8 surprising ways to use your iPad or Android tablet

Besides being able to browse the web or download thousands of different apps, tablets have many talents you might not be fully aware of – and most of them are a breeze to use.

Whether you received a tablet for Christmas and want to learn more about it, or you’re looking to get more out of a model you’ve owned for a while, our experts have highlighted some of the best lesser-known features.

Keep scrolling to unlock the full potential of your device – from casting family photos to your TV to transforming your tablet into a second screen that you can control with a mouse.

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1. Use your tablet as a second screen

On iPad

Using Apple's Sidecar tool, you can extend or mirror your Mac desktop, which is good news if you'd like some extra space to work with.

Before you get started, make sure your gadgets meet Apple's Sidecar system requirements – and note that both your Mac and iPad need to be signed in with the same Apple ID.

When Sidebar is activated on an iPad, the home screen will transform to add commonly used Mac controls on the side of the display. The list of options includes Command, Shift and Show/hide onscreen keyboard. With your two devices running off the same wi-fi network, try this:

• On macOS Monterey or later – choose a mirroring option from the Screen Mirroring menu in the menu bar
• On macOS Big Sur – choose a mirroring option from the Display menu in Control Centre or the menu bar
• OS Catalina – choose a mirroring option from the AirPlay menu in the menu bar.

You can drag a window from one screen to another using your Mac trackpad. Alternatively, hover over the green Full Screen button on your Mac browser window, then choose Move to iPad.

We tested the Mac mini to find out how well it works with an iPad and whether you can use it as a laptop - find out what happened in our Mac mini review

On Android

Setting up an Android tablet as a second display is possible, but the steps you need to work through will vary depending on the brand. In some cases, you'll need to use a third-party application to create a connection between your devices.

Samsung tablets have official support for extending the screen on Windows, though. If you meet the system requirements and your devices are connected to the same wi-fi network, try this:

1. On your tablet, swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick settings and tap Second screen
2. Press Windows + K on your PC and select your tablet’s name
3. Your PC’s screen will appear on your tablet. Head to Display settings, select Arrange displays and choose Extend desktop or Duplicate desktop. 

One of the more popular third-party applications for screen extending is called Spacedesk – you'll need to install an app on your PC, download the same app on your tablet and then link the two via wi-fi or a cable. We haven't tested Spacedesk at the time of writing.

2. Scan documents (and digitise old photos)

On iPad

Having documents saved on your iPad makes them easier to keep track of, sign and send to people.

To scan a document using your iPad, open the Camera app, point your camera at the document and select Scan Document. Your tablet will automatically draw a blue line around the document and snap a picture. If the process feels a little slow, make sure you're taking the picture in good lighting. Once you've taken your snap, you can annotate the image, crop it or share it.

You can also use an iPad to scan physical photos, making it a great way to digitise cherished family pictures and keep them safe. This is done using the PhotoScan app (more details below).

On Android

Most Android tablets have tools included that enable you to digitise documents.

On a Pixel tablet, for example, open the Google Camera app and point your camera at the document. Wait for the Scan document button to appear and tap it. Once the scan is complete, you can crop the image or tap Clean to remove stains by selecting affected areas.

If you're using a Samsung tablet, the process is similar: open the Camera app, align the viewfinder with the document and tap Scan. You can then choose to Save or Retake. Saved documents are stored in the Gallery app.

You can also digitise photos from an Android tablet with Google's PhotoScan app, as explained below:

Digitising photos

'After finding a box of old photos in my family home, I decided to preserve them using my Pixel smartphone and Google’s PhotoScan app (free, iOS and Android).

'With a bit of practice, digitising a picture takes about 20 seconds. You place the printed photo in front of you, point your phone or tablet camera at it and markers appear on-screen. Your mission is to line up those markers with the circle on your display. PhotoScan’s anti-glare and cropping tools will then get to work and improve the overall quality of your scan.

'If you have Google Photos installed, it imports scans automatically. I created a private album and shared the link with my family. They can view pictures, mark their favourites and add comments.'

Tom Morgan, senior digital content producer

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3. Copy and paste to your other devices

On iPad

There are benefits to being deep in Apple’s ecosystem, and one of them is how well the different devices work together.

Using Apple's Universal Clipboard feature, you can copy text and images on one Apple device and paste them right onto another. In other words, you won't need to email text to yourself on your iPad and open that message on your Mac.

