Friday, October 2, 2026
Daily TipsiPad

How to use Reference Mode with an iPad Pro and Mac in Sidecar

Apple has added direct touch input to Sidecar with macOS 27 Golden Gate and iPadOS 27, allowing users to tap and interact with macOS interface elements using a finger on their iPad for the first time.

Yesterday we looked at how to use Reference Mode on your iPad Pro. You can also use Reference Mode with SideCar to create a consistent reference workflow across your iPad and Mac. Here’s how:

° On your iPad, turn on Reference Mode.

° On your Mac, choose a reference preset. You can use one of these presets (with the corresponding color standards and video formats that are supported by Reference Mode in parentheses): HDTV Video (BT.709); NTSC Video (BT.601 SMPTE-C); PAL & SECAM Video (BT.601 EBU); Internet & Web (sRGB); HDR Video (HDR10 BT.2100 PQ, BT.2100 HLG Dolby Vision Profile 8.4, and Dolby Vision Profile 5).

° Move a Mac window to your iPad.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.