Using old iMac (OS 10.6.8) as second monitor for 13 in MacBook Pro (OS 10.15.6)

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Level 1

8 points

Using old iMac (OS 10.6.8) as second monitor for 13 in MacBook Pro (OS 10.15.6)

Until recently, I used my old iMac as a second monitor for my 2015 era MacBook Pro by simply connecting the computers with a firewire cable. All I had to do was connect both to the cable. However, I am unable to do this with my new 13 in MacBook Pro (OS 10.15.6). I connected the computers using a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter (+ same firewire cable previously used with old MacBook) and have tried holding down Command+F2 on the iMac keyboard, but not luck. Suggestions?

MacBook

Posted on Jul 31, 2020 11:36 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

69,116 points

Aug 3, 2020 11:55 AM in response to RJTXSMU

Is this a 2020 MacBook Pro? If so, they can no longer take advantage of any iMac as an external monitor via Target Display Mode.

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

Specifically, this "small print":

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Answer 2

jeremy_v

Community Specialist

Aug 3, 2020 11:27 AM in response to RJTXSMU

Hey RJTXSMU,

Having access to an external monitor is important. This article provides steps on connecting that monitor to your Mac.

Use external monitors with your Mac

Hope that helps. Have a great day.

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Answer 3

RJTXSMU Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 3, 2020 11:44 AM in response to jeremy_v

Thanks, Jeremy. But, the third step in the instructions is to "Click the Arrangement Tab" and, unfortunately, there is no Arrangement tab when I open Displays, just Display, Color, and Night Shift. The window is titled "Built-in Retina Display".

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Answer 4

RJTXSMU Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 3, 2020 12:05 PM in response to Allan Jones

How frustrating! Yes, I now have a brand new 2020 MacBook Pro. Until recently, I had been easily using my really old (ca 2010) iMac's display with my relatively old (2015) MacBook Pro by just connecting them with a Firewire cable. Couldn't have been easier. Oh well, it seems that Apple is determined to make their products less and less user friendly... But thanks very much for confirming what I suspected.

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Using old iMac (OS 10.6.8) as second monitor for 13 in MacBook Pro (OS 10.15.6)

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