Using imac as an external monitor to my macbook pro. Apr 24, 2020 learn how to connect another display to your mac and choose how your displays work together. Nov 15, 2018 with a large and vibrant screen, imac can work as a great external monitor for pc and macbook. Also, the 29 inch imac input if thunderbolt, so not even sure its possible to get a mini displayport to thunderbolt cable or if. With apple tv, you can mirror the entire display of your mac to your tv or use your tv as a separate display. Connect a macbook to an imacs display with target display. Mar 26, 2014 if you have an imac made in mid2011 or later, here is how you can use it as an external monitor. Having those two will give you a beast to work on at home. Hi, im using my imac 27 late 2009 as a monitor with an nvidia gtx 760 and a cable displayport minidisplayport. If you have an imac made in mid2011 or later, here is how you can use it as an external monitor. Aug 29, 2019 in particular, we see how to use an old imac as an external monitor of a macbook.
Use an imac as an external monitor or extended display for your macbook pro. Apple imac computers and emac computers section is your. I currently have a 2015 mbp and i could get a 2010 imac for around. You can make all of your displays mirror each other, or extend your workspace with different apps and windows on each display. Jan 14, 2019 use an imac as a monitor or extended display for your macbook pro. How to use an ipad as a second screen for your mac. It can be annoying to use flash drives to transfer content, so youll be pleased to know mac has provided an. In addition, i use a stand for my macbook air so i also have the benefit of an 11 display that i have mail or safari open in at all times. Can i mod an early 2009 24 imac to external monitor. If you have an imac made in mid2011 or later, then one thing you can do with it is to use it as. I have a 2012 27 imac at my office for business use, and a rmbp at home, connected to a decent 23 monitor. Feb 25, 2015 if you will never move the computer, go for the imac.
I like the portability of the macbook pro but love the display of the imac 5k. Connecting surface pro to an imac as a monitor windows. Learn how to connect another display to your mac and choose how your displays work together. Attached to my macbook air, works smoothlythe viewing angles are excellent, the back of the monitor does have a vesa mounting adapter, the screen cant weigth more than 6lbs on its own, its very narrow monitor make is ideal to pair with a nother monitor to it right or left. Includes production dates, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, estimated retail prices, and more. Also, it would be nice to be able to use my bluetooth mouse and keyboard connected to my imac as my equipment while using my imac as a display for my macbook air. How to connect an imac to a macbook pro toms guide forum. Mar 16, 2020 target display mode can turn your 2009 or later imac into a monitor for use with other macs. I ended up getting a beefed up macbook air with a thunderbolt display but the air is starting to lag a bit with large. Is it possible to use a 2009 imac as a display for a 2017 macbook. According to your post, you succeeded to use a 2009 imac as an external monitor. How do i connect my macbook air to the imac with the least amount of adapters. At work we have an old imac 27 late 2009, identifier imac 11,1 that we have replaced with a macbook pro.
Because the macbook air and the imac use the same apple mini displayport technology to connect to external monitors, the process of connecting an external monitor to a macbook air is nearly the same as connecting a dual monitor to an imac. But can you use imac as monitor for windows pc, ps4, xbox and other nonapple devices. It still works on preretina imacs with thunderbolt. I can use to connect these two so that my macbook uses the imac as a secondary monitor. I have a 2017 macbook air with a thunderbolt 2 port and a 2009 imac with a minidisplay port. Mar 19, 2020 macbook air introduced in late 2008 through 2010.
If you use a monitor or an hdtv connected with an hdmi cable, you might see a difference in video quality if your display is set to television mode. Its in great condition physically, but i tried to factory reset and i cant get past the screen i have posted in pictures. Step 2 plug one end of the compatible cable into the hdmi, display port. But is it possible to use your mac as a pc monitor. My research led me to figure out that my 2009 27 imac has a mini display port not a thunderbolt port making them incompatible. The 27inch imac has a bidirectional mini displayport or a thunderbolt port depending on the model that can be used to drive a second monitor. The complete guide to buying an external display for your mac.
