Why can't I use my 2017 iMac as a monitor for 2021 Macbook Pro with M1 Max?

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Level 1

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Why can't I use my 2017 iMac as a monitor for 2021 Macbook Pro with M1 Max?

I recently upgraded my 2017 iMac for the more powerful Macbook pro. I figured I could use the old iMac as a monitor for the macbook whilst video editing, but there doesn't appear to be any way of doing this. Not sure why Apple would make this the case but it's very frustrating. Is there a workaround out there that isn't Luna Display from Astropad? Or am I going to have to buy a non Apple monitor?

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Jun 2, 2022 1:33 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

72,302 points

Jun 2, 2022 7:46 AM in response to Bineditor

Both are far too new. Only a ver limited number of iMacs made between 2009 and Mid 2014 could act as a monitor for another Mac. TDM does not work with Macs newer than 2019.

Thr are also OS limitations. A TDM supported iMac acting as monitor must have no higher macOS than 10.13. A 2019 or older Intel Mac must ru not higher OS htan 10.15 Catalina.

It's dead technology. Apple began the deprecation of TM in Late 2014 and threw the last shovel of dirt in its face in early 2020.

A free-standing external monitor:

allows extended desktop
is more reliable
uses cheaper cabling
is easier to set up and use
uses far less energy

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Answer 2

WheelieNick

Level 8

40,407 points

Jun 2, 2022 2:08 AM in response to Bineditor

an iMac is not a monitor, it is a computer. There was a thing called target display mode but that only supported some older iMac models with a Mini DisplayPort (not thunderbolt 2 ) connection. You can read more about that here. Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

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Why can't I use my 2017 iMac as a monitor for 2021 Macbook Pro with M1 Max?

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