Using IMAC as a second screen for macbook

Question

Level 1

8 points

Using IMAC as a second screen for macbook

I have a 2020 IMAC 27 and a 2020 m1 macbook air.

Is it possible to use the screen on my IMAC as a second screen on my MacBook air?

I need to do this as I have 2 clients, and have to use 2 separate computers. I use the IMAC for one, and the MacBook air for the other. I need a large screen for when I am working on the MacBook, and don't want to shell out for yet another screen on my desk that I don't need.

I know that I can sidecar to my iPad, but that screen isn't big enough for my purposes.

Many thanks in advance.

iMac 27″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Mar 4, 2021 11:37 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Rudegar

Level 10

180,090 points

Mar 4, 2021 11:44 PM in response to Stuartjoce

no, using imacs as monitors was removed after the 2014 imacs, some people report that even with 2009 to 2014 target display does not work with newer macs

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

there are third-party software solutions which will do it over LAN network but that will somewhat impair performance

Reply

Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,440 points

Mar 5, 2021 5:56 AM in response to Stuartjoce

Yes, and of course written to be humorous. In all seriousness though iMacs were never designed to be external displays for other devices, it was a fluke 12 years ago when certain models were discovered by end users to have Target Display Mode ability. Apple did support TDM on these very specific models however Target Display Mode functionality was discontinued in 2015 with the advent of 5K display iMacs. Apple dropped all support on Target Display Mode when Big Sur was introduced.

As mentioned earlier, iMacs are computers and are not external displays for other devices. Whatever your opinion is on the subject, those are the facts. Also, as mentioned earlier you can always make your voice known to Apple on their feedback site.

Best,

rkaufmann87

Reply

Answer 3

Jack-19

Level 8

46,182 points

Mar 5, 2021 3:08 AM in response to Stuartjoce

Stuartjoce wrote:

Thank you.

Seems like a bit of an oversight.

Not an oversight at all.

iMacs are desktop computers. They are not displays for other devices, nor were they ever intended to be. If you need a display, here is an excellent choice: LG UltraFine 4K Display - Apple.

Cheers,

Jack

Reply

Answer 4

Rudegar

Level 10

180,090 points

Mar 5, 2021 3:45 AM in response to Stuartjoce

This is a user helping other users with tech questions

forum, you are not addressing apple here just fellow users

you can suggest they change it using their feedback channels

Product Feedback - Apple

it was first dropped with the 4k resolution models so one can speculate as to it being technical challenges which made them drop the feature.

Reply

Answer 5

Stuartjoce Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2021 3:41 AM in response to Jack-19

I think in a customer focussed environment, products are whatever the customer wants to use them for.

Given the number of people that have both devices, a piece of functionality that allows the two devices to dual screen makes a lot of sense.

If it didn't, there wouldn't be a market for second screens.

Although of course, that is probably the answer.

Reply

Answer 6

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,440 points

Mar 5, 2021 5:28 AM in response to Stuartjoce

Stuartjoce brings up an excellent point "in a customer focussed environment, products are whatever the customer wants to use them for." I'd like to use q-tips as bricks for my next house but the q-tip developers tell me they don't have the strength and were never designed to be used as bricks. That is just wrong, I think they should re-engineer q-tips to be much stronger and have the structural strength so I can build my house. For some reason they are ignoring my request and I don't understand why.😂

Reply