HELP - Target Display Mode

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Level 1

8 points

HELP - Target Display Mode

I just bought the following new iMac:

I also have an older iMac:

And a MacBook Air:

I have the required thunderbolt cable and thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 connector. You can see the OS of each, here is the issue:

I can connect the MacBook to the old iMac and use the iMac as a display using Target Display Mode, no problem, works like a charm. When I try to use the new iMac and the old iMac as a display, it don't work.

Anyone have an answer or workaround? I find it very odd that using the old iMac as an external display works with the MacBook but not the new iMac.

Any suggestions? Work around?

Thanks Scott

Posted on Nov 25, 2020 2:29 PM

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Answer 1

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den.thed

Level 10

82,564 points

Nov 25, 2020 3:26 PM in response to DartScott

It is vaguely explained at > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592

You can connect any of these older iMac models to another Mac from 2019 or earlier for use as an external display.

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Answer 2

DartScott Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 26, 2020 8:07 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks Den.Thed

What I don't understand is if it works with the MacBook Air running the same OS, and it is a standard port, and the new iMac recognizes the connection (I checked in "about this Mac" - Thunderbolt Bus, on both Macs), what would this prevent this from working? I don't get it.

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