Thunderbolt cables free delivery possible on eligible purchases. There are several options but none as good as target d. Mini displayport is not the same as thunderbolt or thunderbolt 2. Target display mode not working on imacmacbook, how to solve. Quickly find which os x versions are compatible with your mac model and year. This wikihow teaches you how to use your imac as a monitor for a macbook, as well as how to share files and printers between both computers. A little digging, revealed apples reasoning behind this.
Xserve early 2009 imac mid 2009 mac pro early 2009, single cpu mac pro early 2009, dual cpu mac mini early 2009 ipod shuffle 3rd generation imac early 2009 macbook pro 17inch, early 2009 macbook early 2009 2008 macbook pro 15inch, late 2008 macbook air late 2008. Simple ways to connect a macbook to an imac with pictures. Its not well known, but, for example, a macbook pro air can connect to and drive a 27inch imac display either as an additional display or mirror mode using whats called target display mode tdm. Nov 6, 2011 flag as inappropriate can i use this with macbook air. I am aware apple removed target display mode with the 5k imac, however i am receiving a work macbook pro soon and i was wondering if there are alternative hardware based option to extend a macbook display onto a 2019 imac 5k. It would be great to use my home computer as a monitor when im working from home. I have an macbook pro that i am running most of my programs on and wondered if i can hook it up to my 24 inch imac. Apple has a support page about this, with system requirements and display options.
Therefore, this post is written to provide all possible solutions to fix target display mode not working on imac 20092010202014 and macbook proair. Ive purchased a minidisplay port to minidisplay port cable, but that doesnt seem to work for me. Using an imac as external monitor for my mid 2009 macbook pro. It supports a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 which means i can happily work all day at my desk with my macbook air effectively becoming a desktop mac with a 24 display. Its not well known, but, for example, a macbook proair can connect to and drive a 27inch imac display either as an additional display or mirror mode. Only imac 27inch, late 2009, imac 27inch, mid 2010, and imac mid 2011 to mid 2014 support target display mode. You can, but you may be underwhelmed by the results. Target display mode iswas a macos and osx system function that allowed an imac to become a display for another mac. Im waiting on that setup until the new thunderbolt standard is built in to the new air and the imac 5k gets that so it can act as an external display. I am wondering how i can use my imac 27inch, late 2009 as a external display monitor for my macbook air inch, mid 20. We want to use the old imac as a monitor, and theoretically it should. Is there an adapter or chord i can use to connect these two so that my macbook uses the imac as a secondary monitor.
Hi, anyone actually connected a surface pro to an imac to enable the imac to act as a monitor. With target display mode, it is possible to use some compatible imac, such as 27inch imac in late 2009, mid 2010, as monitor for macbook proair. I have aperture running on my mbp and could use the extra screen on the imac. Buy mini displayport to mini displayport cable, 4k mini dp cable ivanky mini display port cable 2m6. Can i use my 24 imac early 2009 as a monitor for a mac pro, which would also use up to three other monitors. On top of that, you can use target display mode to connect a macbook with a late 2009 or mid2010 imac. Target display mode isnt supported on imac models with retina display. How to use an old imac as an secondary monitor for macbook. Illustration of a person using an imac as a second screen for their laptop. I know the mac supports target mode to connect mac to mac, but not sure if it will recognise a windows device in the same way. Step 3 plug the other end of the cable to mini displayport or thunderbolt connector on your imac. Can i connect the vgahdmi output of my windows pc to the 27 imac and use it as a monitor. The same mini displayport or thunderbolt port can be used as a video input that allows your imac to serve as a monitor for another mac. I have connected my macbook pro to an asus monitor to have an additional monitor.
