Skip to content
Treadle
← All docs

The iPad can't find my Mac

Updated October 1, 2026

The iPad discovers your Mac automatically over the local network. If it cannot, work through the checks below. See also Pair your iPad.

Check the basics

  1. Make sure the Mac and the iPad are on the same Wi-Fi network. A guest network or a separate band set up as its own network can keep them apart.
  2. Make sure Treadle is running on the Mac. Its icon is in the menu bar. If the menu-bar popover shows the engine is stopped, choose Restart engine.
  3. Make sure the iPad is actually connected to Wi-Fi, not only to cellular.

Enter the address by hand

If automatic discovery still does not work, you can point the iPad at the Mac directly:

  1. On the Mac, open the menu-bar popover. It shows the Mac's address on the local network.
  2. On the iPad, tap Change server and type that address.

A note on Sidecar and Universal Control

Sidecar and Universal Control can interfere with how the iPad and Mac see each other on the network. If discovery behaves oddly, try turning those off while you pair.

Once the iPad finds the Mac, finish pairing. If a paired button still does nothing, see A button does nothing when I press it.