Target display mode activated, but can only see background
Hello,
I'm using my iMac (late 2012) as a display for my Macbook air (2017) - they are connected with a thunderbolt cable and the imac detects the macbook, but only displays a background on the screen. When i move my mouse on the macbook, it moves around on the display, but I cannot see any my apps, windows, etc.
I saw an old community post that gave the following advice:
I had this issue and figured it out.
Generally, on my late 2009 iMac it ONLY works using a mini dv port to min dv port. You can plug the mini dv port into the mac and a macbook pro's thunderbolt port. Even though the cables on the thunderbolt look the same as the mini dv, they will not work for target monitor mode.
The key if you get the background of your computer is that you need to turn on preferences, open displays, and click ON the "show mirroring options in menu bar when available" option in the lower left corner.
Then go to your display setting tab to "arrangement" and click "mirror displays".
What is currently happening on your monitor when you only see the background is that your active mac is using your iMac as a "second" display. Which means you can drag windows to that screen with your mouse. This might be helpful if you wanted to use two displays at one time! You can even drag your screen around to match the physical position of your computers so when you drag from one screen to the other it is more logical and natural.
To turn the iMac into the same display as your MacBook (or other connected computer) simply click the "Mirror" option in the arrangement panel and now it shows the MacBook's screen.
Your Macbook will now appear on the other screen with the same desktop and dock.
I was able to find the "show mirroring options in menu bar when available" and I checked that box. However, the rest of the instructions did not make sense:
Then go to your display setting tab to "arrangement" and click "mirror displays". I could not find arrangement - that was not a tab in my display settings.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
