Target Display Mode MBA (2011,11") -> iMac (2010,27")

I like that answer even less, since I'm already on 10.7.2 on both machines! Mid-2011 MBA w/Late-2009 27" iMac. Ugh.

Kevin not quite sure whats wrong.

This time I didn't follow the display order. I have a Belkin MiniDisplayport to MiniDisplayport cable which I purchased off Amazon a few weeks ago. Both iMac (Summer 2010, MiniDisplayPort) and MBA (2011, Thunderbolt) running Lion 10.7.2.

Both computers were on and I plugged the wire into the iMac first and then into the MBA, Tried vice-versa and still worked. Using the iMac keyboard hit Cmd F2 to enter a blank display page (able to drag applications into this fromt the MBA), but to enter display mode hit Cmd F1 on the MBA, and the MBA screen shall be displayed on the iMac

Not working here.

11 inch, Mid 2011 MacBook Air running 10.7.2

27 inch, Mid 2011 iMac running 10.7.2

Thunderbolt cable purchased from the online Apple store

Just works? Unfortunately not. Just doesn't work, at all.

Command-F2 achieves nothing.

Sheesh. As a very long time Apple user, I currently have a Pegasus R4 Thunderbolt external disk purchased from the Apple Store that works only if I take my phone to another room, and then only one time in three. I have an iPhone 4S that gets no audio on roughly every third outgoing call unless I hit the speaker button. I have lost documents in iCloud. And now I cannot get the external monitor thing happening, which was the specific reason for upgrading both computers at the same time. There's my vent done. Not having a good run.

My solution? Time to go back to only purchasing second generation technologies I think. No more .0 purchases for me in the next few years. Back to the old faithful method of waiting a few months until reviews are overwhelmingly positive and the bugs are out of the system. I buy Apple so that I *don't* have to waste my time in systems admin. No more Day 1 purchases; no more early adopting for me. Productivity lost is just too expensive. And, of course, capital applied too early and therefore wasted. Pity.

My problem was fixed by purchasing a $15 Kanex cable, which someone one another forum said an Apple Genius Bar consultant recommended (and which Adorama specifically mentions is an Apple-compatible cable, something I always assumed was a marketing gimmick). Better than ponying up $30 for the Belkin cable — I think their $15 premius is because it's white, not black — but not quite as good as paying only $6 for the other (white!) cable I had. I guess there are, indeed, differences betwen cables of this sort.

Andrew Bayly wrote:

Not working here.

11 inch, Mid 2011 MacBook Air running 10.7.2

27 inch, Mid 2011 iMac running 10.7.2

Thunderbolt cable purchased from the online Apple store

Just works? Unfortunately not. Just doesn't work, at all.

Command-F2 achieves nothing.

I have this combo too and it has been working for me. The thunderbolt cable is always plugged into the iMac, the iMac is always on. I plug the cable into the MBA and then Cmd-F2 on the iMac, and a few seconds later the MBA is displayed on the iMac screen. (I have now changed the iMac to be the second display using display preferences on the MBA)..

Though most of you may know this, this reminds me of a tip that hasn't been mentioned. Since the Air will only push its own 1440 pixels in mirroring mode but the full 2560 when using the iMac as a second display, you can make the iMac the primary display with full 2560 resolution: Open up the display prefs on the MBA and it will show the screen configuration for the two displays — the large one for the iMac and the small one for the MBA. If you grab the little white bar at the top of the MBA's display thumbnail and move it to the larger one for the iMac, it makes the iMac your primary display — in full 2560 resolution — while making the MBA your secondary display.

With a bluetooth keyboard and mouse for your MBA you can take this one step further and make the iMac your only display: Closing the lid will shut off the MBA screen while still pushing to the iMac as your main (and only) display.

Control-F1 on the MBA to make that beautiful 27" iMac mirror in 1440 doesn't make a whole lotta sense!

You guys have figured out all the permutations related to 27" iMacs. I have a new 21.5" iMac, the lower cost of the two mid-2011 models, and it has a Thundervbolt port. Will I be able to use Target Display Mode with it so it can function as an external display for me at some point?

Dude thanks a lot i was having a ton o problems with my target display mode. I could get the video but not the sound. Not until i actually listened to your advice and did a FULL shutdown and rebooted the systems in the way u said that it actually worked. Kudos man that took some skill to find out without any help.

Just to let u the rest of u guys know even with the the real apple thunderbolt cable and a thunderbolt mabook and thunderbolt imac (which is my setup) u need to boot the devices in that order stated above. If u don't u might have video but no sound pass thorugh.

>> A quick update :

>> The release of OS X 10.7.2 resolved the issues I was experiencing with target display mode. Now the MBA / >> iMac combination in the subject line 'just works' without the need to reboot.

Both MBA and iMac need OS X 10.7.2 ??

Could MBA with OSX Lion and iMac with OSX 10.6.X ?

Will this work for a late 2011 iMac (21.5") as the target computer with a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) as the primary computer? It seems I have to get a MiniDisplay - MiniDisplay cable. However I would like to know if this will work considering the iMac has a Thunderbolt connection and the MacBook Pro has a MiniDisplay connection. Any advice you can offer will be great.

Thanks.

duncancallender wrote:

Will this work for a late 2011 iMac (21.5") as the target computer with a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) as the primary computer? It seems I have to get a MiniDisplay - MiniDisplay cable. However I would like to know if this will work considering the iMac has a Thunderbolt connection and the MacBook Pro has a MiniDisplay connection. Any advice you can offer will be great.

Thanks.

No, please refer to this blog post for full compatibility details:

http://michael.olivero.com/post/2011/07/21/Thunderbold-and-MiniDisplay-Mac-Compa tibility-101.aspx

Andrew Bayly wrote:

Not working here.

11 inch, Mid 2011 MacBook Air running 10.7.2

27 inch, Mid 2011 iMac running 10.7.2

Thunderbolt cable purchased from the online Apple store

Just works? Unfortunately not. Just doesn't work, at all.

Command-F2 achieves nothing.

Andrew: I have the same equipment as you... all three items you list, and it works just great. No rebooting or booting in a special order.

When all connected, a Command-F2 on the iMac takes the display to target mode, but all you see is the "galaxy" wallpaper of Lion. The second step is to then press Command-F1 on the MBA and "poof"... the MBA screen is now showing on the iMac, albeit in the MBA resolution (1440x900). The third step is to change the resolution on the iMac using the Display settings to change it to the native 2560x1440, and "poof"... you now can use the iMac to display the screen of your MBA, all in glorious high resolution. Give it a try, it works for me, first time, every time.

Thanks pammylu for taking the time to help.

I've had another thunderbolt problem with my iMac, and the Apple Store people want me to take it in to them. It appears I have a problem with the thunderbolt connections or possibly the logic board in my iMac.

Nonetheless, I have just followed your instructions - they were simple and elegant, so worth a shot! No luck.

Thanks again for your efforts on my behalf. 🙂

Ditto here.

I've got a 13 inch, Mid 2011 MacBook Air running 10.7.2 (downgraded back because 10.7.3 blitzed me).

27 inch, Mid 2011 iMac running 10.7.3

Thunderbolt cable made by Apple, purchase at Best Buy.

Command-F2 on iMac brings no response of any kind whatsoever.

And I was so excited to get this working.... now, I must trudge through hours of tech support forums, probably need to talk to Apple Support in person and *purchase* Apple Care just to talk about an issue that is Apple's fault!

The anger is beginning to rise here.