OpenDisplay
OpenDisplay is a Mac companion app that lets you use an iPhone or iPad as a true extended display over USB or Wi‑Fi.
What is OpenDisplay?
OpenDisplay is a native Mac display utility that turns an iPhone or iPad into an extra screen for your Mac. It is designed for people who want more workspace without carrying a separate monitor, whether for chat, notes, coding tools, reference material, or other secondary windows. OpenDisplay creates a real extended display rather than simple screen mirroring, so you can arrange it in macOS display settings and move windows onto it like another monitor. It supports wired and wireless connections, works with portrait or landscape orientation, and sends touch input back from the mobile device for basic interaction. OpenDisplay is published by Philip Poloczek and is available as a free, open-source alternative to other Mac second-display tools.
Key features
- Use an iPhone or iPad as a true extended display for your Mac
- Connect over USB or Wi‑Fi depending on your setup
- Drag windows onto the extra screen through normal macOS display arrangement
- View content with Retina-sharp rendering on supported devices
- Use touch gestures such as tap, drag, and two-finger scroll from the mobile device
- Run the extra display in portrait or landscape orientation
- Work across devices without requiring the same Apple account
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
OpenDisplay is legitimate software for adding a second display to a Mac by streaming a virtual screen to an iPhone or iPad. For this kind of feature, the Mac app may need screen-related permissions so it can capture and transmit the extra display, and that access is expected for its purpose. Because it handles live screen content, use it only on devices and networks you trust, especially when showing sensitive work. Removing the app stops this second-display feature but does not affect macOS itself.
Recommendation: Keep OpenDisplay if you actively use an iPhone or iPad as an extra Mac screen. If you no longer use that setup, you can remove it without harming your Mac, and the only effect will be losing OpenDisplay’s companion display function until you reinstall it.
Common paths
/Applications/OpenDisplay.app
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