MacHelen
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Q: How do I use my 2009 iMac as a monitor for my new 2015 MacBook Pro?

I have purchased a Thunderbolt cable and followed the instructions for setting up Target Display Mode. I have connected my 2009 iMac with my 2015 Mac Book Pro and pressed Command-F2 on the iMac but nothing happens. Can anyone tell me how to resolve this?

 

Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jun 27, 2015 12:32 AM

by Mike Sombrio,Apple recommended
Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio
Level 6 (17,283 points)
Apple Watch
A:

Your iMac must be a late 2009 27" model and you must use a mini display port to mini display port cable.

Posted on Jun 27, 2015 4:12 AM

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MacHelen

Q: How do I use my 2009 iMac as a monitor for my new 2015 MacBook Pro?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Alberto Ravasio,Apple recommended

    Alberto Ravasio Alberto Ravasio Jun 27, 2015 1:44 AM in response to MacHelen
    Level 5 (4,070 points)
    Jun 27, 2015 1:44 AM in response to MacHelen

    Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Apple Support

     

    What are the requirements for TDM?

    • A Mac notebook or desktop with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt connection
    • A Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort cable 
    • A supported iMac with OS X 10.6.1 or later. The table below shows iMac computers that support TDM, the required cables, and the port of the computer to which you are connecting the iMac.

    iMac Model

    Cable Supported

    Port on Source Computer

    iMac (27-inch Late 2009)

    Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort

    Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt

    iMac (27-inch Mid 2010)

    Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort

    Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt

    iMac (Mid 2011)

    Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt

    Thunderbolt

    iMac (Mid 2012 and later)Thunderbolt to ThunderboltThunderbolt

    Note that the iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) does not support Target Display Mode.

  • by Mike Sombrio,Apple recommended

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jun 27, 2015 4:12 AM in response to MacHelen
    Level 6 (17,283 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 27, 2015 4:12 AM in response to MacHelen

    Your iMac must be a late 2009 27" model and you must use a mini display port to mini display port cable.

  • by MacHelen,

    MacHelen MacHelen Jun 28, 2015 5:10 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 28, 2015 5:10 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Thanks - It seems the Apple store sold me the wrong cable. I bought a Thunderbolt cable but appear to need 'a mini display port to mini display port cable'.

     

    Cheers

  • by MacHelen,

    MacHelen MacHelen Jun 28, 2015 5:22 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 28, 2015 5:22 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

    Thanks - It seems the Apple store sold me the wrong cable. I bought a Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable but appear to need 'a mini display port to mini display port cable' instead.

     

    Cheers

  • by MacHelen,

    MacHelen MacHelen Jun 30, 2015 11:13 PM in response to MacHelen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 30, 2015 11:13 PM in response to MacHelen

    Dear Mike (or anyone else out there who's 'listening')

     

    I have purchased a mini display to mini display cable (only available online) but still can't get TDM to work. I am thinking that despite being told otherwise in the local Apple Store, my late 2009 21.5" (not 27-inch) iMac screen may be the problem and that this function is not possible. Therefore, do you think I should throw the iMac in the bin and find another way of getting a larger monitor connected to my 13" Mac Book Pro? How do I best do that I wonder?

     

    All advice gratefully received.

     

    MacHelen

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jul 1, 2015 3:20 AM in response to MacHelen
    Level 6 (17,283 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 1, 2015 3:20 AM in response to MacHelen

    As was noted above, the late 2009 iMac MUST be a 27" model. It's not possible to get a 21.5" imac from 2009 into TDM.

    I wouldn't throw it away, sell it if you have no use for it and use the money to purchase a nice external display.

  • by MacHelen,

    MacHelen MacHelen Jul 1, 2015 5:37 AM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2015 5:37 AM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Thank you very much for responding. I am pretty annoyed with Apple Store staff who have messed me around on this matter with wrong advice from the very beginning. Lot of time and thinking and outlay on cable for no result. Such a pity not to be able to use the iMac. can you advise what external displays can I purchase that are compatible with  Mac Book Pro 13 inch early 2015?

     

    Cheers

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jul 1, 2015 11:53 AM in response to MacHelen
    Level 6 (17,283 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 1, 2015 11:53 AM in response to MacHelen

    Did you mention to the staff at the Apple Store that your iMac was a late 2009 21.5"? I ask because you didn't mention it in your first post, if you had we would have told you right away thst it wouldn't work. Not trying to be snarky but maybe there was a lack of communication.

    I use a Dell display with my Macbook.

  • by MacHelen,

    MacHelen MacHelen Jul 1, 2015 5:49 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2015 5:49 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Yes, I made a point of asking before I purchased the mini display cable. Now I am overwhelmed by the thought of finding a monitor and cables that will work with my Macbook Pro. Thanks for replying again.

     

    Cheers

  • by Pivk,

    Pivk Pivk Aug 26, 2015 2:00 PM in response to MacHelen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2015 2:00 PM in response to MacHelen

    Good evening everybody,

     

    I have some problem using my old Imac 27 late 2009 in Target Display Mode.

     

    In fact, when I connect my Macbook pro late 2013 and the Imac through mini display cable and use the function CMD+F2 nothing happen... The screen of the Imac turn to black for a few seconds but then back to normal without TDM...

     

    In addition, I precise that both of my computers are using Yosemite operating system.

     

    What should I do? Any idea?

     

    Thank you for your response

     

    Regards,

     

    P

  • by escavid,

    escavid escavid Oct 12, 2015 2:51 PM in response to MacHelen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 2:51 PM in response to MacHelen

    I got the same problem but from a new iMac to my late 2009 iMac, and I also went to an Apple Store for help, but as you were, I was mislead into getting a firewire cable and some sketchy instructions I jotted down in a paper. Apple does not sell MiniDisplay port to MiniDisplay port cable, neither online nor at the store, I don't know if they ever did, but I found one aftermarket MiniDisplay port to MiniDisplay port cable online which worked just fine.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Oct 12, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Pivk
    Level 9 (58,924 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 12, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Pivk

    Pivk wrote:

     

    Good evening everybody,

     

    I have some problem using my old Imac 27 late 2009 in Target Display Mode.

     

    In fact, when I connect my Macbook pro late 2013 and the Imac through mini display cable and use the function CMD+F2 nothing happen... The screen of the Imac turn to black for a few seconds but then back to normal without TDM...

     

    In addition, I precise that both of my computers are using Yosemite operating system.

     

    What should I do? Any idea?

     

    Thank you for your response

     

    Regards,

     

    P

    It is best to create your own thread, particularly on one that has already been answered. I suspect you may be using a poor quality or wrong cable. Please use a Mini- Display port cable to connect your two machines together.