You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Use 21.5" 2011 iMac as Monitor for windows laptop with thunderbolt 3 output?

I own an old iMac from 2011 which I no longer use that much but the display is still nice and I would like to use it as an external monitor.


I also own a lenovo yoga 720 running windows 10 which has a thunderbolt 3 output, from my research older standards of thunderbolt could allow pcs to use these old iMacs as external monitors. It also seems thunderbolt 3 is backwards compatible.


If i found an adapter that converted thunderbolt 3 to the thunderbolt of the iMac, would I be able to use it as an external monitor? What would I need to do to get it working or would it simply be plug and play?

Posted on Nov 5, 2019 12:16 PM

Reply

Similar questions

2 replies

Nov 9, 2019 7:08 PM in response to YellowLad


Hello YellowLad,


Thanks for asking the Apple Support Communities for help with using your iMac as a monitor.


The specifications to use iMac computers as a display are provided here: Use your iMac as a display with Target Display Mode - Apple Support


"System Requirements

You need the following to use Target Display Mode:


Thanks and have a wonderful day.

Use 21.5" 2011 iMac as Monitor for windows laptop with thunderbolt 3 output?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.