Control Mac mini using MacBook Pro as a monitor

You should be able to do this via Screen Sharing.

On the Mac mini, enable System Settings -> Sharing -> Screen Sharing.

Then, on the MacBook Pro, open /Applications/Utilities/Screen Sharing.app

If both devices are on the same LAN, click the Network option and select the MacMini from the list. After authenticating, the MacMini's desktop should appear in a window on your MacBook Pro.

If the Mac Mini isn't listed, click the + icon at the top of the Screen Sharing.app window and enter the IP address of the Mac Mini (taken from System Preferences -> Network).

F1Vanc wrote:

I have a MacBook Pro (2021, M1, 16") and I would like to mirror(?) and control my MacMini (Late 2014, OSX 10.13.6, High Sierra) to the MacBook Pro. I use an older version of Photoshop on the MacMini and would like to be able to control it on my MacBook Pro. Essentially using the MBP as a monitor.

I can currently mirror the screen to the Mbp, but cannot control from it. Any control of the apps still need to be done from the Mini. Is there a way to accomplish this?

I need to cancel my photoshop subscription and resort to my PS CS5.1 which I have on disk. The problem is the CS5.1 will not run on any OSX after High Sierra.

I hope I made this question understandable. Thank you very much!

Yes, its possible, it may not be the most fluid control, but with a decent enough network connection, you can connect to the Mac mini and work on it from the MacBook Pro using Screen Share.

I use it to control my 2011 Mac Mini from my M4 MacBook air and it works pretty well.

You will need a display and a mouse connected to the Mac mini to setup Screen Share, but once its set up, the Mac Mini can just be on without any peripherals connected to it.

click here ➜ Turn Mac screen sharing on or off - Apple Support

and here ➜ Share the screen of another Mac - Apple Support

A MacBook Pro does not support being used as a hardware monitor for another computer, so I presume that you are talking about AirPlay to Mac – a lower-quality way of using a Mac's screen. AirPlay is just for streaming audio and/or video – and is not designed to let you use input devices associated with a Mac acting as a display to control another computer.

There is a feature called Universal Control which supposedly lets you "use the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad of your Mac to control up to two other nearby Mac or iPad devices, and work seamlessly between them". However, I do not think you can use it. Your Late 2014 Mac mini is too old to meet the system requirements.

Continuity features and requirements for Apple devices - Apple Support

F1Vanc wrote:

I need to cancel my photoshop subscription and resort to my PS CS5.1 which I have on disk. The problem is the CS5.1 will not run on any OSX after High Sierra.

I hope I made this question understandable. Thank you very much!

Note that maintaining a production system that uses High Sierra and one-time-purchase Adobe software is likely to become increasingly difficult.

• Apple has raised the minimum system requirements for iCloud. It now only supports Mojave and later. (System requirements for iCloud - Apple Support).
• A key security certificate will be expiring at the end of January 2027, after which several things may break. I think Catalina and up all received, or will receive, updates to take care of this. As far as I know, Apple did not come out with any update for High Sierra.
• Adobe has been known to take DRM activation servers permanently off line. So if something happens that forces you to reinstall Photoshop CS 5.1 "from scratch", you might discover that you cannot activate and use it even on a High Sierra system.

If your objection is to paying Adobe $20/month or more for a "subscription" (there used to be a $10/month plan, but it's now closed to new subscribers) that provides access to Photoshop, you might want to look at other applications such as Affinity Studio (free with registration for basic features; requires subscription for AI ones) or GIMP (the GNU Image Manipulation Program).

Those might have a bit of a learning curve, but if the requirement is not for Photoshop specifically, they might allow you to move your work from your 2014 Intel-based Mac mini to your 2021 Apple-Silicon-based MacBook Pro.

I purchased an HDMI 4K dongle for my 2021 16-in MacBook Pro M1 Pro. I enabled Screen Sharing on that Mac.

My primary Mac is my M4 Mac Mini Pro with a 32-in LG 4K display. I dragged and dropped the Applications/Utilities/Screen Sharing app to my Dock. Running macOS 27.0.1.

Once I power on the MacBook Pro, I can then click on the Screen Sharing Dock icon on the Mini and a window appears where I can select the name of the MacBook Pro. A window (not full screen) opens on the LG display and I can then interactively work on the MacBook Pro while on the mini. When done, I select Shutdown in the MacBook Pro window, and from the Screen Sharing menu, I choose Close, and then quit screen sharing.

F1Vanc wrote:

A great THANKS to all!! I got it to work using Camelot's (and others) method. I'm not connected with LAN, but use wifi, but got it working. That will really help for an old guy (85)!

Again, thats to all, I really appreciate your help!

John

You're welcome. Glad it worked out.