Mac Mini Cannot Use MacBook Air as Extended Display (Ventura 13.2.1 on both)
MacBook Air 13" Intel 2019 running Ventura 13.2.1
Mac mini 2023 Apple M2 Pro running Ventura 13.2.1
The Mac mini is much more powerful so it’s my main machine. The MacBook Air stays on the side and I once managed to use it as an extended display for the Mac mini. Since then, I was not able to reproduce this functionality.
1) Both machines recognize each other and I can move my mouse and keyboard across machines.
2) On the MacBook Air, in System Settings > Display, I see both machines (i.e. the MacBook Air with its Built-in Display and the Mac mini with its own display). Underneath, there is a field “Use as”. I have the option to “Linked keyboard and mouse” but also to use the Mac mini as “Extended or mirrored display”. Now that’s not what I want to do: I want to do it the other way around.
3) On the Man mini, in System Settings > Display I see both machines again. However, in the field “Use as” the only option I have access to is “Linked keyboard and mouse”. I cannot use the MacBook Air as “Extended or mirrored display”
I managed to do it once, but since then cannot repeat the configuration. I tried restarting both machine, and also tried force quit the WindowServer process. To no avail. Any advice would be appreciated.
All screenshots from the Mac mini Displays setting pane.
Mac mini, macOS 13.2