Basically, my mbp has one mini displayport and the imac has multiple thunderbolt ports. You can use an external display, a projector, or an hdtv with your macbook air. Nov 11, 2015 hi, im using my imac 27 late 2009 as a monitor with an nvidia gtx 760 and a cable displayport minidisplayport. Having used one of these computers in the past the display seems much better than most entry level 1440p screens and for. Check your display for a monitor mode setting to get the best video quality. Macbook air 2018 or later imac 2017 or later, as well as 27in imac 5k, late 2015. Well i was in for a notsopleasant surprise, when i realized that this wasnt supported in apples most recent imac retina 5k. If you want to see the content on your macbook on a large imac screen, or work on some file stored in your imac while on the go, you might want to connect your imac to your macbook pro.
You have an old imac that has a perfectly good display. If you use an external display with your mac notebook, you can also use closeddisplay mode. Even if youre a huge macbook fan, from time to time you may still miss the larger screen available. Buy the right type of displayport adapter cable for your. In particular, we see how to use an old imac as an external monitor of a macbook. Jun 22, 2019 the imac features one of the best displays on the market, and if you are lucky to have a 4k retina monitor, the vibrant screen is likely to make your workflow more pleasant. Hi, anyone know if i can i use my 27 2009 imac no thunderbolt as an external monitor for a thunderbolt macbook pro. They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port. For example, if you have a macbook pro you could use an imac as the display and for playing audio. This post will tell you which cable you need to use imac as monitor for. Apr 19, 2019 because the macbook air and the imac use the same apple mini displayport technology to connect to external monitors, the process of connecting an external monitor to a macbook air is nearly the same as connecting a dual monitor to an imac.
You can also use imac as a second display for windows pc, read. With target display mode, it is possible to use some compatible imac, such as 27inch imac in late 2009, mid 2010, as monitor for macbook pro air. The imac features one of the best displays on the market, and if you are lucky to have a 4k retina monitor, the vibrant screen is likely to make your workflow more pleasant. Using 27 5k imac as extended display for macbook pro. How can i use a 2009 imac as an external monitor for a 2019. Aug 29, 2018 if you want to see the content on your macbook on a large imac screen, or work on some file stored in your imac while on the go, you might want to connect your imac to your macbook pro.
How to use a second screen with a mac, connect a monitor. To use target display mode, youll need to connect your imac and your mac, via the correct cable. Secondary display capabilities of macs macs by capability. Getting target display mode to function on late 2009 imac. Nov 21, 2018 therefore, this post is written to provide all possible solutions to fix target display mode not working on imac 2009 2010202014 and macbook pro air. See the apple support article use external monitors with your mac for details about display preferences and more. I want to know if i can use this mini displayport to vga adapter to connect my macbook air 11 to a lcd projector. The secondary display capabilities dual or mirroring and maximum resolution supported of each apple mac with complete specs a click away. Macbook air macbook pro macos catalina tvos watchos 6 wwdc 2020 guides. Target display mode can turn your 2009 or later imac into a monitor for use with other macs.
Use an imac as a monitor or extended display for your macbook pro. Jun 26, 2011 a way to use your old mac as an secondary display. My goal is to make a switch to use the iternal hard core2duo or use the imac as external monitor with a dvi plug on the back. Questions about mini displayport to vga adapter apple. Can i use my 24 imac early 2009 as a monitor for a mac. Use an external display with your macbook air apple support. Heres how to use a second screen with your mac or macbook, including finding the right adapter and cable. If you will never move the computer, go for the imac. Get a thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter here get an. If you have an old mac, especially an imac that you do not use because it is obsolete, that has a builtin monitor, maybe youre wondering how to give it new life and then if you can use it as a second screen for the macbook you just bought. Wouldnt it be great if you could use it as a second monitor with your new macbook air. You will need a mini displayport to mini displayport cable and a. How can i find the driver so the macbook recognizes the monitor. With a large and vibrant screen, imac can work as a great external monitor for pc and macbook.
Hey guys, im a designer looking to get a new setup. How to use an imac as a monitor for pc tech junkie. If you have both a macbook and an imac, you can use the imac as a display for the macbook, or use an imac as a display for another imac. My question is if there is a chance to use it as an external monitor attaching a lcd controller to the screen. At least with the 27 version, you can upgrade the memory if you want to.