Asked by: Dairo Arrojo
technology and computing computer peripherals

Can you use an old iMac as a second monitor?

20
The 27-inch iMac has a bi-directionalMiniDisplayPort or a Thunderbolt port (depending on the model)thatcan be used to drive a second monitor. The sameMiniDisplayPort or Thunderbolt port can be used as a videoinputthat allows your iMac to serve as a monitorforanother Mac.


Keeping this in view, how can I use my iMac as a second monitor?

How to Use iMac As a PC Monitor

  1. Shut down the Windows PC and iMac.
  2. Plug the video cable into the Mini DisplayPort connector onyourPC's video card.
  3. Plug the second end of the video cable into the MiniDisplayPortconnector on the back of the iMac, to the left of theEthernetport.
  4. Turn on the PC and iMac.

Additionally, can I use my 2017 iMac as a monitor? Apple has definitively stated that new 2017iMacswill not support Target Display Mode, a featurethatpreviously allowed some iMac models between 2009 and2014 touse their built-in display as anexternalmonitor for another Mac connected viaMiniDisplay Port or Thunderbolt.

Similarly, can you use a 2009 iMac as a monitor?

Yes an iMac will work as a screen foraregular PC, but only with 27" models of Late 2009,2010iMacs. If those conditions are met then theiMacsupports what is called Target Display Mode,akausing your iMac as a display.

How do I use my old iMac as a monitor?

Entering Target Display Mode

  1. Turn on your iMac, and make sure the other Mac isloggedin.
  2. Connect the Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cable betweenthetwo computers.
  3. Press Command + F2 on the keyboard of the iMac that you wanttouse as a display.

Related Question Answers

Luminita Navasquillo

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Can I use my 21.5 iMac as a monitor?

You can only use 27" iMacs inTargetDisplay mode. No sorry, a 21.5" 2010 iMacwillnot work. If you have a 27" Mid 2010 iMac, then youneed touse a Mini DisplayPort to MiniDisplayPortcable.

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How can I play Xbox on my iMac?

How to Connect Your XBox to Your iMac
  1. Connect the mini display side of yourmini-display-to-HDMIadapter to the back of your iMac.
  2. Connect the other side of the mini display cord tothecorresponding port in your adapter box.
  3. Connect your HDMI cable from your Xbox HDMI port to theHDMIport of your adapter.

Ferencz Hemmerlein

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Can you use a 2008 iMac as a monitor?

3 Answers. This will not work sinceTargetdisplay Mode is a feature only available oniMacssince 2009. With both the iMac and Macbook offconnect thecomputers with a Firewire cable. Press Return andiMac willstart up with the MacBook System, Users,andApplications.

Manoli Arrizubiaga

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Does iMac have HDMI?

Apple iMac Ports
Because the Apple iMac integrates thecomputerand monitor into one device, it does not offerconventionalvideo input ports such as DVI or HDMI. This portcan also beused for input with other devices.

Soumaya Kirchesch

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Is Mini DisplayPort the same as Thunderbolt 2?

If Thunderbolt 1 & 2 isMiniDisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort must alsobeThunderbolt? This is because both ThunderboltandMini DisplayPort use an identical connector, and theonlydifference is that the Thunderbolt connector can carry(inaddition to the Mini DisplayPort), aThunderboltsignal, which is a PCI-Express.

Aurea Guillemin

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What does command f2 do on a Mac?

Connect the Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cablebetweenthe two computers. Press Command-F2 (theincreasebrightness button on most Macs) on the keyboard oftheiMac that you want to use as a display. After youpressCommand-F2, your iMac displays thedesktopfrom the connected Mac.

Manar Recain

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What is a mini DisplayPort used for?

The Mini DisplayPort (MiniDP or mDP) isaminiaturized version of the DisplayPort audio-visualdigitalinterface. It was announced by Apple in October 2008. Withanadapter, the Mini DisplayPort can drive display deviceswithVGA, DVI, or HDMI interfaces.

Breda Zumschilde

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Can you use 2011 iMac as external monitor?

