ScreenCommand FAQ

Everything people ask before putting their iPad on the big screen — supported iPads, cables and AirPlay, what DRM streaming does and doesn't allow, YouTube controls, tabs, cursors, privacy, and refunds. Every answer is expanded on this page and linkable, so you can jump straight to the one you need.

Monitors, cables, and AirPlay

Do I need an external monitor to use ScreenCommand?

Yes — ScreenCommand is built for iPad + external display setups. Connect any monitor or TV over HDMI or USB-C and it turns that big screen into a desktop browsing experience, with your iPad as the controller.

What cables or adapters do I need?

A USB-C to HDMI (or DisplayPort) cable or adapter — or a direct USB-C cable if your monitor supports it. Any HDMI monitor or TV works. Prefer no cables? You can also AirPlay to an Apple TV (wired stays the most responsive).

Does this work wirelessly or only with cables?

Both. A wired connection (USB-C, or a USB-C-to-HDMI/DisplayPort adapter) gives the lowest latency, so the cursor feels instant — that’s what we recommend. You can also go fully wireless with AirPlay to an Apple TV; it’s more convenient but adds a little cursor lag. Tip: hold your iPad in landscape for the roomiest trackpad.

Does it work with big monitors, TVs, and ultrawides?

Yes — desk monitors, living-room TVs, and ultrawide displays. ScreenCommand automatically adapts to your display’s native resolution.

Should I hold my iPad a certain way?

Landscape (horizontal) works best. It gives you the largest trackpad area and matches the widescreen layout on the big screen, so pointing and scrolling feel natural. It works in portrait too, but landscape is the recommended way to use ScreenCommand.

Do I need a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad?

No. Your iPad’s screen becomes the trackpad: glide your finger on the iPad and the cursor moves on the monitor. There is nothing extra to buy or pair.

Which iPads work

One nuance worth knowing up front: iPadOS 26 brings Mac-like windowing to all compatible iPads, but Stage Manager's extended external display remains M-series-only. ScreenCommand takes the other path — it works even on a non-M iPad, on any USB-C iPad running iPadOS 17 or later.

What iPads work with ScreenCommand?

Any iPad with a USB-C port running iPadOS 17 or later — iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad. No M-series chip and no Stage Manager required.

Does ScreenCommand work on iPhone?

No — ScreenCommand is iPad-only. The trackpad experience is designed around the iPad’s larger screen, so there is no iPhone version. Any USB-C iPad on iPadOS 17 or later works, with no M-series chip required.

Doesn’t iPadOS already do this with Stage Manager?

Only on M-series iPads (iPad Air M1 and later, iPad Pro 2021 and later) — still true on iPadOS 26, which brings Mac-like windowing to all compatible iPads but keeps extended external display M-series-only. Every other iPad — including the current iPad and iPad mini — can only mirror its own screen to a monitor, black bars and all. ScreenCommand gives exactly those iPads real desktop-class browsing on the big screen, with no extra hardware to pair.

YouTube, video, and DRM streaming

How well does YouTube work?

YouTube is where ScreenCommand shines: play, pause, and seek from your iPad, pick video quality up to 4K, use the one-tap skip for skippable video ads, and let Cinema Mode dim the iPad screen during fullscreen video.

Can I watch Netflix, Disney+, or other streaming services?

Streaming services that use DRM (copy protection) — Netflix, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video and similar — won’t play through ScreenCommand. That’s an iPadOS restriction: protected video is blocked in third-party browser views on external displays, where it would otherwise just render as a black rectangle. ScreenCommand detects this and shows a clear protected-content notice instead. To watch those services on your TV, use the TV’s built-in app, an Apple TV, or AirPlay from the service’s own app. Everything without DRM — YouTube, Vimeo, and most embedded web video — plays in full.

Tabs, cursors, and everyday browsing

Can I open multiple tabs?

Yes — ScreenCommand is a real tabbed browser. Open up to 12 tabs with favicons and switch between them on the big screen. Tabs and logins are saved automatically, so next session picks up where you left off.

Can I save and organize my favorite sites?

Yes. Tap the star next to the address bar to save the page you’re on, and group your favorites into folders to keep them tidy. Open the Favorites list any time and tap one to launch it in a new window on the big screen. Favorites are stored on-device, so they’re there every session.

What makes the custom cursors special?

There are 8 styles: Default, Gaming Pro (precision crosshair), Cyberpunk Neon, Elegant Glass, Liquid Crystal, Luxury Gold, Aurora Borealis, and Minimal Dark — with adjustable size and speed, designed for visibility on big screens.

Can I use this for work and productivity apps?

ScreenCommand is a full-featured desktop-class browser, so anything that runs on the web works: Gmail, Google Docs, Notion, Slack, YouTube Studio, and more — and you stay signed in between sessions.

Pricing, privacy, and refunds

Verified July 2026 · competitor pricing

Is this a one-time purchase or a subscription?

One-time purchase of $4.99. Own it forever — no subscriptions, no hidden fees, no recurring charges.

Is my browsing data private?

100% private. ScreenCommand has zero tracking, analytics, or data collection. Everything happens locally on your device — we never see what you browse.

Can I get a refund if it doesn’t work for me?

Purchases go through Apple, so the App Store’s standard refund process applies — you can request a refund from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.

How is ScreenCommand different from other external-display browsers like shiftscreen 4X?

ScreenCommand is $4.99 one-time (as of July 2026: shiftscreen 4X is $7.99 one-time; External Display Browser runs $3.99/week or $19.99 lifetime). ScreenCommand focuses on 8 customizable cursor styles, YouTube controls — seek, quality up to 4K — a one-tap skip for skippable video ads, Cinema Mode, and zero data collection. Trade-offs: one browser view at a time, iPad-only.

The honest fine print

Three limits worth knowing before you buy — we'd rather you read them here than discover them after:

One browser view at a time

ScreenCommand shows a single browser view on the monitor. You can keep up to 12 tabs open and switch between them, but you can't tile windows side by side.

iPad-only

There's no iPhone or Mac version — the trackpad experience is built around the iPad's larger screen.

No DRM streaming

Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Prime Video won't play — iPadOS blocks protected video on browser-rendered external displays, so ScreenCommand shows a clear protected-content notice instead of a black screen. The DRM answer above has the full story; YouTube, Vimeo, and other non-DRM video play in full.

Question not covered here? The support page walks through connection troubleshooting step by step, or email support@screencommand.app.

Ready to browse on the big screen?

$4.99 one-time, no subscription. Works even on a non-M iPad — any USB-C iPad on iPadOS 17 or later.

Coming soon to the App Store

Zero data collection · No account required