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Can I use my iMac mid 2011 as an external display for my MacBook Air 2020?

Can I use my iMac mid 2011 as an external display for my MacBook Air 2020?


iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Feb 5, 2022 11:19 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 6, 2022 4:53 AM

No Mac manufactured from 2020 onward can utilize any iMac in Target Display Mode.


From this article:

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


iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014

To use any of these iMac models as an external display:

  • The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
  • The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
  • The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Thunderbolt  or Thunderbolt 2  cable.


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 6, 2022 4:53 AM in response to neilmce

No Mac manufactured from 2020 onward can utilize any iMac in Target Display Mode.


From this article:

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


iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014

To use any of these iMac models as an external display:

  • The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
  • The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
  • The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Thunderbolt  or Thunderbolt 2  cable.


Can I use my iMac mid 2011 as an external display for my MacBook Air 2020?

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