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2016 MBP to 2009 iMac (as monitor) in Target Display Mode

F

frippdesign

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 19, 2016
6
5
Hey all, I just received my new MBP, its awesome and I love it. However I'm trying to connect it to my late 2009 iMac 27" using the Belkin mini display port > Thunderbolt 2 > USB-C. The cable worked great with my 2011 MBP as soon as it was plugged in it went into Target Display Mode and was able to use as a second monitor. It will currently not work on the 2016 MBP. Does anyone know if this is possible on the new machine? Has anyone else encountered this?

Perhaps it is the Mini DP > Thunderbolt. I found a Mini DP direct to USB-C on amazon I was thinking of trying.
 
Yeah, i think the problem is that you are using the thunderbolt adapter. Thunderbolt 1/2 and mini display port are the same shape, but not the same signal. Previous macbook pros supported display port and thunderbolt on the same ports. I think you want to go from usb c to display port.

See here:

"The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter doesn't support connections to these devices:

  • Apple DisplayPort display
  • DisplayPort devices or accessories, such as Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapters
  • 4K Mini DisplayPort displays that don’t have Thunderbolt"

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT207266
 
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wlossw said:
Yeah, i think the problem is that you are using the thunderbolt adapter. Thunderbolt 1/2 and mini display port are the same shape, but not the same signal. Previous macbook pros supported display port and thunderbolt on the same ports. I think you want to go from usb c to display port.

See here:

"The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter doesn't support connections to these devices:

  • Apple DisplayPort display
  • DisplayPort devices or accessories, such as Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapters
  • 4K Mini DisplayPort displays that don’t have Thunderbolt"

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT207266
Click to expand...
Thank you! Do you think this guy will do the trick? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017TZTNBK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A105NRR7VYZXED
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Kinggyking said:
Hi,

Did this work? I am trying to connect 2016 MBP to my 2010 iMac.
Click to expand...

Yes it did! Apologies for the delay, the item was in and out of stock and I wanted the grey so it took a little while to arrive. I plugged everything in and pressed CMD + F4 on the iMac keyboard, got a black screen while they connected and was in business. Thanks for your help @wlossw !!
 
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frippdesign said:
Yes it did! Apologies for the delay, the item was in and out of stock and I wanted the grey so it took a little while to arrive. I plugged everything in and pressed CMD + F4 on the iMac keyboard, got a black screen while they connected and was in business. Thanks for your help @wlossw !!
Click to expand...

Hi,

Thats great to hear, so what cables and adaptors did you use?

Many thanks
 
This is how I do it:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/dual-imacs.2052555/#post-24790730

I use a Monoprice USB-C to DisplayPort adapter, with a DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort cable, to use my 2010 iMac as an external monitor with either my 2017 iMac or my 2017 MacBook.

dualimac_combined_1008_nogps-jpg.708199
 
Last edited:
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