How To Use Imac As Monitor For Macbook Pro

Connect a MacBook to an iMac's Display with Target Display Mode

Nov 4th, 2014 3:xxx PM EST

It's not well known, just, for instance, a MacBook Pro/Air can connect to and bulldoze a 27-inch iMac display either as an additional display or mirror style using what's called Target Display Manner (TDM). Yet, specific hardware and cables are required.

_________________

The applicable document hither is: "Target Display Style: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)." That Apple document goes into smashing detail, so I won't echo it hither.

The Brusque Version

Here's what TDM is all about. Let'due south say you have a MacBook Air with a small display that you use for travel. At dwelling house yous take one of the qualifying iMacs (meet the table beneath). With the correct cable, you can connect the MacBook Air to the iMac and apply that iMac as either a 2nd display or a mirrored display, giving you a lot more room to work.

To activate TDM, have both computers running, not sleeping, and connect the required cablevision to each Mac. Then press CMD + F2 on the target iMac to switch its display to the source Mac. CMD + F2 also exits TDM. See Apple tree's article for more details.

Required Target 27-inch iMacs: Late 2009, Mid 2010.

Required Target iMacs: Mid 2011, Mid 2012.

Required Source Mac: Any Mac with DisplayPort or ThunderBolt port. (Run into below.)

Apple tree'due south knowledge base commodity was updated to reflect that the 2014 Retina 5K 27-inch iMac does non back up TDM. Curiously, information technology does not include an updated reference to 2013 iMacs, but this review at TechCrunch suggests that 2013 iMacs are supported. Hither's Apple's summary chart.

Follow this nautical chart exactly. Image credit: Apple

Annotation how specific Apple is about the cable. Thinking that ThunderBolt is a superset of DisplayPort, I tried connecting a 2014 13-inch MBA to a Mid 2010 iMac with a ThunderBolt cable, and it didn't piece of work. When I used a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, it worked perfectly.

Real world: 2014 13-inch MBA connected to mid 2010 27-inch iMac with mirroring.
Cablevision: Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort.

Also, notation that the source computer doesn't have to exist a MacBook. For example, a 2009 or afterwards Mac Pro with DisplayPort (out) can connect to the 2009 and 2010 27-inch iMacs with a Mini DisplayPort cable.

You can use the iMac target display in either mirror or non-mirror style. That'southward managed in System Preferences > Brandish > Arrangement. (See beneath.) You'll utilise the effulgence command on the target iMac's keyboard.

Because the target iMac is being used equally a display only, the source Mac won't take admission to the iMac's camera or, say, USB ports. The OS and apps on the target iMac aren't affected and go on running—blindly, all the same. Once more, Apple tree's article has all the details.

Summary. If you're lucky enough to take the right iMac, this is a keen way to salve space and money past letting it serve as a second display for another modernistic Mac. Unfortunately, the options are express and have to exist followed exactly.