Using iMac 27” as screen for Mac mini M4 Pro

I am replacing my current iMac 27” Intel with a Mac Mini M4 Pro. I do not want to lose my beautiful 27” 5K screen.




[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jan 31, 2025 4:26 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 31, 2025 4:42 AM

Buy a dedicated external display that fits your requirements and budget for the M4 Mac Mini Pro. An iMac is a computer, not a display, and is not supported as an external display for your new Apple Silicon Mac.


The display that I use with my M4 Mac Mini Pro is an LG 32UN880-B 32-in 4K Ultrafine unit with a Belkin Ultra-High speed HDMI cable. It is even better than my 2020 Core i7 iMac with its 5K display. Keep your 27-in iMac if you want it as a separate computer.


Using Apple's Screen Sharing, I can present my 27-inch iMac on my 32-inch Mac Mini display when needed or in reverse, bring up the Mac Mini on my iMac. Apple's Target Display Mode ended before Fall 2014 5K Mac models and is not compatible with subsequent Macs.

2 replies
Sort By: 
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 31, 2025 4:42 AM in response to Peter_57

Buy a dedicated external display that fits your requirements and budget for the M4 Mac Mini Pro. An iMac is a computer, not a display, and is not supported as an external display for your new Apple Silicon Mac.


The display that I use with my M4 Mac Mini Pro is an LG 32UN880-B 32-in 4K Ultrafine unit with a Belkin Ultra-High speed HDMI cable. It is even better than my 2020 Core i7 iMac with its 5K display. Keep your 27-in iMac if you want it as a separate computer.


Using Apple's Screen Sharing, I can present my 27-inch iMac on my 32-inch Mac Mini display when needed or in reverse, bring up the Mac Mini on my iMac. Apple's Target Display Mode ended before Fall 2014 5K Mac models and is not compatible with subsequent Macs.

Reply

Jan 31, 2025 4:35 AM in response to Peter_57

it's a rather ac power hungry display compared to a normal monitor and you can't use it as the only monitor the days of wired target display are long gone.


you can use it as a second display using third party options

Use iMac as monitor: 5 Solutions - 9to5Mac


but as stated you will need to get a primary monitor for your mac mini too, and performance of the said third party options would likely result in the imac not being suitable for stuff like games and movies and other things that requires performance and no lagging.

Reply

Using iMac 27” as screen for Mac mini M4 Pro

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.