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Target Display Mode won't Work

I can't seem to get Target Display Mode to work with my MacBook Pro 2019 and my iMac Late 2013. I have used the authentic Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor and the Apple Thunderbolt 2 cable but after logging in to both Macs and pressing Command+F2 nothing happens. The connection through the cables work as I can still share the screen through Finder. Specs for the devices are:


MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

MacOS Mojave Ver 10.14.6

2.4 GHz Intel Core i9

16 GB 2400 MHz DDR4

Radeon Pro 555X 4 GB

Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB


And


iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)

OS X El Capitan Ver 10.11.6

3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5

16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M 1024 MB

MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.14

Posted on Nov 13, 2019 4:43 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 10, 2019 1:12 PM

Have you tired the troubleshooting steps in the article on Target Display Mode:


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


.

2 replies

Jan 16, 2020 1:25 PM in response to Josh_FlashFlood

Troubleshooting Target Display Mode


Here's what I tried and what finally worked.

  • Confirmed “Target Display Mode” was available for my iMac 27-inch “Core i5” 2.7GHz (Mid-2011).
  • Confirmed “Target Display Mode” should work for macOS High Sierra or lower.
  • NOTE: My iMac runs High Sierra and will not run macOS any more recent.
  • Pressed “Command-F2” using Logitech keyboard model K360. Failed.
  • Sent “Command-F2” via AppleScript:
    • “tell application "System Events" to key code 144 using command down”
    • “tell application "System Events" to key code 120 using command down”
    • Both failed.
  • Pressed “Command-F2” using Apple keyboard model A1048, which is a wired keyboard. Failed.
  • Checked Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and Thunderbolt cable by inspecting and noting a "device" was connected via: About this iMac —> System Report —> Hardware —> Thunderbolt
  • Pressed “Command-F2” using the Apple aluminum wireless keyboard that comes with the iMac out of the box.
  • THIS IS WHAT WORKED.


If that hadn't worked, this was what was next:

  • Try: Different Thunderbolt cable
  • Try: Different Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter
  • Try: Dropping to macOS Sierra
  • Try: Dropping to OS X El Capitan
  • Try: Dropping to OS X Yosemite
  • Try: Dropping to OS X Mavericks


Target Display Mode won't Work

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