Want to use an iPad as a drawing tablet with a PC? There are a number of ways to do it
(Image credit: Astropad)
Assumed it was impossible to use an iPad as a drawing tablet with a PC? Not so! While Apple's hardware famously doesn't play well with other systems and generally likes you to keep things in-house, there are ways to make an iPad talk to a PC, most of which don't require any tech-savviness at all.
Essentially, you want your PC to be able to mirror your iPad's screen, allowing you take advantage of a larger monitor or desktop setup, and while this isn't possible through Apple's own software, a number of third-party apps and programs have sprung up to fill the gap. And with modern iPad Pro and iPad Air models being serious contenders for the best drawing tablet, there are plenty of reasons you might want to do this.
One is the fact that PCs can be much cheaper than MacBooks while still offering solid quality, with the Windows ecosystem boasting plenty of the best laptops for graphics design. So, here are a few different ways to connect your iPad to your PC – and if you need something to draw with, don’t miss our guide to the best iPad stylus.
How to use an iPad as a drawing tablet with a PC: Astropad Studio
Astropad Studio is one of the most popular apps for interfacing iPads and PCs. (Image credit: Astrolabs)
Astropad Studio has been around as an iPad app for years – it used to be one of the best ways to turn an iPad into the equivalent of a Wacom Cintiq by connecting it up to a Macbook (before Apple started doing that themselves).
More recently, the makers have expanded the utility of Astropad Studio in a venture that was initially known as 'Project Blue', providing a way for an iPad to interface with a PC.
You need to download two applications – one for the iPad, and one for the PC. Once you've got those, you simply connect the iPad to the PC either wirelessly or via USB, and then you're free to use all your favourite drawing apps on your desktop or laptop display. If your setup can accommodate the physical connection then it is noticeably better, with reduced latency.
It's worth noting that Astropad Studio is not just mirroring software, and has been designed from the ground up to help you use your iPad and PC as a drawing studio. It allows you to create customisable workspaces within your apps, interfacing with Magic Gestures to make it easy to call up specific tools when you need them.
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The downside to Astropad Studio is that it's only free for a brief 14-day trial – after that, you have to pay a subscription, which for individuals starts at $79 per year. It's not cheap, but if you are serious about using your iPad and PC as a professional drawing studio, it could well be worth it.
Duet Display has brought its famous iPad/Mac connecting tech to Windows, too. (Image credit: Duet Display)
Designed by former Apple engineers, Duet Display is a desktop-mirroring/extending iPad tool that has been around for years – and supports Windows computers as well as Apple ones. It’s a download for the iPad and for Windows; once you’ve got and launched the apps, all you need to do is connect the iPad to your PC via USB. Duet will then boot up automatically and start mirroring or expanding your desktop. You may want to adjust resolution in your PC settings if your monitor resolution is wildly different to that of your iPad, but otherwise, you’re good to go.
The team updates the application regularly, and are continually adding all sorts of improvements. Even the most basic plan, Duet Studio (more on plans below) offers gesture control and support for styluses like the Apple Pencil Pro, with a connection thathas effectively zero lag.
Duet Display is optimised to run with minimal drain on the CPU and the battery, meaning you can keep drawing for longer without needing to run off and find a power socket. There is also a highly responsive support team on hand, so if you run into problems getting the software to work, they’ll be able to troubleshoot a few effective solutions.
You used to be able to buy Duet Display as a standalone app with a one-time purchase, but it appears the team have wholly moved over to the subscription model, which is a shame if not a surprise. The cheapest tier, and probably the one suited to most users, is Duet Studio, which starts at$6 per month, billed annually. If you want remote desktop features, you can upgrade to the Pro version, which starts at $7 per month.
EasyCanvas is designed for broad compatibility, and works with PCs as well as MacBooks. (Image credit: EasyCanvas)
EasyCanvas2025 is an easy-to-use, one-size-fits-all program that will allow pretty much any iPad to mirror or expand the desktop of most PCs. The app is available to download for both PC and iPad, and you only get a 3-day free trial – however, you can pay $12.99 up front rather than signing up for a subscription, which is very welcome is these wallet-punishing times.
EasyCanvas is pretty much just plug and play, so it’s easy for anyone to use. Latency is noticeable but minimal, and the desktop display is rendered vividly. On Windows, you can also connect wirelessly, which is handy. The app supports pressure sensitivity with Apple Pencil styluses, though it may or may not work with your chosen drawing app. If you’re using Photoshop, the manufacturers recommend diving into the settings and changing the pen input from WinTab to tablet PC as a way to get pressure sensitivity working, and also to make sure you’re using a brush that supports pressure sensitivity.
It’s not quite as slick as Duet Display or Astropad, and lacks the dedicated support team on hand, but EasyCanvas is cheaper, doesn't require a subscription, and does work really well.
Use an iPad as a drawing tablet with a PC: frequent questions
How do I use my iPad as a drawing pad for my computer?
The simple answer is you need the right app. We've listed some of our favourite apps above, but here's a list of five more mirroring apps to keep in mind.
1. Air Display 3 2. Apple SideCar 3. Astropad Studio 3. Procreate 4. Luna Display
Can I use iPad as a graphics tablet?
Of course. One of the best uses of iPad and iPad Pro is for drawing and digital painting, whether that's for graphic design or digital art. The Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil 2 are great for iPad art. Read our Procreate review to see what you can do with an iPad and connect your stylus to an iPad with our guide.
Is iPad good for professional art?
Yes, iPad has some of the best apps for digital art and even animation and video editing, Many professional artists and graphic designers will use an iPad to start a project and then move onto PC or Mac, some will do all of their work on iPad and continuously swap between desktop and iPad.
Can iPad replace a Wacom?
iPad is great for on the move digital art but even the iPad Pro is smaller than a Wacom Studio Pro and the standard iPad is less powerful. Wacom is the leading brand for digital art tablets for a reason, these are tailored to what artists need, from high-spec displays and stylus to Quick Keys and accessible features. Most artists will have an iPad and a Wacom (or Huion or Xencelabs) tablet and swap between the two – working on a desktop with a drawing tablet means you can work on a large monitor.
Jon is a freelance writer and journalist who covers photography, art, technology, and the intersection of all three. When he's not scouting out news on the latest gadgets, he likes to play around with film cameras that were manufactured before he was born. To that end, he never goes anywhere without his Olympus XA2, loaded with a fresh roll of Kodak (Gold 200 is the best, since you asked). Jon is a regular contributor to Creative Bloq, and has also written for in Digital Camera World, Black + White Photography Magazine, Photomonitor, Outdoor Photography, Shortlist and probably a few others he's forgetting.
