I am trying to mirror my MacBook Pro (2020) to my iMac. Both have the lates OS as of 2024. I have purchased a thunderbolt 3 cable along with the thunderbolt adapter 2, I press Command + F2. The display will not appear on the iMac. How can I be able to do this? Its hard to believe that Apple won't allow both product to communicate with each other. Is there another option for me to mirror?
If your iMac is new enough to run Sonoma, that implies that it (a) was released in 2019 or later, or (b) is an iMac Pro.
macOS Sonoma is compatible with these computers - Apple Support
Your machines are new enough that you could set up the iMac as an AirPlay Receiver for AirPlay to Mac, then mirror the MacBook Pro's screen to it via AirPlay.
System requirements for Continuity features on Apple devices - Apple Support
Set up your Mac to be an AirPlay Receiver - Apple Support
Note that AirPlay is not as good as a hardware connection to a real monitor … or a Target Display Mode connection (which neither of your Macs support). The resolution choices are very limited, and there may be lags and artifacts. However, since the feature is built in, it wouldn't cost you anything to play with it.
If your iMac is new enough to run Sonoma, that implies that it (a) was released in 2019 or later, or (b) is an iMac Pro.
macOS Sonoma is compatible with these computers - Apple Support
Your machines are new enough that you could set up the iMac as an AirPlay Receiver for AirPlay to Mac, then mirror the MacBook Pro's screen to it via AirPlay.
System requirements for Continuity features on Apple devices - Apple Support
Set up your Mac to be an AirPlay Receiver - Apple Support
Note that AirPlay is not as good as a hardware connection to a real monitor … or a Target Display Mode connection (which neither of your Macs support). The resolution choices are very limited, and there may be lags and artifacts. However, since the feature is built in, it wouldn't cost you anything to play with it.
Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
+1 iMacs are computers, they are not external displays for other devices. Your best bet is buying an external display for the MBP.
Mirroring is for connecting one Mac to multiple external displays (which the iMac is not). Can’t be done, unfortunately.
How to Mirror MacBook Pro(2020) to iMac