To set up Universal Clipboard, just run through these three steps:

1. Make sure both your devices are signed in with the same Apple ID
2. Enable Bluetooth and wi-fi on both devices
3. Activate Handoff on iPad: Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity (or AirPlay & Handoff), then turn on Handoff
4. Activate Handoff on Mac: System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff > Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.

Now, when you copy content on your iPad, it will automatically be added to the clipboard of your other device nearby, where you can select Paste as you normally would.

On Android

If you're looking for a fast way to send information between your Android tablet and a nearby computer, try Google's Quick Share tool (formerly known as Nearby Share).

To share content, simply open a photo or web page on your Android tablet, tab Share and then select Quick Share. Select the device you want to share with and wait for the other device to accept your sharing request. During the transfer, you can leave the screen and the transfer will continue.

If you're struggling with a sluggish tablet, it might be time for an upgrade. Our guide to the best tablets reveals our top picks

4. Run multiple apps at the same time

On iPad

Apple's iPad is designed to help you juggle tasks on the move, and the multitasking feature enables you to make the most of a big screen. There's a chance you've already tried it for yourself, but we've included this feature just in case, as it's incredibly helpful.

There are three forms of multitasking on iPad:

• Split view – two apps appear side by side. You can use the on-screen slider to decide how much space each app takes up
• Slide over – a single app is displayed in a small, floating window that you can drag around the screen
• Centre window – some apps will allow you to open a centre window so you can focus in on a specific item, such as an email or note.

To try the multitasking feature for yourself, open an app and then choose the Multitasking button (three dots) at the top of the screen. Then, pick between the Split View button or the Slide over button. Tap a second app on your home screen and another tab will appear.

On Android

To enter split-screen mode from your tablet's home screen, tap and hold an app icon and then choose Split. Tap a second app that you want to open. When you want to change the size of each app, drag the middle of the divider left or right – or you can double-tap the middle of the divider to swap their positions.

We also recommend trying app pair if you want quick access to a saved view. With two apps open, swipe up and hold to open Overview. Below the two apps, tap Save app pair. Now, you can view and launch your app pair on the home screen.

On a Samsung tablet, select Recents in the Navigation bar, tap an app icon and choose Open in split screen view. Tap a second app and they'll appear next to one another.

5. Explore accessibility tools: spoken content, magnifier and more

On iPad

Apple has a selection of accessibility tools tucked inside its iPads, one of which is called VoiceOver.

With VoiceOver enabled, you'll have a screen reader that's capable of describing people, objects, text and graphs on your display. It can also tell you what your battery level is. The VoiceOver tool is available in more than 60 languages and you can manually tweak the speaking rate and pitch to suit your needs.

To set up VoiceOver on an iPad, activate Siri and say 'Turn on VoiceOver.' Alternatively, head to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver.

Other features include:

• VoiceOver + braille – enter braille directly on the touchscreen using Braille Screen Input
• Spoken Content – have all on-screen text read aloud, or manually select a specific range of text
• Magnifier – use the camera on your iPad as a digital magnifying glass
• Adjust text size – make simple font adjustments or use the Bold Text option to give words more weight.

Apple's iPad accessibility site has more details on how to use these.

On Android

As with the iPad, Android offers various accessibility features designed to enhance the user experience. TalkBack, for example, describes your actions and tells you about alerts and notifications.

Other Android accessibility features include magnification, contrast and colour options, select to speak and Voice Access, which lets you control your tablet using spoken commands.

6. Use a keyboard and mouse with your tablet

On iPad

The Universal Control feature lets you use a keyboard and mouse connected to your Mac to work seamlessly across both devices when they’re nearby.

Check on the Apple website to make sure your devices meet the system requirements. Both devices must be within 10 metres of each other and signed in to the same Apple account, plus they need to have wi-fi, Bluetooth and Handoff enabled. Then, try this:

1. On your Mac, click the Control Center menu in the menu bar
2. Choose Display, then select your other device below Link keyboard and mouse to
3. Use your mouse or trackpad to move the pointer past the edge of the Mac screen until it appears on your other device.

On Android

Android users can connect a wireless mouse and keyboard to their tablet through Bluetooth settings. First, you'll need to put the peripheral in pairing mode – see the manufacturer's instructions on how to do that.

