How To Connect An iPad To A Projector

Here’s an important piece of advice for anyone looking for a way to connect an iPad to a projector: 

Don’t do that.

Why?

Because if you’re looking for a way to connect an iPad to a projector, what you’re really looking for is a way to show a group of people in the same room what’s on your iPad.

Whatever method you’ve come across so far probably isn’t the best way to do it.

For instance, you might be inclined to manually connect the iPad to the projector via cable.

Nope. Don’t do that.

Why?

There are a number of reasons. Here are three big ones.

1. Cables are restrictive and often require you to remain within a few feet of the projector. Limiting a presenter’s mobility makes it difficult to captivate an audience.
   
   
2. Cable-based projector connections require outdated VGA and HDMI adapters. This is a problem because Apple has shown a tendency to change the connection ports on its devices.
   
   These adapters are not compatible with all iPads in use, and they will likely be incompatible with future iPad models.
   
   
3. Connecting via cables is a huge time waster, especially if other people in the room, such as peers or students, need to share from their devices as well.
   
   Each new connection requires the individual to walk their device to the projector. This process interrupts the flow of any meeting, class or speech.

We know what you’re thinking.

What about connecting an Apple TV to the projector and wirelessly displaying the iPad to the Apple TV?

Nope. Don’t do that, either.

Apple TVs are expensive. A new one will cost about $200. That adds up if you need iPad presentation capabilities in multiple rooms.

Apple TVs only allow one device to wirelessly connect at a time. That’s not ideal for collaboration or comparative analysis purposes.

So what are you supposed to do?

The best way to connect an iPad to a projector

The best, most cost-effective way to connect an iPad to a projector is with an affordable computer application called Reflector.

Reflector is an application that runs on Mac or Windows computers. It allows you to wirelessly display one or more iPads on your computer screen.

How to connect an iPad to Reflector

To display the iPad to your audience, all you need to do is connect your Reflector-enabled computer to the projector with an HDMI cable. Whatever you do on your iPad will display on your computer, and the connected projector will show the iPad to your audience. You will be free to walk around the room and wirelessly present from the iPad in your hand.

Thinking about using Reflector?

Do it.

Reflector is more cost effective than Apple TVs, and it allows you to mirror more than one device at a time. It also gets rid of all of the HDMI and VGA cables and adapters required to connect an iPad to a projector.

You just solved at least three presentation problems with an inexpensive computer application. Exciting, right? 

Last updated 9/23/21