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Using an iMac as an external monitor

I have a 2011 iMac with macOS High Sierra. I was wondering if it is possible to somehow connect to use as an external display for my 2020 M1 MacBook Pro or even just somehow get a universal control type feature for the two devices.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.1

Posted on Dec 25, 2021 8:09 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 25, 2021 8:36 PM

caedmon65 wrote:

I have a 2011 iMac with macOS High Sierra. I was wondering if it is possible to somehow connect to use as an external display for my 2020 M1 MacBook Pro or even just somehow get a universal control type feature for the two devices.


An iMac will not work as a display for an M1 Mac.


Your M1 is too new, and is incompatible with the expectations of that iMac when operating that iMac as a display,


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


Universal Control is currently Spring 2022. And won’t work here, as that iMac is way too old.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 25, 2021 8:36 PM in response to caedmon65

caedmon65 wrote:

I have a 2011 iMac with macOS High Sierra. I was wondering if it is possible to somehow connect to use as an external display for my 2020 M1 MacBook Pro or even just somehow get a universal control type feature for the two devices.


An iMac will not work as a display for an M1 Mac.


Your M1 is too new, and is incompatible with the expectations of that iMac when operating that iMac as a display,


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


Universal Control is currently Spring 2022. And won’t work here, as that iMac is way too old.

Using an iMac as an external monitor

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