Once your keyboard or mouse is in pairing mode, open the Settings app on your tablet and choose Connected devices > Pair new device. Next to Available devices, tap the keyboard or mouse you want to set up.

7. Cast content from your tablet to your TV

On iPad

You can easily stream videos and photos from your iPad to a larger screen using Apple AirPlay – provided you have an Apple TV or an AirPlay-enabled smart TV. Plus, both your tablet and TV need to be running off the same wi-fi network.

• To cast videos on your iPad to a TV – while playing video in the Apple TV app or another supported tap, tap the AirPlay button, circled below. Choose your TV and, if a passcode appears on the TV screen, enter the code on your iPad.
• To cast pictures on your iPad to a TV – open the Photos app, tap a picture and select the Share icon. Choose the AirPlay button and select your TV. If a passcode appears on the TV screen, enter the code on your iPad.

On Android

If you have a Google Chromecast plugged into your TV, you can send videos, photos, music and browser tabs from your tablet over to the big screen. Some smart TVs support Google's Cast feature even if there's no streaming stick plugged into one of the HDMI ports.

To share content from a compatible app on your tablet to a TV, simply look for the Cast button. This can look different depending on the app you're using – on Spotify, for example, it looks like a speaker and monitor, circled below.

If you want to share snaps from Google Photos, you can tap a photo and then select Cast > [TV name].

8. Use your tablet to track down a lost phone

On iPad

The devices we use daily hold so much of our lives, and if one of them gets stolen or lost, it will have a big impact on your life – unless you know what to do.

If you're trying to track down an iPhone, you can use the Find My app from your iPad. If you haven't already set up a Find My Phone service on your iPhone, you should to do this right now. Once it's done, you can virtually control your phone and stop your data from falling into the wrong hands.

To locate an iPhone from an iPad, try this:

1. Visit iCloud.com/find from a web browser or open the Find My app.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID and enable Lost Mode to lock your iPhone and display a custom message. Alternatively, choose Erase iPhone to delete all data.

On Android

If you have an Android smartphone, we recommend setting up Find My Device right away if you haven't already done so. This way, if it goes missing, you can pinpoint its whereabouts.

Go to Settings > Security or Security & location or Google > Security. Alternatively, try typing 'Find my' in the Settings search bar. Select Find My Device and turn it on, then go to Settings > Location and turn it on.

To locate an Android smartphone from an Android tablet, try this:

1. Visit android.com/find from a web browser or open the Find My Device app.
2. Sign in with your Google account and choose between Secure device (locks the phone and displays a custom message) or Factory reset device to delete all data.

Samsung users can visit the SmartThings Find website and sign in with a Samsung account. Choose between Lock (you can create a Pin for when you find the device) or Erase data.

For more details, see our guide: What to do if your phone gets stolen

Even more tablet tricks

• Play console games on your tablet – with the free PS Remote Play app (iOS, Android), you can play on your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4 remotely. You can use an on-screen controller or connect a DualShock controller to your tablet.
• Use your tablet to control your smart lights – downloading partner apps for your wi-fi bulbs means you can control them from your iPad or Android tablet. The Philips Hue app (iOS, Android), for example, is compatible across both systems.
• Try Focus mode – both iOS and Android support Focus mode, which silences distracting apps so you can stay productive. On iPad, try Settings > Focus. On Android, manually search for Focus in your Settings menu or try Settings > Digital wellbeing and parental controls > Focus mode.

Tablets in the Which? test lab

Whether you're after an iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab or Windows model, our rigorous reviews can help you find the best tablet for your needs.

Rather than just getting a feel for how fast a tablet is, we use benchmarking software to test the processor and put it under strain. This tells us how well the tablet will cope with demanding tasks. We also use colour-spectrum tools to analyse the screen for accuracy, so you're getting the best and most precise picture.

If you're shopping for a tablet, get started by exploring some of our reviews of tablets for less than £350:

• Apple iPad 10th generation (£349) – the 2022 version of the standard iPad with its 10.9-inch 1,640 x 2,360 screen, which is better than HD.
• Lenovo Tab Plus (£199.99) – an Android tablet that has an 11.5-inch 2K display and a built-in kickstand.
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 64GB (£109.99) – an 8.7-inch Android tablet with a resolution of 1,340 x 800, which is less than Full HD.

Best iPad and tablet deals: our tech experts reveal bargains on Apple iPads, Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Amazon tablets and more.

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