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Connect 2018 Airmac to use late-2015 iMAC as a display

Have a 2018 airmac (1.6GHz i5) but want to use my old iMAC (late 2015 21.5" 1.6GHz dual i5) as a display.


The iMAC runs really slow, but screen is nice.


Looks like I would need a USB-C to a thunderbolt cable - do apple sell these, or do I need some other combination. Any reason it wouldn't work before I spend $60-80 on cables?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 4, 2020 9:43 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 4, 2020 1:51 PM

You have a great concept for connecting your 2019 MacBook Air and using your Late-2015 iMac as a display in a target display mode. Unfortunately your iMac does not qualify for this.

NoteTarget Display Mode isn’t supported on iMac models with Retina display. Only iMac (27-inch, Late 2009), iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010), and iMac (Mid 2011 to Mid 2014) support Target Display Mode.

The above conclusion was drawn from this article by Apple ➔ Use your iMac as a display.


Axel F.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 4, 2020 1:51 PM in response to Jesmond_Park

You have a great concept for connecting your 2019 MacBook Air and using your Late-2015 iMac as a display in a target display mode. Unfortunately your iMac does not qualify for this.

NoteTarget Display Mode isn’t supported on iMac models with Retina display. Only iMac (27-inch, Late 2009), iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010), and iMac (Mid 2011 to Mid 2014) support Target Display Mode.

The above conclusion was drawn from this article by Apple ➔ Use your iMac as a display.


Axel F.

Connect 2018 Airmac to use late-2015 iMAC as a display

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