How do I use a USB, Ethernet, or Thunderbolt connection?

If a Wi-Fi connection is not available or does not have the best performance, you can establish a wired connection. The type of wired connection will depend on your devices.

You will still need to plug the Luna Display hardware into your Mac or PC, even if you are using a wired connection.

Table of Contents

Computer-to-iPad Mode
Computer-to-Mac Mode

Computer-to-iPad Mode: USB Connection

With your Luna Display hardware plugged directly into your Mac or Windows PC, connect your iPad-compatible USB cord to both your Mac or PC and your iPad. This allows your Mac or PC and iPad to be connected via USB connection for a more stable, consistent connection quality.

The USB cable needs to be capable of data transfer, so not all USB cables will work.

If you are trying to establish a USB connection using a Windows PC, you may need to install the Windows version of iTunes first.

Computer-to-Mac Mode: USB, Ethernet, or Thunderbolt 3 Connection

USB Connection (Mac-to-Mac Only) - Recommended

With your Luna Display hardware plugged directly into your Mac or Windows PC, connect your compatible USB cord to both of your Macs. For this type of connection, your USB cable will need to support USB 3.1 or later.

Once your computers are connected via USB, open both the Luna primary and secondary apps. If they don't connect, please see this article on further troubleshooting.

To ensure your devices are connected via USB cable, you'll want to check the "Connection Options" box on the Primary Luna Menu. When connected via USB, the "Connection Options" box should show a USB symbol.

Ethernet Connection

Please note that for optimal wired performance in PC-to-Mac mode an Ethernet connection is preferred over a Thunderbolt connection. We've found Thunderbolt performance varies a great deal depending on the type of Windows PC.

With your Luna Display hardware plugged directly into your primary Mac or PC, plug an Ethernet cable into both your primary and secondary computers. You can also connect both computers directly to your router with an Ethernet cable.

Once your computers are connected via Ethernet, open both the Luna primary and secondary apps. If your computers do not automatically connect, use Wi-Fi Manual Connect in both Luna apps to connect your computers or check to make sure your Ethernet connection is active.

To ensure your devices are connected via Ethernet cable in Luna Display, you'll want to check the "Connection Options" box on the Primary Luna Menu. When connected via Ethernet, the "Connection Options" box should show an Ethernet symbol.

Connect via Ethernet Only

On your primary computer, open the Luna app and click on Luna Display in the top menu bar, and open Preferences. In the Mac-to-Mac tab, change the drop-down menu selection to "Connect via Ethernet only".

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Connection

Make sure you use a Thunderbolt cable, as regular USB-C to USB-C cables (like your Mac's charging cable) will not work.

With your Luna Display hardware plugged directly into your primary computer, plug the Thunderbolt 3 cable directly into both your primary and secondary computers. Give it a few moments to establish an active Thunderbolt connection, usually about 30 seconds.

Once your computers are connected via Thunderbolt, launch both the Luna primary and secondary apps. If your computers do not automatically connect, use Wi-Fi Manual Connect in both Luna apps to connect or check to make sure your Thunderbolt connection is active.

To ensure your devices are connected via Thunderbolt cable, you'll want to check the "Connection Options" box on the Primary Luna Menu. When connected via Thunderbolt, the "Connection Options" box should show a Thunderbolt symbol.

Connect via Thunderbolt Only

On your primary Mac, open the Luna app and click on Luna Display in your Mac's top menu bar, and open Preferences. In the Mac-to-Mac tab, change the drop-down menu selection to "Connect via Thunderbolt only".

Will a Thunderbolt connection work with different Thunderbolt ports?

Yes, as long as you have the correct Thunderbolt adapters and cables and your computers recognize the Thunderbolt connection, then Luna should also be able to detect the active connection.

Check that the Thunderbolt connection is active in Network Preferences by going to System Preferences > Network or by clicking on the Wi-Fi symbol in your Mac's top menu bar and selecting "Open Network Preferences." If the connection is active, Thunderbolt Bridge should say "Connected" or "Self-Assigned IP."

Can adapters be used for wired connections between devices?

Yes, adapters can be used for wired connections, such as Thunderbolt or Ethernet cables. This is recommended if your devices have incompatible port types. Using adapters for wired connections is different than using an adapter to plug your Luna unit into your computer. You will still need to plug the Luna Display hardware directly into your Mac or PC, even if you are using a wired connection.

For example, let's say you are using a 2015 iMac as a secondary display for your 2021 MacBook Pro and would like to use a Thunderbolt cable to connect your devices (instead of using WiFi or P2P). The 2015 iMac has Thunderbolt 2 ports (mini DisplayPort), while the 2021 MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C). You will need an adapter in order to use a Thunderbolt cable between these devices. In this instance, we would recommend using a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter with a Thunderbolt 2 cable.

In another example, using the same devices as above, let's say you'd rather use an Ethernet connection between these devices. The 2021 MacBook Pro does not have an Ethernet port, while the 2015 iMac does. You would need an Ethernet to USB-C adapter in order to utilize an Ethernet connection between these two devices.

However, if using a USB cable in Mac-to-Mac mode, please be aware adapters are not supported at this time. Please review our guides regarding this for further information: USB Support in Mac-to-Mac Mode and Thunderbolt Accessory Error | Mac-to-Mac USB Connection