How to Turn an Old iPad Into the Perfect Second Monitor

Every few years, old gadgets quietly drift to the back of drawers and boxes. They are too slow for modern apps, lack software support, and feel basically useless. That is exactly what happened to my old iPad. It had been lying around for years — outdated, unsupported, with almost no working apps — and I had completely forgotten about it.

Recently, while cleaning my room, I unexpectedly found that iPad again. At first it felt like nothing more than an obsolete piece of tech. It even still uses the old 30‑pin connector instead of the now‑standard Lightning or USB‑C. Most modern applications do not support it, the browser crashes often, and the device runs very slowly. I was literally one step away from putting it back into a drawer or throwing it away.

But when I finally managed to charge and turn it on, it felt like opening a time capsule. The home screen still had the classic glossy 3D icons from the early iOS days. Inside the Photos app I found old selfies from the time when I thought I looked really cool. There were games from the early 2010s, old wallpapers, and forgotten apps. For a moment, the iPad turned from “useless hardware” into a nostalgic window to the past.

However, nostalgia alone was not enough to justify keeping it. The device was clearly too outdated for regular use: most apps no longer worked, the system was slow, and websites loaded badly. I needed a practical reason to keep it. That is when an idea appeared: what if I could use this iPad as a second monitor for my laptop?

The Idea: Use the iPad as a Second Screen

A second display can be extremely helpful for productivity. You can move chat windows, notes, or reference material onto it while keeping the main screen for focused work. Buying a modern external monitor just for that can be expensive, so repurposing existing hardware makes a lot of sense.

I started searching online for a way to use an iPad as an external display. Eventually I found an app called “FlashTop Wired X Display” (or a similar wired display tool). The idea is simple: you install the app on the iPad, install the companion program on your computer, connect the devices with a cable, and the iPad becomes an additional screen.

Despite the age of my iPad, the App Store still allowed me to download the app. On my laptop (there are versions for both Windows and macOS), I installed the desktop client from the developer’s website. After that, all I needed was a cable: I plugged the old 30‑pin cable into the iPad and the USB end into the laptop.

Setting Everything Up

The setup process turned out to be much easier than I expected:

1. I charged the iPad for a while and turned it on.
2. I connected it to a Wi‑Fi network so I could open the App Store.
3. I searched for and downloaded the FlashTop Wired X Display app.
4. On my laptop, I installed the same app’s desktop software.
5. I connected the iPad to the laptop with a USB cable.
6. I launched the app on both devices.

As soon as the connection was established, my laptop detected the iPad as an additional display. I did not have to tweak any complicated settings — the laptop simply extended its desktop onto the iPad’s screen. I could move windows to the iPad, drag them back, and use it like a normal second monitor.

Of course, the experience is not as fast and smooth as with a modern high‑refresh‑rate monitor. The iPad’s hardware is old, and you can feel a bit of delay, especially with fast animations or video. But for static content — documents, messengers, music players, file managers, notes, or reference pages — it works surprisingly well.

Touchscreen and Remote Control

One of the most interesting details is that the iPad’s touchscreen still works as an input device. That means you can use the iPad not only as a display but also as a kind of remote control. You can tap on icons, scroll, and control the mouse cursor from the tablet. For some use cases — for example, controlling media playback from a couch or quickly interacting with a presentation — this is very convenient.

Some apps in this category also allow mirroring instead of extending the display. In that mode the iPad simply shows a copy of the main screen. It is less flexible than using it as a true second monitor, but it can still be useful in some situations, for example if you need the same view in two different places.

Limitations of Using an Old iPad

It is important to be realistic: an old iPad will not magically turn into a modern professional monitor. There are real limitations:

• The operating system is outdated and cannot be upgraded to the latest version.
• Many modern apps simply do not install or do not work correctly.
• Web browsing is unstable and slow.
• The screen resolution and brightness are behind current standards.
• There may be occasional lag in the connection depending on your cable, USB port, and laptop performance.

Despite all of this, for light, auxiliary tasks the iPad performs adequately. It is not ideal for color‑critical work or fast gaming, but it is excellent for holding chat windows, email, file explorers, music controls, or reference material off your main screen.

Why This Hack Is Worth Trying

The main advantage of this approach is that you give a second life to a device that otherwise would be collecting dust or going to electronic waste. Instead of spending money on a new monitor, you reuse hardware you already own.

This has several benefits:

• Practical: You get extra screen space at almost no cost.
• Emotional: You revisit memories stored on the device and enjoy a wave of nostalgia.
• Environmental: You reduce electronic waste by extending the lifespan of an existing gadget.
• Educational: You learn to combine older and newer technology in useful ways.

If you have an old iPad at home — even a very early model with a 30‑pin connector — it is worth checking whether it can run one of these “iPad as second display” apps. Some viewers have successfully used iPad 3 and iPad 4 devices in exactly this way. As long as the App Store still allows you to install the companion app and your computer can run the desktop client, there is a good chance you can repeat this setup.

Conclusion

A forgotten iPad in a drawer may look like outdated junk, but with a bit of creativity it can become part of a modern workstation. By using a wired display app, I turned an old tablet into a functional second monitor and remote control for my laptop.

From a “dead” device with crashing apps and no updates to a small but genuinely useful screen on my desk, the iPad found a new purpose. Before you throw out your old tech, consider whether it might still have a role in your daily setup — even if it is just as a simple secondary display that quietly makes your work a little more comfortable.