User profile for user: reb181
reb181 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

how to connect iMac to Macbook as second screen / external display

I have a personal iMac (late 2012 model I believe) that is running on Catalina (v 10.15.7), and I have a work macBook pro that is running on Sonoma (v 14.3) . I would like to be able to use my iMac as a second screen to my work laptop as I work from home quite a lot (it is silly to be looking at that small laptop screen all day, when I have this huge iMac screen right next to it).


I can't figure out how to connect these. The articles on apple don't help, as they say "the iMac must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed" - which I don't, Catalina came later than Sierra.


I tried connecting them with cable. the iMac does not have an HDMI input, so all I could do is plug in the USB-C (charger) cable into my macBook on one end, connect that to a transformer that transformed it into a USB-A outlet, and I plugged that into the iMac. Nothing happened.


Does anyone have any ides?

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 22, 2024 2:41 PM

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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
149,220 points

Posted on Jan 22, 2024 3:02 PM

So sorry however that will not work. Target Display Mode has been dead for many many years now. Please look over Target Display Mode and it will show you what model year iMacs will work with which version of Mac OS, in that you will see your system is outside the boundaries of what will and will not work. By the way, we get your question almost daily on these forums and the answer is ALWAYS the same.


You have options though, you can use a third party app such as Luna display however IMHO it would be much wiser to simply buy an external display. Why, I'll explain:


  • You don't have to a) pay for, b) install and c) maintain another third party app.
  • Better overall performance with an external display.
  • External display is simple to set up and they are dead reliable.
  • External displays start under $100 depending on your wants and needs.


Best of luck!

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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
149,220 points

Jan 22, 2024 3:02 PM in response to reb181

So sorry however that will not work. Target Display Mode has been dead for many many years now. Please look over Target Display Mode and it will show you what model year iMacs will work with which version of Mac OS, in that you will see your system is outside the boundaries of what will and will not work. By the way, we get your question almost daily on these forums and the answer is ALWAYS the same.


You have options though, you can use a third party app such as Luna display however IMHO it would be much wiser to simply buy an external display. Why, I'll explain:


  • You don't have to a) pay for, b) install and c) maintain another third party app.
  • Better overall performance with an external display.
  • External display is simple to set up and they are dead reliable.
  • External displays start under $100 depending on your wants and needs.


Best of luck!

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how to connect iMac to Macbook as second screen / external display

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