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I am trying to connect my 21.5 inch mid 2011 imac to my macbook pro 2017 so I can use the imac as a monitor. I have tried the Techdoty usbC to mini display port cable but it didn't work. I went to the apple store and the guy sold me a thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter. He said I could use my firewire cable to attach. Well that doesn't work because a firewire cable does not fit in a thunderbolt 2 adapter. Help!
iMac 21.5", macOS 10.13
Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
You need a Thunderbolt adapter
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Apple
and a Thunderbolt 2 cable. (Mini DisplayPort won't work, even though the plugs are the same as Thunderbolt.)
Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0 m) - White - Apple
Plug the Thunderbolt 3 end of the adapter into the MacBook Pro and connect the Thunderbolt 2 cable from the adapter to the iMac.
Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
You need a Thunderbolt adapter
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Apple
and a Thunderbolt 2 cable. (Mini DisplayPort won't work, even though the plugs are the same as Thunderbolt.)
Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0 m) - White - Apple
Plug the Thunderbolt 3 end of the adapter into the MacBook Pro and connect the Thunderbolt 2 cable from the adapter to the iMac.
It was dropped from hardware support in all iMac models after 2014, and from the software after High Sierra 10.13.6.
"Note: Target Display Mode isn’t supported on iMac models with Retina display. Only iMac (27-inch, Late 2009), iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010), and iMac (Mid 2011 to Mid 2014) support Target Display Mode."
"Target display mode requires macOS High Sierra or earlier. It does not work with macOS Mojave or later."
Use you iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
FireWire definitely will NOT work! You need a thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter and it might work. Apple has dropped support on Target Display mode, I’d suggest buying an external display for the MBP, remember iMacs are computers and are not displays for other computers.
I just bought the thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter. What do I do with it? What kind of cable can I use? Between the first mini display cable and the apple adapter I'm already out $70. and it still doesn't work. I realize it is a computer and not a monitor but I keep reading how they can be used as monitors and this huge computer is sitting on my desk, might as well make use of it.
Thank you for your suggestions I am going to purchase the apple thunderbolt cable and give it a shot. I am using High Sierra on this older IMac so MAYBE it will work. I will let you know. If not apple store will take back my adapters and cables. Thanks again!
rkaufmann87 wrote:
... remember iMacs are computers ....
And computers are our friends.
But don't anthropomorphize them. They don't like that.
Sorry. Couldn't resist a little fun. 😁
Some of had success resetting the NVRAM on each machine before connecting the cables, please try that and then re-test.
When did Apple drop support for Target Display Mode?
They never told me so I don't know.
Thank you I am using High Sierra so I am hopeful this will work.
You're welcome. I hope it does. Good luck! 🙂
imac 2011 as display monitor with Macbook Pro 2017
