DeskPad

A virtual monitor for screen sharing

Certain workflows require sharing the entire screen (usually due to switching through multiple applications), but if the presenter has a much larger display than the audience it can be hard to see what is happening.

DeskPad creates a virtual display that is mirrored within its application window so that you can create a dedicated, easily shareable workspace.

Installation

You can either download the latest release binary or install via Homebrew by calling brew install --cask deskpad.

Usage

DeskPad behaves like any other display. Launching the app is equivalent to plugging in a monitor, so macOS will take care of properly arranging your windows to their previous configuration.

You can change the display resolution through the system preferences and the application window will adjust accordingly.

Whenever you move your mouse cursor to the virtual display, DeskPad will highlight its title bar in blue and move the application window to the front to let you know where you are.

Troubleshooting

DeskPad may need screen recording permissions to display properly. Follow these steps:

1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording
2. Enable DeskPad by checking the box next to it
3. If DeskPad appears but isn't working:
   • Uncheck the DeskPad option
   • Check it again to re-enable
4. Restart DeskPad for changes to take effect