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Connecting the new M2 Macbook Air to imac that has a thunderbolt cable.

I want to buy the new M2 chip Macbook Air, and attach my iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011), via thunderbolt cable. Can i do this? My imac is running High Sierra version 10.13.6. Since they both have thunderbolt ports, can I attach them? If so, what cable do i use? Thx.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Mar 16, 2023 2:10 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 16, 2023 3:56 PM

No, you cannot use your iMac as a display, your setup is not meeting the requirements for target display mode


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.



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


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 16, 2023 3:56 PM in response to networkgraphics

No, you cannot use your iMac as a display, your setup is not meeting the requirements for target display mode


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.



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


Connecting the new M2 Macbook Air to imac that has a thunderbolt cable.

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