Use iMac screen for 2020 M1 Mac mini?

Target Display Mode has been dead since 2014.

Support for Macs 2020 and newer connecting to iMacs in Target Display Mode is dead.

Let the dead horse die in peace and quite beating it further

as it will do zero good.

Anyone tried using Apple Remote Desktop? Could you get the speed benefits running the MacMini remotely and would it take advantage of the iMac's 5K display?

ARD isn't cheap but a lot cheaper than selling a (for example) late-2015 iMac and buying a replacement monitor.

Soundboutique, You can use Luna Display or Duet display to connect two macs and share a display. I'm currently using Duet Display to have a dual display 2020 iMac and a 2012 iMac. Luna Display is made by the same people that do Astropad.

I hope this helps.

Paul

@juniorxo23, that's not absolutely true.

I have a late 2012 iMac with Catalina and a late 2018 MacBook Pro13 with Big Sur.

The MacBook is connected with the iMac with the original Apple's Thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter and the target display is working great.

I can use the iMac as an external monitor.

The only thing missing is I can't use the iMac's audio as external speakers (I can see them in the option, but they don't work) , but it's no a big deal, the MacBook Pro's speakers are good enough.

Yeah, I already stated, that I have a 2019 MacBook Pro and it works fine with that. It will work work fine with all older model Macs from 2019 and before. However, it will not work with any new Macs going forward including the new Mac mini M1, or either of the acbook air M1 or the MacBook Pro M1 that were released in November.

Hey all,

I had the same thing, wanting to use my old 2013 iMac as a display for the new M1 Mac Mini. Tried the thunderbolt route and all the troubleshooting that followed, nothing happened. Came on here to get some help but couldn’t get the answers I needed. Was all ready to pack the M1 MacMini up and ship it back to Apple, but then I found a way! I used WiFi, a tv, a hdmi cable, 1 keyboard and two magic mice. I can now use my old Mac as a display for my new Mac mini and easily access my iMac if I need to. A big relief as I’ve had the M1 3 weeks and there’s nothing more frustrating than having new tech you can’t use!

Hi Can you give some details please ?

I have a late 2012 iMac currently ruining Catalina . Im aware I will need to be running a much older OS (happy to dual boot an older OS on an external drive) .

Im considering getting a M1 mini (or maybe the air) and would love to keep using the iMac screen . also for many of my applications the iMac is fine so im happy to stay running that and use the M1 mini mainly for Lightroom and Final Cut (which is where i'd mainly benefit from the m1 mini) .

I don't really want to pull the trigger unless i know I can get it to display on the iMac screen

Thanks

I’ve got an Iogeni HDMI to USB3 bus I used for my cameras’ HDMI output and inputting to my iMac’s USB input for live streaming. Works great and it turns out also works with my Mac M1 Mini’s HDMI out. The Mac Mini recognizes the Iogeni as a second display and I run the app Quick Camera on the iMac to go full screen with input video. Now able to work across the two screens with the Mac Miini when editing video in Final Cut Pro X.

This approach works and there are cheaper HDMI/USB3 devices are out there.

Yes I went to system preferences, sharing, allow screen sharing, then went to Network, selected Mac mini, press screen sharing, enter username and password for your MacMini and hey presto, I can see my Mac mini screen on my 2013 iMac. It can do full screen, split screen or whatever sized window you like. Oh one other thing - I had to use an external tv connected through HDMI to make sure the Mac mini was signed in, once you remove the HDMI cable you get full screen capability as opposed to a small box in the middle of the screen. Lastly, this will only work if you have WiFi running.

Screen sharing is the way to go, you’ll need to set the Mac mini up first and log it in via an external tv - I did this through HDMI. Allow screen sharing in system preferences, then goto Network and you will be able to see all of the devices, select Mac mini and share screen, enter username and password for Mac mini and then once it’s on your iMac screen remove the tv from the Mac mini, you can then get full screen - you can also select view and change to enhanced view for the best screen quality.

Okay, I am really confused, not quite a tech knowledgeable as some here. I have a mid 2011 iMac 21.5" running High Sierra.

If I buy a M1 Mac Mini, can I use the iMac as my display? It has one thunderbolt 1 port. If not, would it work if I bought

the Intel version still available? And what cables will I need? TYIA from a confused person, lol.

Sorry won't work, Target Display Mode was discontinued 6 years ago. I your MM needs a monitor or a second monitor (assuming you already have one) then you need to buy one. Please remember your iMac is a computer, it was never designed to be an external display for another device. There may be some third party solutions you can try however Target Display Mode is not one of them.

So even tho the iMac supports TDM (which requires high sierra), is it that the Mini can't support it? I just want to be sure before I consider spending a couple hundred bucks on a display when my iMac screen still looks great. thx.

Your 2011 is compatible for Target Display Mode, but an M1 Mac Mini is not. If you find an Intel mini however, you can. You will need a separate keyboard/mouse as you can’t use your iMacs when the mini is running.

visit this how to video the dongles and steps needed once everything is in place

Use iMac as A Second Monitor.

https://youtu.be/O5SeG0_Vqy8

Ah, so the Intel Mac Mini that Costco has on sale for $549 (base model) would work? I guess the question then becomes whether saving the cost of a new monitor balances out against the longevity of the intel version compared to the M1.