User profile for user: aura_noir
aura_noir Author
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Using iMac M1 2021 as display for PC laptop

Sorry if this was asked before, but I tried to find info on this on forums and YouTube and am still baffled.


I have an iMac M1 2021 with a couple of Thunderbolt ports, which I want to use as a display for my work PC Dell laptop (Latitude 5320) which looks like also has a couple of thunderbolt ports. Can anyone tell me what cable I should get to make this work? Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt?


I have a port dongle for my iMac which has HDMI port and the laptop has HDMI port as well, but when I tried the cable and pressed Cmd + F2 nothing has happened. I think that route might have been the wrong one to take, as when I looked at various tutorials it seems like Thunderbolt handles this kind of thing now, as opposed to HDMI.


Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Aug 1, 2022 1:46 AM

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
124,850 points

Posted on Aug 1, 2022 3:09 AM

There is no Target Display Mode supported on the M1 iMac for other Macs or PCs, and the last iMac that could support PCs for TDM was a 2010 model, if I am not mistaken.


You will need to acquire a real display for your Dell laptop, or attempt to use the free Mac App Store version of Microsoft's Remote Desktop client on the iMac to connect to Windows on the Dell laptop through your wired home network. Doing this wirelessly might be too slow unless you have an 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 configuration. With both devices network aware on your home network, you should be able to obtain a full screen view of Windows on your iMac.


You will need to enable Remote Desktop Client access on the Windows box for the complete handshake.

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
124,850 points

Aug 1, 2022 3:09 AM in response to aura_noir

There is no Target Display Mode supported on the M1 iMac for other Macs or PCs, and the last iMac that could support PCs for TDM was a 2010 model, if I am not mistaken.


You will need to acquire a real display for your Dell laptop, or attempt to use the free Mac App Store version of Microsoft's Remote Desktop client on the iMac to connect to Windows on the Dell laptop through your wired home network. Doing this wirelessly might be too slow unless you have an 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 configuration. With both devices network aware on your home network, you should be able to obtain a full screen view of Windows on your iMac.


You will need to enable Remote Desktop Client access on the Windows box for the complete handshake.

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User profile for user: Mal-S
Mal-S
User level: Level 5
5,062 points

Aug 1, 2022 3:21 AM in response to aura_noir

I know an iMac looks like a monitor but it’s an integrated computer. The obsolescent Target Display Mode was not bypassing the iMac ‘computer’ and needed software/hardware compatibility for it to work. There are many HD display monitors still available for a low price or free if you use one of the thousands to be found in cupboards (closets).

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Using iMac M1 2021 as display for PC laptop

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