If you have an iMac made inmid-2011or later, then one thing you can dowith it is touse it as an external monitor. WhileTarget Disk moderequires you to restart the Mac, TargetDisplay modecan be invoked from within OSX.

Leonilda Nurgalin

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Does iMac 2009 have Thunderbolt?

According to Apple, “Although aThunderboltcable will fit into Mini DisplayPort connections,only MiniDisplayPort cables can be used to in Target Display Modewith aniMac (Late 2009) or iMac (Mid 2010)connectedto a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac; iMac modelsproducedbefore 2011 do not support Thunderboltcablesor

Franc Ruttman

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Can you use an Apple monitor with a PC?

Apple monitors that use theDisplayPortconnection standard are fully-compatible withPCs. However,if you have a VGA-, DVI- orHDMI-equipped computer youcan use adapters to connect yourPC to Mac DisplayPortmonitors. The VGA standardrequires a digital-to-analogconversion and consequently features alarger adapter.

Lin Holz

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Can iMac be used as a TV?

The best way to get TV hooked up to a Macisthrough a TV Tuner. The best TV Tuners for Mac arebyfar the EyeTV tuners. The TV tuner could also beusedto hook up to your Wii, however that is a bitimpractical. Insteadconsider buying an adapter from RCA toMini-Display Port touse your iMac as a Monitor forthe Wii.

Hubert Angelov

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What is the newest iMac?

On June 6, 2017, Apple's 21.5-inch iMac, whichhasa "Retina 4K" display at a resolution of 4096 × 2304pixels,and the latest Intel 7th generation i5 processor,wasannounced.

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How do I connect two Macs?

Connecting two Macs using Thunderbolt
  1. File sharing. Set up file sharing in System Preferences>Sharing. You should also record the user names and passwordsforeach system. IDG.
  2. Connect the two Macs. IDG. Attach a Thunderbolt cablebetweentwo Macs.
  3. Connect to Server. IDG. Go to the Finder and press Command-K(orselect Go > Connect to Server).

Odei Vogele

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Can you use a Mac as a monitor for Xbox one?

A new $10 app called OneCast, however, hasapparentlyfigured out how to get your Xbox One gamesstreamingto your Mac. OneCast says that you can usean XboxOne wireless controller connected via USB orBluetooth,use any number of different consoles or gamertagsand run ineither full screen or windowed mode.

Sheilah Hannsmann

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Where is f2 on MacBook Pro?

The Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro replacesthetraditional row of function keys on the keyboard. To accessthefunction keys temporarily, simply press the fn key, which isthebottom leftmost key on the keyboard. You can then tap F1 - F12asneeded.

Maeva Velastegui

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Can 5k iMac be used as external monitor?

Apple indicates that the Retina 5K, 27-inch,andLate 2014 iMac models do not supportTargetdisplay mode and cannot be used as anexternaldisplay for any MacBook computer. *For users of theStonedocking station, the iMac must have amini-DisplayPortconnection in order to be used as anexternaldisplay.

Jesse Getzl

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Can I use my MacBook as a monitor with HDMI?

Mac computers can use an HDMI cableoradapter to connect to an HDTV, display, or otherHDMIdevice. Mac computers that have any of the followingportscan connect to HDMI devices.

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Can I connect my ps4 to my Mac?

Make sure your PS4 is powered on, and thenlinkthe DualShock 4 controller up to your Mac via a USBchargingcable—yes, it must be wired for Remote Play. Clickthe buttonto connect to the PlayStation 4 over theinternet,and voila, you should have the PS4 interface onyour screenwithin moments.

Abdourahman Sardi

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How do you use HDMI on Mac?

Connect the Mac to the TV with HDMI & Adapter
  1. Connect that HDMI adapter to the video output port ontheMac.
  2. Connect the HDMI cable to the adapter (or directly to the Macifit has an HDMI port) and the other end of the HDMI cable needsto gointo an available HDMI source port on the back or side of aTV.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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29th January, 2020

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