Can a 2012 iMac be used as a display for a Mac mini?

InTheShadows305 wrote:

My friend is replacing her iMac. She already have an iMac ready to buy, but she's interested in the Mac mini. Could she keep her current iMac as a display and use the Mac mini as the main one? Or would she need a new display but keep the mouse and keyboard?

She will need a new display.

• While 2012 iMacs support Target Display Mode using Thunderbolt input, Apple later added restrictions on the video source. No current Macs support using any iMac as a Target Display.
• A 2012 iMac is also far too old to support being an AirPlay Receiver for AirPlay to Mac (a lower-quality way of reusing a Mac as a display)

For those interested in answering my question, she currently has an iMac from like 2012 and I think the display ratio is 21.5 inches.

Given the size and resolution of the screen of that old iMac, it would make sense for her to buy a real standalone monitor even if Apple had not put restrictions on Target Display Mode.

InTheShadows305 wrote:

My friend is replacing her iMac. She already have an iMac ready to buy, but she's interested in the Mac mini. Could she keep her current iMac as a display and use the Mac mini as the main one? Or would she need a new display but keep the mouse and keyboard?

For those interested in answering my question, she currently has an iMac from like 2012 and I think the display ratio is 21.5 inches.

No the iMac does not directly support video input from the Mac mini.

If she buys a new Mac mini, then she will also need an after-market or an expensive Apple display.

see > Connect a display to Mac mini

Then after the initial Mac mini setup, she could use Screen Sharing to get some limited use out the old iMac.

see > Share the screen of another Mac

not if it's a newer mac mini

you can read the requirements here

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

both have to be old and run an older macOS version

there are other ways but not as primary (only) monitor Use iMac as monitor: 5 Solutions - 9to5Mac

but mind you an imac running as monitor would use the same amount of power as a computer

which would be much much power than a normal monitor.

Depends on what Mac mini she's buying.If she's buying a current one, then no, there's no direct way of using the old iMac as a display.

There are of many cheap and good quality displays out there she can pair with a current Mac mini.