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I have an old (late 2012) iMac 27'' running El Capitan and would like to use it as a second screen for my newer (2020) iMac running Monterey. I managed to have the El Capitan iMac to mirror my Monterey screen but got stuck to make the setup of an extended display.
Any ideas of what could I try?
Thanks in advance!
Alumīnija iMac
Unfortunately, that's not possible. Both Macs are too new. This Apple document describes what is needed for Target Display Mode: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
Unfortunately, that's not possible. Both Macs are too new. This Apple document describes what is needed for Target Display Mode: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
Are you trying to do this with with Target Display Mode (TDM)? If so, the 2012 is capable but the Mac sending the video signal must be 2019 and older and running no higher macOS than 10.15 "Catalina."
The very restrictive hardware and OS requirementf for TDM are here: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
When I had two fully TDM-capable Macs (a 2012 Macbook Pro sending to a 2010 iMac 27, I could not get extended desktop as a option, only mirroring. I alway counted that among TDM's numerous deficits.
If you need extended desktop on your 2020 iMac with no image lag, a proper external monitor is the best and most cost-effective way to get it. The Thunderbolt cabling and adapters required for setting up TDM on even supported newer Macs can, at US$60-90, approach the cost of a decent external monitor.
A 27" Late 2012 iMac supports Thunderbolt Target Display Mode. Unfortunately, the newer Mac cannot use the 27" Late 2012 iMac as a TDM display. So there's no point on spending $80 on a Thunderbolt hookup ($50 for a TB3-to-2 adapter, $30 for a TB1/2 cable) to see if it would work. You'd just be out $80.
Reference: the very restrictive requirements in this support article:
Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
Well, I get that the Target display mode is not the way to go. I just want to make the AirPlay Display mode to work properly.
In the Displays preference pane on my old iMac, the AirPlay Display shows up and I can select my newer iMac from a pull-down list of AirPlay displays. The point I am struggling with is the actual connection. Which is strange because I already have the newer iMac's display mirrored on the old one.
FWIW, a 2020 iMac can act as an AirPlay receiver, a 2012 iMac cannot without third-party help. See: https://www.airserver.com/Mac
Thank you, I shall check it out in more detail. From the first glance to the website though, it seems that this does what I already have - i.e. screen mirroring, but not extending the display.
You're welcome. I played with it once but only for a second. And I don't remember if you can use it in extended mode or not. They do have a free trial.
FWIW, turns out I still have it installed and the options are, mirror the display or use it as a separate display.
As before, I am not at all trying TDM. The connection I was struggling with is the the AirPlay Display mode, and it should (theoretically) be supported by the hardware I have. Never mind :)
Extending a screen between two iMac
