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 new iMac 27in as external display for MacBook?

Hello - can the new iMac 27in be used as an external display for a MacBook (13 in Retina display early 2015 running El Capitan)? I have understood that the Target Display mode does not work for iMacs running OS after Mojave. So is there any other way to use the iMac as an external display?


The MacBook is my main work computer and I would like to be able to use it at home and take advantage of the 27in display on the iMac.


Thank you!

MacBook

Posted on Aug 22, 2020 12:39 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 22, 2020 4:36 AM

Scandie wrote:

Thank you for the rapid reply! That is really surprising (and annoying) that Apple has removed this useful function. So if you want to have an external display for a MacBook - you have to now either buy the XDR Display (which as you say is crazy expensive) or go to a non-Apple product? Disappointing.

Thank you for the help!

Apple abandoned the Target Display mode 6 years ago

on iMacs. There are literally a multitude of displays available

from the cheap to outrageously expensive and everything

in between.


If you still insist on using the iMac "as a display", the only option

available is Screen Sharing over ethernet which for many is more than

sufficient.

Share the screen of another Mac - Apple Support

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 22, 2020 4:36 AM in response to Scandie

Scandie wrote:

Thank you for the rapid reply! That is really surprising (and annoying) that Apple has removed this useful function. So if you want to have an external display for a MacBook - you have to now either buy the XDR Display (which as you say is crazy expensive) or go to a non-Apple product? Disappointing.

Thank you for the help!

Apple abandoned the Target Display mode 6 years ago

on iMacs. There are literally a multitude of displays available

from the cheap to outrageously expensive and everything

in between.


If you still insist on using the iMac "as a display", the only option

available is Screen Sharing over ethernet which for many is more than

sufficient.

Share the screen of another Mac - Apple Support

Aug 22, 2020 1:22 AM in response to KurtABum

Thank you for the rapid reply! That is really surprising (and annoying) that Apple has removed this useful function. So if you want to have an external display for a MacBook - you have to now either buy the XDR Display (which as you say is crazy expensive) or go to a non-Apple product? Disappointing.


Thank you for the help!

use new iMac 27in as external display for MacBook?

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