Bernadette100
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Q: Using iMac as a display for Macbook Pro

I'm trying to connect a Macbook Pro to an iMac so that I can use the larger display.

My understanding was all I needed was a Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable and then using Command F2 on the iMac, it would display the content of the Macbook screen.

Unfortunately nothing happens when I hit Command F2 on the iMac.

Both pieces of hardware are 2014/2015

Is there something I'm missing to get this working?

Posted on Jul 5, 2015 8:34 PM

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Bernadette100

Q: Using iMac as a display for Macbook Pro

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  • by FinPark,

    FinPark FinPark Jul 27, 2015 11:11 PM in response to woodmeister50
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2015 11:11 PM in response to woodmeister50

    Yes woodmeister50,

    i´ve found that list on the Apple-Support-Pages. But how to connect a mini display port cable to my MacBook Pro? The Macbook only have Thunderbolt.

    Or is it possible to use the Thunderbolt Connector to plug in the mini display port?

     

    Thanks for your answer

     

    André

  • by markwmsn,

    markwmsn markwmsn Jul 28, 2015 6:06 AM in response to FinPark
    Level 5 (5,659 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 28, 2015 6:06 AM in response to FinPark

    FinPark wrote:

     

    [...] But how to connect a mini display port cable to my MacBook Pro? The Macbook only have Thunderbolt.

    As the first line of the table woodmeister50 quoted shows, for a "iMac (27-inch Late 2009)" target you use a "Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort" cable plugged into a "Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt" port on the source Mac. A Thunderbolt port will accept a Mini DisplayPort connector and "step down" to use just Mini DisplayPort signals. (Mini DisplayPort is a subset of Thunderbolt. More accurately, Thunderbolt is a superset of Mini DisplayPort.)

    Or is it possible to use the Thunderbolt Connector to plug in the mini display port?

    No. A Mini DisplayPort port won't understand a Thunderbolt cable, but the other way around works. The connector are physically the same but electronically different.

  • by FinPark,

    FinPark FinPark Jul 28, 2015 7:13 AM in response to markwmsn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 7:13 AM in response to markwmsn

    Thanks markwmsn,

     

    you make my day. That i can use the mini display port adapter for both ends was the missing part.

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