Download the right Luna app for you
Luna Display supports multiple platforms. We will guide you through downloading the right apps for your devices.
1
Primary device
2
Secondary device
Step 1
Get the Luna primary app
Download the desktop app for your primary computer. Luna is plugged into your primary computer.
Windows
Mac
Step 2
Get the Luna secondary app
This is the device you would like to use as a second screen.
iPad
Mac
(Image credit: Astropad)
What you need to know
- Luna Display is being released with support for Windows 10.
- Luna Display lets you use an iPad as a secondary display to your PC through a wireless or wired connection.
- Luna Display is available for preorder on Kickstarter and should start shipping within six months.
Luna Display is a popular app that allows you to use your iPad as a second display for your computer. Previously, Luna Display was only available for Macs, but now it is on its way to Windows. Astropad, the makers of Luna Display, launched a Kickstarter today for the Windows version of the app. The lowest pledge that gets you access to Luna Display is currently $49.
Luna Display utilizes a small dongle that you place inside your PC. That dongle allows your computer to connect to your iPad wirelessly through Wi-Fi, though you can use it with a wired connection if you prefer.
Once connected, Luna Display acts like any other secondary monitor. You can drag apps back and forth between your two displays, interact with touch on your iPad, and even use the Apple Pencil to draw on your Windows apps.
Luna Display earned solid marks when our friends at iMore reviewed it a couple of years ago. The PC version should deliver similar results.
Generally speaking, you need to take caution when committing to a Kickstarter project. You should feel more comfortable with Luna Display, however, as it’s been around for years on Mac.
Extend your screen
Luna Display
The popular app makes its way to Windows
Luna Display is a popular app that wirelessly extends a computer’s display to an iPad. Now, it’s coming to Windows as well.
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 930, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
Luna Display is a small wireless device that lets you use your iPad as an external display with Windows computers.
This is the same company that made AstroPad and AstroPad Studio, apps that let you use your iPad as external displays to Macs. In 2019, Apple released Sidecar which is this iPad-as-external-display feature and it crushed the sales for AstroPad.
This was launched in 2017 and updated to work with Windows in 2021. Astropad the company innovated to stay alive. It’s great move because Apple clearly won’t be bothered with making their devices work with Windows.
Hey, Astropad, if you’re reading this, consider making one that works with Android tablets as well.
Price of Luna Display is US $129.
It’s available with either USB-C, MiniDisplay Port or HDMI connector.
This does not work with adapters. So you can’t get the USB-C version, then get a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
Here are the system requirements as a glance (full list here):
- Windows 10
- MacOS 10.11 or newer
- Selected iPad models running iPadOS 12.1 or newer
I tested it with Windows 10 and it works great.
I did not test this with Windows 11 so I can’t say how well this well this will work. But even if it doesn’t work, it’s probably just one driver update away. Wait for the company to update their system requirements page.
Setup process involves installing the Luna Display app on the iPad and Windows computer, and opening the apps. The wireless connection is through your wifi network.
There’s limited settings available for Luna Display. You can change the location of where you want the iPad to be, or you can use Windows Settings to do that.
You can also choose the resolution, either Retina or Non-retina.
On my 12.9 inch iPad Pro, Retina resolution is 2732 x 2048 and non-Retina resolution is 1366 x 1024. The actual resolution will differ depending on your iPad.
With non-Retina resolution, there will be slight pixelation. The advantage here is better response time and latency.
With Retina resolution, all the visuals are sharper with no noticeable pixelation. Response time or latency are not as good. However, response time and latency will also depend on your wifi network. If you have good wifi, then response time and latency will be better.
When there’s anything new or moving on the display, visual artifact will appear before the visuals sharpen again. Apple’s Sidecar doesn’t have this so this is one area Astropad can improve. It’s just a minor thing.
Finger gestures may be supported depending on the app you use. Apple Pencil will still work with pressure and tilt. However, due to the latency, the drawing experience is not going to be as good compared to drawing on the iPad without Luna Display, e.g. drawing with apps on iOS.
I don’t recommend getting Luna Display so that you can use Windows drawing apps on the iPad. User experience is not ideal. It’s best to just use your iPad as an external display.
Mac to Mac
You can also use Luna Display to turn your Mac into an external display for another Mac. E.g. Use your iMac as an external display. This could be useful if you have an old iMac lying around.
Conclusion
Luna display is a useful product for Windows users with iPads. To be able to use your iPad as an external display can greatly improve productivity. And just for that, it’s easily worth the money. I’m very satisfied with my purchase.
There’s room for improvement of course, more specifically to improve the latency and remove the visual artifact. It should be possible since Apple is able to do with with MacOS’ Sidecar.
Oh, Astropad, if you’re reading this, consider making one that works with Android tablets as well. Currently, there are no good software solutions to using your Android tablets as external displays. There’s the SuperDisplay app but the latency is no good. Maybe a hardware solution could be better?
Update Oct 2022
Luna Display USB-C adapter does not work with Surface Pro and Surface Studio devices, Huawei MateBook D 16.
The system requirements for Windows computer are as follows:
- OS: Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit, Build 1809 or later
- Processor: Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 520, AMD Radeon RX Vega 3, NVIDIA GeForce 820M or later; or equivalent DirectX 11 compatible GPU.
- Hard drive space: 1 GB
- WiFi/Network: 802.11n or wired ethernet
I had initially thought it was an issue with Intel Iris Xe but there are laptops with Intel Iris Xe Graphics that work with Luna Display, e.g. ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3402).
Astropad today announced the launch of new software for the Luna Display, with the 5.0 update introducing support for Windows PCs.
The Luna Display is a little dongle that’s designed to allow an iPad or a Mac to be used as a secondary display for a main Mac machine. It’s similar to Sidecar, but works with both Macs and iPads.
Luna Display users who own a USB-C version of the dongle can upgrade to the new software to use the device interchangeably between Macs and PCs. That means Mac users who have a Luna Display can also now use it with PCs, connecting a secondary iPad to a PC to serve as an extra display.
The Luna Display apps have been rearchitected to support both PCs and Macs, and the update also introduces a faster setup flow for M1 Macs. The Luna Display can be purchased from the Astropad website.
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Sometimes you just need more screen space. You can always buy a portable monitor, but what if you could just use the systems already in your home—whether they run Windows or macOS?
Luna Display is a product by Astropad that lets you turn an iPad into a wireless second display. The $130 offering uses a dongle and works with Windows PCs and Macs. Its «headless» mode turns the iPad into the main display for a Mac Mini or Mac Pro.
Luna Display’s 5.1 update, announced this week, adds even more possibilities. The dongle can now be used with any Apple machine—not just an iPad—to provide a second display for your Windows PC or Mac.
An iMac used as wireless display for a MacBook.
An iMac used as wireless display for a MacBook.
Credit:
Astropad
You’re not limited to Apple’s desktops or laptops, either; Luna Display now supports adding a 4K or 5K screen to your PC as a second display. That means you could attach the 24-inch iMac with a 4.5K (4480×2520) resolution or a 27-inch iMac with a 5K (5120×2880) resolution to your Windows or Mac PC.
There are some caveats, though. If you plan to connect a 4K or 5K Mac, the machine has to be running at least macOS Big Sur. Any 5K screen connected to your Windows PC will be limited to a 30 Hz refresh rate, which is half the refreshes per second than what’s typical (60 Hz). If you’re using a Mac with Big Sur or later, the refresh rate is increased to 45 Hz. And if you’re «only» connecting a 4K screen, your refresh rate will be 60 Hz, whether the display is connected to a Windows or Apple system.