ScreenCommand FAQ
Everything people ask before putting their iPad or iPhone on the big screen: supported devices, cables and AirPlay, Netflix and other streaming, 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 an iPad or iPhone plus an external display. Connect any monitor or TV over HDMI or USB-C and it turns that big screen into a desktop browsing experience, with your iPad or iPhone 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, and 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: on an iPad, landscape gives you the roomiest trackpad.
Does it work with big monitors, TVs, projectors, and ultrawides?
Yes: desk monitors, living-room TVs, projectors, and ultrawide displays. ScreenCommand automatically adapts to your display’s native resolution.
Should I hold my iPad or iPhone a certain way?
On an iPad, 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. Portrait works too. On an iPhone, both are fine: portrait stacks the controls above the trackpad, and landscape puts them beside it.
Do I need a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad?
No. Your iPad or iPhone screen becomes the trackpad: glide your finger on it and the cursor moves on the monitor. There is nothing extra to buy or pair. If you already have them, a Bluetooth or USB mouse or trackpad works on iPad, and a hardware keyboard works on iPad and iPhone.
Which iPads and iPhones work
One nuance worth knowing up front: iPadOS 26 brought Mac-like windowing to all compatible iPads, and on iPadOS 27 Stage Manager's extended external display is still 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, and on iPhone too.
Which iPads and iPhones 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, so it works on iPads that only mirror, like the iPad (A16), iPad (10th generation), iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad Air (4th generation), and the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro. On iPhone, any model on iOS 17 or later works over AirPlay to an Apple TV. A cable needs an iPhone with USB-C video out: iPhone 15 or later, except iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air.
Does ScreenCommand work on iPhone?
Yes, since version 1.2. Plug an iPhone into a monitor or TV, or AirPlay it to an Apple TV, and the iPhone becomes the trackpad and keyboard, with every control laid out for the smaller screen in portrait or landscape. A cable needs an iPhone with USB-C video out (iPhone 15 or later, except iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air). One purchase covers your iPhone and your iPad.
Can I run my iPad or iPhone apps on the TV?
No. ScreenCommand puts a web browser on the TV, so it shows websites, not apps: the Netflix and YouTube apps, games and other apps from your iPad or iPhone can't run on the TV through it. Open the service's website in ScreenCommand instead. Over a USB-C cable, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+ and Peacock play there too.
Doesn’t iPadOS already do this with Stage Manager?
Only on M-series iPads (iPad Air M1 and later, iPad Pro 2021 and later), and that is still true on iPadOS 27: iPadOS 26 brought Mac-like windowing to all compatible iPads, but extended external display stays M-series-only. Every other iPad, including the current iPad (A16) and iPad mini (A17 Pro), 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 streaming
How well does YouTube work?
YouTube is where ScreenCommand shines: play, pause, and seek from your iPad or iPhone, pick video quality up to 4K, use the one-tap skip for skippable video ads, and let Cinema Mode dim your screen during fullscreen video.
Can I watch Netflix, Prime Video, or other streaming services?
Yes, over a USB-C cable. Connect your iPad or iPhone to the TV with a cable and Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+, Peacock and other streaming services play on the big screen in ScreenCommand. Over AirPlay, protected video can't be sent to the TV, so use a cable for these. YouTube, Vimeo, and most embedded web video play over a cable or AirPlay.
Tabs, cursors, and everyday browsing
Can I open multiple tabs and windows?
Yes. ScreenCommand is a real tabbed browser. Open up to 4 windows, each with up to 12 tabs, and switch between them on the big screen: click a window number at the end of the tab bar, or swipe three fingers left or right on the trackpad. To see two at once, put them side by side with the button next to the window numbers. Windows, 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 open it in a new tab 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.
Does ScreenCommand block ads and pop-ups?
Yes, since version 2.0. A built-in blocker based on the EasyList filter list stops ads and pop-ups on websites. It's on by default: tap the shield in the address bar to switch it off for one site, or turn it off in Settings. Streaming services and YouTube aren't blocked, because their players need their ads; on YouTube, the one-tap Skip button helps instead.
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. You also stay signed in between sessions.
Pricing, privacy, and refunds
Verified September 2026 · competitor pricingIs 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 September 2026: shiftscreen 4X is $7.99 one-time; External Display Browser runs $4.99/week, $14.99/year or $29.99 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-off: one browser view at a time.
The honest fine print
Two limits worth knowing before you buy. We'd rather you read them here than discover them after:
Two windows on screen at most
ScreenCommand shows one browser window on the monitor, or two side by side. You can keep up to 4 windows with 12 tabs each and switch between them, but not tile more than two.
iPad and iPhone only
There's no Mac version. On iPhone, a cable needs a model with USB-C video out; the other models connect over AirPlay.
Question not covered here? The support page walks through connection troubleshooting step by step, or email support@screencommand.app.