How to Use Your iMac as a Second Monitor

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Are you thinking about turning your old iMac into a second display for your other Mac? It’s a clever idea, and Apple once offered a solution to make that happen. However, the options today are more limited than you might think.

Understanding Target Display Mode

Let’s start with some basics. Apple previously allowed users to utilize their older iMacs as external monitors through a feature called Target Display Mode. Unfortunately, the last iMac that supported this feature was discontinued in October 2015. If your iMac was made after that date, using it as a display simply isn’t possible.

Is Your iMac Compatible?

If your iMac is from 2015 or earlier, you still need to meet some specific criteria to use it as a display:

Operating System: The older iMac must be running macOS High Sierra or an earlier version. If it’s not currently installed, downloading High Sierra can be tricky these days, though various workarounds may be available if you look around online.

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Matching Mac: The Mac you want to connect to the iMac also needs to be a model from 2019 or earlier, and it should run a compatible, older version of macOS as well.

With these requirements, it’s easy to see why many Mac users might decide to abandon the idea of using an old iMac as a monitor.

Alternative Solutions

If Target Display Mode seems outdated or impractical for you, there are other options to consider:

Luna Display: This is a popular external solution that requires a special hardware and software setup. While I can’t provide personal experience with Luna Display, many users report satisfaction with its performance as a secondary screen.
Screen Sharing: This is another method you could look into, allowing you to control another Mac from your iMac. However, keep in mind that it won’t provide the same experience as a dedicated external display.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re looking to add an external monitor to your setup, it might be more beneficial to invest in a new monitor rather than trying to repurpose your old iMac. The days of Target Display Mode are gone, and while there are alternatives, they may not offer the seamless experience you’re hoping for.