SideMini

Download

Get SideMini for macOS.

The free trial is the full app, all three setups, for three days from first launch. No account, no card, nothing to cancel. When the trial ends, SideMini simply stops connecting until you enter a key.

macOS 14 Sonoma or laterApple silicon and IntelSigned and notarized

Download SideMini

Three days from first launch. No card, no account, no email address.

Version
0.1.0
Requires
macOS 14 Sonoma or later
Architecture
Universal: Apple silicon and Intel
Format
Disk image (.dmg)
Signature
Developer ID, notarized by Apple
Size
Published with the release
SHA-256
Published with the release
Released
Not yet released

Verify the download if you like: shasum -a 256 SideMini.dmg should print the value above.

Install in two minutes

Set up with a monitor attached.

  1. Open the disk image and drag SideMini to Applications

    Then launch it. SideMini lives in the menu bar; there is no Dock icon.

  2. Follow the welcome guide

    It checks Sidecar support, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth and your Apple Account, then lets you pick your iPad and run a test connection. Keep the iPad unlocked for this first pairing.

  3. Turn on “Only use iPad screen”

    Settings → iPad Only. One switch sets start-at-login, auto-connect and reconnect. If you want a no-touch boot, SideMini explains the FileVault trade-off and asks before changing anything.

  4. Test it before you rely on it

    Unplug the monitor while the Mac is running: the iPad should take over within seconds. Then do one real restart with the monitor unplugged.

Recommended iPad settings

  • Keep the iPad on a USB cable next to the Mac so it stays charged and nearby.
  • Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock: Never while it serves as your display.
  • Same Apple Account as the Mac, with two-factor authentication.

Activating a license

Click the SideMini icon in the menu bar → Enter License… → paste the key from your purchase email → Activate. Keys start with SM1-. Activation is verified on your Mac and works offline.

Lost the email? Write to support@sidemini.com from the address you bought with.

macOS asks once whether to open an app downloaded from the internet. That prompt is normal for every developer outside the App Store; here is what you should see.

Release notes

What’s new

All 1.x releases are free updates for license holders.

SideMini 0.1.0

First release
  • Automatic Sidecar connection at login when no monitor is attached, with burst retries and background watching.
  • Headless mode: a virtual display is created so Sidecar can connect with no monitor at all, and removed when a monitor returns.
  • Fast reconnect after drops, USB or wireless transport, resolution and HiDPI picker, mirror or extend.
  • Per-display ignore list for HDMI dummy plugs, prevent-sleep, notifications, connect sounds, Doctor checks, plain-text log.
  • Always On: keep the Mac awake off / while connected / always; Server mode (never sleep, restart after power failure, wake for network access) with one click; virtual display sizes 1080p, 1440p and 4K for Screen Sharing on a Mac with no iPad.
  • 3-day trial and offline license keys.