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Use IMac Desktop Monitor only

Can I connect my iMac late 2013 to my MacPro 2019 laptop with a thunderbolt to thunderbolt cable to use the desktop simply as a monitor?

iMac 27″, 10.15

Posted on Apr 4, 2023 7:58 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 4, 2023 8:48 AM

Target display mode is a feature that was available only with certain older iMac models.

The feature was deprecated by Apple several years ago and is no longer supported in hardware or software.

Please see: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support


When it was still a thing, the feature had these caveats:

Only the following older iMac models can be used as an external display when plugged into another older Mac model:

  • iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014 using Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable.
  • 24-inch and 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010 using Mini DisplayPort cable.
  • The intended target iMac must be running macOS 10.13 High Sierra or earlier; it does not work with macOS 10.14 Mojave or later, or with Boot Camp and Windows.
  • Retina display iMacs won’t work as target displays.
  • In all cases the source Mac that you're connecting FROM must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS 10.15 Catalina or earlier installed.



2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 4, 2023 8:48 AM in response to LAntonsen

Target display mode is a feature that was available only with certain older iMac models.

The feature was deprecated by Apple several years ago and is no longer supported in hardware or software.

Please see: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support


When it was still a thing, the feature had these caveats:

Only the following older iMac models can be used as an external display when plugged into another older Mac model:

  • iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014 using Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable.
  • 24-inch and 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010 using Mini DisplayPort cable.
  • The intended target iMac must be running macOS 10.13 High Sierra or earlier; it does not work with macOS 10.14 Mojave or later, or with Boot Camp and Windows.
  • Retina display iMacs won’t work as target displays.
  • In all cases the source Mac that you're connecting FROM must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS 10.15 Catalina or earlier installed.



Use IMac Desktop Monitor only

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