PadCanvas
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Setup guide

A screen.
A device.
Your next idea.

Start on your Mac, then choose how you want to draw.

Start with your Mac

You need PadCanvas on an Apple-silicon Mac with macOS 14 or later. The native companion runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS/iPadOS 16 or later. Apple Pencil requires a compatible iPad.

  1. Open PadCanvas and check access in Account.
  2. Select the display you want to annotate.
  3. Open Connections, then use one of the methods below.
  4. Approve the named device on your Mac. Check its active channel before drawing.

Already testing PadCanvas? Use your installed test apps. The signed Mac release preview is available. The iPhone and iPad App Store release is still being prepared. See availability.

Connect over Wi-Fi

  1. Connect your Mac and companion to the same trusted local network.
  2. Copy the fresh connection link shown by your Mac into the companion’s Connections panel.
  3. Select Wi-Fi only, then connect. Allow Local Network access if prompted.
  4. Approve the request on your Mac. Look for Wi-Fi as the active channel.

Keep the companion open while drawing. If you restart the Mac app, you may need to copy its new link. Networks that isolate devices will prevent this connection.

Connect with a USB cable

  1. Connect the iPhone or iPad to your Mac, unlock it and trust the Mac if prompted.
  2. Open Connections in the companion and find its USB pairing code.
  3. Enter that code in Pair device on the Mac.
  4. Approve the device and check that the active channel says USB.

Automatic can fall back from USB to Wi-Fi. Choose USB only if you want to use the cable exclusively.

Connect over Bluetooth

  1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices, then enable Bluetooth connections in PadCanvas.
  2. Select the Mac from the companion.
  3. Compare the displayed codes and confirm they match.
  4. Approve the named device on the Mac.

Bluetooth is for drawing and controls. Use USB or Wi-Fi for screen preview and image transfer. Bluetooth does not mirror the Mac screen.

Join from a browser

On the Mac, expand the browser connection section and open or share its fresh invitation. On the drawing device, open the link in a supported Chrome or Edge browser on the same local network, enter your display name and request access. The Mac owner decides whether to approve you.

Allow local-network access if the browser asks. Browser drawing can run alongside the native companion. Browser compatibility varies; the native app is the supported phone and tablet route.

Why not just localhost?

Localhost means “this device”. On your Mac, localhost reaches your Mac. On your iPhone, it reaches the iPhone itself, not the Mac.

The Mac’s built-in canvas can use localhost. Another device needs the Mac’s local-network address. For secure browser drawing, the interface first loads from our HTTPS website so browser encryption is available; it then sends encrypted drawing and preview data directly to that local address.

There is no PadCanvas internet relay in this release. Opening a link from another network does not make your Mac reachable. Never post pairing links or codes publicly.

Ready to present

Turn on live preview over USB or Wi-Fi if you want to see your Mac screen on the controller. Allow Screen Recording for PadCanvas on the Mac when prompted.

For a meeting, share the whole display rather than only a tab or window. Draw a short test line and check it with another participant. You can hide the overlay without changing the content underneath.

Something not working? Get help →