An iMac has a big, beautiful screen. So it is logical to wonder: can I use my iMac as a second screen for my MacBook, or even for a Windows laptop? The answer is: sometimes. It depends on how old your iMac is and what you want to connect. This article explains which iMacs can serve as a monitor, how that works with the old Target Display Mode and with AirPlay, and what you can do if it does not work.
Blue Apple repairs iMacs and MacBooks in Amsterdam. Below are the options.
Target Display Mode: older iMacs only
A number of older iMacs have Target Display Mode. With it the iMac works as a normal screen for another Mac. It works on:
- the 27 inch iMac from late 2009 and mid 2010 (via Mini DisplayPort);
- iMacs from 2011 to mid 2014 (via Thunderbolt).
iMacs with a Retina 5K screen (from late 2014) and all newer models do not support it. According to Apple, the iMac must run macOS High Sierra or older and the other Mac must not be too new either. Connect both Macs with the right cable (Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt) and press Command + F2 on the iMac's keyboard.
AirPlay to Mac: for newer iMacs
From macOS Monterey an iMac from 2019 or newer can be an AirPlay receiver. Your MacBook then sends its picture wirelessly to the iMac:
- On the iMac, turn on AirPlay Receiver in System Settings, General, AirDrop and Handoff.
- On your MacBook, click Screen Mirroring in Control Centre and choose the iMac.
- Choose whether to mirror the screen or use it as a separate display.
It works well for presentations and video. For fast work or games there is a small delay.
An iMac as a screen for a Windows laptop
That is difficult. An iMac has no HDMI input. Only the old iMacs with Target Display Mode can sometimes do it, if the laptop has a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt output. For all other cases you can use screen-sharing or remote desktop software: you then see the Windows screen in a window on the iMac. Fine for office work, but not as a real monitor.
An iPad as a second screen
If you have an iPad, Sidecar is often the easiest solution for a MacBook. See iPad as a second screen with Sidecar.
A normal monitor
For daily work a separate monitor with USB-C or HDMI is the most reliable. See connecting a MacBook to a monitor or TV and two external displays.
Can you convert an old iMac into a monitor?
On some 27 inch iMacs the insides are replaced by a separate display controller board, so it becomes a normal monitor. That is a major job with mixed results. First read old iMac: repair or replace.
The iMac does not see the other screen
- Check that the cable is the right one: a normal USB-C cable often carries no video.
- Use the iMac's own keyboard for Command + F2.
- With AirPlay: both Macs on the same network and the same Apple Account, or AirPlay allowed for everyone.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
If your iMac's screen or a port does not work properly, we test it and tell you what is needed. More in iMac repair in Amsterdam and on our page about Mac and MacBook repair.
Frequently asked questions
Can my 2020 iMac serve as a monitor?
Not via a cable. It can via AirPlay to Mac with another Mac.
Command + F2 does not work?
Then your iMac probably does not support Target Display Mode, or runs a macOS that is too new.
Can I connect a PlayStation to my iMac?
No, an iMac has no HDMI input. A separate monitor or TV is the solution.
