


Connect the Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cable between the two computers.Once you’ve made sure you have a compatible iMac model and the correct port on the other Mac, follow these steps: iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) and later iMac models cannot be used as Target Display Mode displays. Then select the iMac in the list of devices.Unfortunately, Apple has ended support for this feature for the more recent models. Make sure both computers are turned on and awake. Make sure you use a Mini DisplayPort cable that carries both audio and video.Ĭonnect the Mini DisplayPort cable to the ports on each computer. If HDMI Output or HDMI/DisplayPort output is listed, your computer’s Mini DisplayPort can send audio. A list of your computer’s audio devices appears. To see if it can, go to the primary Mac, choose Apple menu > About This Mac, click System Report, then select Audio in the Hardware category. If the primary Mac has a Mini DisplayPort, the iMac may be able to play its audio. If the primary Mac has a Thunderbolt port, it can play its audio and video on the iMac.

Make sure you have a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable. If you have a 27-inch iMac with a Mini DisplayPort, any other Mac with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port can use it as a display. Then select the external display Mac in the list of devices.ĭisplay the contents of your Mac on a 27-inch iMac with a Mini DisplayPort If you want the external display Mac to play audio as well as video from the primary Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, then click Output. Press Command (⌘)-F2 on the keyboard of the external display Mac. Make sure both Mac computers are turned on and awake. The iMac will play both the video and audio from the other Mac.Ĭonnect the Thunderbolt cable to the Thunderbolt ports on each computer. If you have an iMac with Thunderbolt, any other Mac with Thunderbolt can use it as a display. Apps that were open on the external display Mac remain open even though you can’t see their windows.ĭisplay the contents of your Mac on an iMac with Thunderbolt
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For example, a MacBook Pro could use a 27-inch iMac as the display and play its audio on the iMac as well.Īfter connecting the computers and turning on Target Display Mode, the external display Mac acts like any other external display.

In some cases, you can also use Target Display Mode to play the sound from your primary Mac on the speakers of the external Mac. Target Display Mode lets you use a Mac as the external display for another “primary” Mac. You can view the contents of your Mac on the display of another Mac using Target Display Mode, a feature in OS X. You can use some computers that have a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port as an external display.
