3 simultaneous devices in both Mirrored and Additional monitor modes (depending on your hardware capabilities).

Can iDisplay mirror my secondary monitor?

iDisplay allows to mirror only the main monitor.

However, you can configure your setup so that your secondary monitor will be the main display as described in this article (Windows 10).

How can I change screen arrangement?

You can change the arrangement of monitors on your computer. Choose Start->Settings->Display when iDisplay is connected. Place the secondary display thumbnail where you want to.

Windows 7 changes Aero Theme to the Basic Theme every time when I connect with iDisplay to my PC.

This happens because of peculiarities of your video card. iDisplay will still work on your computer, however, Aero theme will be disabled while using iDisplay.

iDisplay can’t connect to my Windows computer

1. Both the mobile device with iDisplay app and the computer with iDisplay Desktop should be in one WiFi network.

2. In WiFi settings there is an option to make your computer discoverable by other computers in the local network. Turn on the 'Make this PC discoverable' toggle switch (The option is disabled by default).

3. Windows Firewall may block any inbound traffic that hasn’t been specifically allowed. You may need to add a rule to allow inbound connections on my PCs firewall for iDisplay.exe. See more details here.

Does iDisplay work via USB?

The current version of iDisplay Desktop for Windows doesn't support USB. We temporarily disabled USB connectivity to resolve reliability issues, but will add it in one of the upcoming updates.

Please note that while running iDisplay both the mobile device and the computer should be in one WiFi network.

I see an error ‘Another instance of iDisplay is already running’

iDisplay is an app that doesn’t run in the foreground. It sits in the background with an icon in the notification area (the System Tray). You can close iDisplay from the Menu by clicking on iDisplay icon in tray.

When I connect to my laptop, I see my wallpaper but I can’t see any of the programs on my desktop.

I do not have an administrator account. Is it possible to work with iDisplay avoiding this requirement?

No. iDisplay requires administrator rights for installation and running the app.

I can’t start the application.

This probably means that you did not complete iDisplay installation successfully.

1. Please uninstall iDisplay via Add / Remove Programs on your Windows computer and restart your PC to complete the uninstall.

2. Please check if iDisplay is completely uninstalled from Add/Remove Programs.

3. Download the latest version of iDisplay Desktop for Windows from http://getidisplay.com and try installing again.

How do I uninstall iDisplay in WIndows?

First, Exit iDisplay from its menu. iDisplay’s icon sits in the notification area (Windows Tray). Go to Start > All apps and find iDisplay. Right-click on iDisplay and click Uninstall from the drop-down menu that appears.

iDisplay crashes / I get BSOD / black screen is displayed. What should I do?

Please try to launch iDisplay Desktop application in safe mode.

To run iDisplay in safe mode please click on Windows Start button, then type "iDisplay Safe mode" in the search line and press "Enter".