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How do I connect iMac and Mini mac together?

💻🖥️Hi, does anyone know how I connect my Mac Mini (2012, no thunderbolt 😕) to my iMac (2012 Catalina with 2 thunderbolt sockets) , not just for display, but also data transfer? I've tried Ethernet between the two, but couldn't see the Mac mini 😬... I'm really stuck, so any info would be greatly appreciated 🙏 (please see pics for existing ports)

Mac mini, macOS 10.13

Posted on Sep 11, 2023 5:22 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 11, 2023 6:11 AM

Based on the back panel photograph of your MacMini, it cannot be a 2012 model. All MacMinis had Thunderbolt ports since the introduction of the 2011 models. Your MacMini is actually a 2010 model which only has a MiniDisplayPort output. While the connectors look similar, their functionality is quite different. This means that there is absolutely no way that you can use a 2012 iMac as a display. The only way a 2012 iMac can be used as a display is if the the other Mac has a Thunderbolt port and that Mac was model was a 2011 to 2019.


S0, bottomline is that what you are attempting to do cannot be done.



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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 11, 2023 6:11 AM in response to aud160

Based on the back panel photograph of your MacMini, it cannot be a 2012 model. All MacMinis had Thunderbolt ports since the introduction of the 2011 models. Your MacMini is actually a 2010 model which only has a MiniDisplayPort output. While the connectors look similar, their functionality is quite different. This means that there is absolutely no way that you can use a 2012 iMac as a display. The only way a 2012 iMac can be used as a display is if the the other Mac has a Thunderbolt port and that Mac was model was a 2011 to 2019.


S0, bottomline is that what you are attempting to do cannot be done.



How do I connect iMac and Mini mac together?

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