Guide
Use your iPhone as a laser pointer for your Mac
A laser dot is hard to see on a projector and invisible on a video call. Pointing from your iPhone with PadCanvas shows up on the Mac’s screen itself, so the room and the call both see it.
Quick answer
Install PadCanvas on your Mac and iPhone, connect them, and use Spotlight to dim everything except the part you’re talking about, or the pen and arrows to point. Turn on fading ink so pointing marks disappear after a few seconds, like a laser. For Google Slides in Chrome, Previous and Next on your iPhone change slides too.
Spotlight: the closest thing to a laser
Spotlight dims the screen except a circle you move with your finger. Drag to move it, pinch to resize it. Because it’s drawn on the Mac’s display, it’s as clear on a video call as it is in the room.
Pointing marks that clear themselves
Turn on fading ink in Settings and every line, circle and arrow disappears a few seconds after you draw it, so you can point again and again without clearing.
Changing slides from your iPhone
For Google Slides presented from Chrome, PadCanvas shows Previous and Next on your iPhone (the Mac asks for Accessibility permission once). For Keynote or PowerPoint, PadCanvas draws over the slideshow but doesn’t change slides: use a clicker, the keyboard or Apple’s Keynote Remote. See Keynote and PowerPoint and the Google Slides guide.
Tips for the room
- Connect over a USB cable for the steadiest link, or Wi‑Fi to walk around. School and office Wi‑Fi can block devices; a phone hotspot fixes that.
- Keep PadCanvas open on your iPhone while you present.
- Make a test mark before you start.
More for speakers: PadCanvas for presenters.
Questions
Can I use my iPhone as a laser pointer on a Mac?
Yes, with a companion app. PadCanvas turns your iPhone into a spotlight and pen for your Mac’s screen, so everyone sees exactly where you’re pointing, in the room or on a call.
Does it work on a video call?
Yes. The spotlight and marks are drawn on the Mac’s display, so they appear when you share the whole display in Zoom, Google Meet or Teams.
Can my iPhone change slides?
For Google Slides in Chrome, yes. For Keynote and PowerPoint, use a clicker, the keyboard or Keynote Remote while PadCanvas does the pointing.
Do I need an iPad?
No. PadCanvas works with an iPhone, an iPad, or a browser on a computer or Android device.
Try it on your own screen
Seven days free, then £4.99 a year. PadCanvas for iPhone and iPad is included (UK App Store).
Requires an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later) with macOS 14 or later, and an iPhone or iPad with iOS or iPadOS 16 or later. Apple Pencil works on compatible iPads.