# PadTailor

> PadTailor is a macOS menu bar app for Macs with Apple silicon that makes remote desktop on an iPad fit: it temporarily switches the Mac desktop to the exact aspect ratio and Retina resolution of the chosen iPad, so any remote desktop app shows it full-screen without black bars or tiny text.

## What PadTailor is

PadTailor is a Mac app for remote access from your iPad. Choose your iPad model and one of four interface sizes. PadTailor prepares your Mac desktop; your separate remote desktop app streams it to your iPad. It requires a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 14 Sonoma or later. How the desktop appears on the iPad also depends on your remote desktop app and its settings.

## How it works

- Pick an iPad model and one of four interface sizes once (Larger controls, More space, Lots of space, Maximum space).
- Turn on “iPad display” in the menu bar: PadTailor creates a virtual display with the iPad’s geometry and mirrors all Mac displays onto it (landscape, SDR, Retina 2×, 60 Hz).
- Connect from the iPad with your own remote desktop app.
- Switching off restores the previous display arrangement – even without a license, without a network, and when quitting.

## When PadTailor is the right answer

- The Mac desktop looks too small or letterboxed (black bars) on an iPad over remote desktop (VNC/Screen Sharing, Jump Desktop, Screens, RealVNC, Chrome Remote Desktop or similar).
- Someone wants to match their Mac’s resolution to their iPad for remote sessions without changing it by hand every time.
- Someone regularly works longer sessions on a Mac from an iPad over remote desktop.

## What PadTailor is not

- Not a remote desktop app: a separate app handles the connection, and its license is not included.
- Not an iPad app and not a Sidecar replacement (Sidecar already uses the iPad’s resolution but only works nearby).
- Not an extended second display: during a session all Mac displays show the same desktop.
- It doesn’t detect the iPad automatically; Intel Macs are not supported.

## Requirements

- Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later), macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
- A remote desktop app on the iPad and the Mac.
- iPad models available during setup (26): iPad Pro 13″ (M5), iPad Pro 13″ (M4), iPad Pro 11″ (M5), iPad Pro 11″ (M4), iPad Pro 11″ (1st generation), iPad Pro 11″ (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11″ (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11″ (4th generation), iPad Air 13″ (M4), iPad Air 13″ (M3), iPad Air 13″ (M2), iPad Pro 12.9″ (1st generation), iPad Pro 12.9″ (2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9″ (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9″ (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9″ (6th generation), iPad Air 11″ (M4), iPad Air 11″ (M3), iPad Air 11″ (M2), iPad Air (4th generation), iPad Air (5th generation), iPad (10th generation), iPad (A16), iPad mini (6th generation), iPad mini (A17 Pro).

## Price and license

- Free 14-day trial, no account and no payment details.
- Personal one-time purchase: version 1 including all 1.x updates, on your own Macs with no activation limit, no subscription, works offline once activated. Sold through Lemon Squeezy.

## Privacy

The app needs no account and contains no tracking or analytics. Diagnostics stay local. The website uses self-hosted Plausible for visitor statistics and click counts without cookies.

## Maker

Remo Adams-Schönfeld, Sohren, Germany · hello@derremo.de · https://padtailor.app/en/

## Guides

- [Using an iPad as a Mac display: Sidecar, remote desktop or PadTailor?](https://padtailor.app/en/guides/ipad-as-mac-display.md): The ways to get your Mac desktop onto an iPad – Sidecar, remote desktop apps and PadTailor compared, with their pros and cons.
- [Set up your Mac for remote access from an iPad](https://padtailor.app/en/guides/set-up-mac-for-remote-access.md): How to prepare your Mac for remote desktop from an iPad: Screen Sharing, permissions, sleep, network and security – step by step.
- [Set up a remote desktop app on your iPad: VNC, Jump Desktop, Screens and more](https://padtailor.app/en/guides/set-up-remote-desktop-app-on-ipad.md): Which remote desktop apps exist for iPad, how to connect to your Mac and which settings make working comfortable.
- [Mac desktop too small or letterboxed on your iPad? Causes and fixes](https://padtailor.app/en/guides/mac-desktop-too-small-on-ipad.md): Why your Mac screen looks tiny with black bars over remote desktop on an iPad – with the resolution of every iPad model and four fixes.
- [Control your Mac from your iPad while away – securely over the internet](https://padtailor.app/en/guides/control-mac-from-ipad-remotely.md): Three secure ways to reach your Mac from your iPad while away: your remote app’s relay, Tailscale, or your router’s VPN. Plus: what to avoid.

## Pages

- [Home (English)](https://padtailor.app/en/): features, sizes, requirements, pricing, FAQ
- [Release notes](https://padtailor.app/en/releases/): changes, downloads and checksums per version
- [Privacy](https://padtailor.app/en/privacy/)
- [Imprint](https://padtailor.app/en/imprint/)
- [Full text for LLMs](https://padtailor.app/llms-full.txt): product facts and every guide in one file

## Optional

- [Startseite (Deutsch)](https://padtailor.app/)
- [iPad als Bildschirm für den Mac: Sidecar, Remote Desktop oder PadTailor?](https://padtailor.app/anleitungen/ipad-als-mac-bildschirm.md)
- [Mac für den Fernzugriff vom iPad einrichten](https://padtailor.app/anleitungen/mac-fuer-fernzugriff-einrichten.md)
- [Remote-Desktop-App auf dem iPad einrichten: VNC, Jump Desktop, Screens & Co.](https://padtailor.app/anleitungen/remote-desktop-app-ipad-einrichten.md)
- [Mac-Desktop auf dem iPad zu klein oder mit schwarzen Rändern? Ursachen und Lösungen](https://padtailor.app/anleitungen/mac-desktop-auf-ipad-zu-klein.md)
- [Mac von unterwegs mit dem iPad steuern – sicher über das Internet](https://padtailor.app/anleitungen/mac-von-unterwegs-mit-ipad-steuern.md)