HT204592: Use your iMac as a display with Target Display Mode

Learn about Use your iMac as a display with Target Display Mode

Austin Byrne

Level 1 (9 points)

Desktops

Q: Has anyone tried using the Thunderbolt port on a Dell laptop to an iMac thunderbolt port in order to use the iMac as an external monitor?

Has anyone tried using the Thunderbolt port on a Dell laptop to an iMac thunderbolt port in order to use the iMac as an external monitor?

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Jul 10, 2016 3:41 PM

I have this question too

Level 5 (5,880 points)

Mac App Store

A:

To use Target Display Mode it has to be a Mac to Mac connection.

Use your iMac as a display with Target Display Mode - Apple Support

Posted on Jul 11, 2016 3:53 AM

Q: Has anyone tried using the Thunderbolt port on a Dell laptop to an iMac thunderbolt port in order to use the iMac as an external m ... more

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by dialabrain,Apple recommended

dialabrain Jul 11, 2016 3:53 AM in response to Austin Byrne
Level 5 (5,880 points)

Mac App Store

Jul 11, 2016 3:53 AM in response to Austin Byrne

To use Target Display Mode it has to be a Mac to Mac connection.
Use your iMac as a display with Target Display Mode - Apple Support
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by rkaufmann87,

rkaufmann87 Jul 11, 2016 9:04 AM in response to Austin Byrne
Level 9 (58,115 points)

Photos for Mac

Jul 11, 2016 9:04 AM in response to Austin Byrne

Austin Byrne wrote:

Has anyone tried using the Thunderbolt port on a Dell laptop to an iMac thunderbolt port in order to use the iMac as an external monitor?

Your question is a very common on, unfortunately it simply will not work. The link in the previous posters message clearly explains what computers Target Display Mode (the correct name for what you are attempting) will work with.
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