How to Integrate M1 Mac mini with Target Display Mode Thunderbolt Displays (Up to 3 Displays!)

[Deccr]

Good luck. Sorry about the disappointment with the lack of Target Display Mode.

If you’d picked up a 2009 (or maybe also 2010) I believe these work as displays, as they use DisplayPort rather than thunderbolt.

 

[felipepanza]

The solution to extend display from Mac mini M1 to iMac late 2012 is to use Luna Display?

 

[Deccr]

Correct, either Luna Display or using ‘screen sharing’ or ‘VNC’ (basically the same thing). The iMac won’t work directly as a monitor using TDM unfortunately.

 

[felipepanza]

Correct, either Luna Display or using ‘screen sharing’ or ‘VNC’ (basically the same thing). The iMac won’t work directly as a monitor using TDM unfortunately.

What do you mean with screen sharing. Because when I use screen sharing built in in Mac preferences I only get a mirror not extend.

 

[felipepanza]

What do you mean with screen sharing. Because when I use screen sharing built in in Mac preferences I only get a mirror not extend.

Is it true that if I downgrade to High Sierra it will work?

 

[Deccr]

What do you mean with screen sharing. Because when I use screen sharing built in in Mac preferences I only get a mirror not extend.

You cannot extend with screen sharing.

Is it true that if I downgrade to High Sierra it will work?

No, this is only for older (2009) iMacs which use DisplayPort for TDM. Newer Macs which use thunderbolt cannot use TDM with M1 Macs. I have a 2011 iMac and can confirm this does not work for TDM.

 

[felipepanza]

Thank you, I have now ordered Lunda Display

 

[eroark]

Hi All, I just purchased the new 2020 Macbook Air M1. I have a mid-2014 iMac that I have successfully used as my 2nd screen / external display with my old 2013 Macbook Pro and a newer 2019 iMac. However, after an hour on the phone with apple yesterday, I was told that the 2020 Macbook Air M1 CANNOT use this iMac as an external display and that I need to purchase a new monitor (probably an LG specified by apple). The cords I have tried using include: thunderbolt 2 (iMac) to thunderbolt 3 (macbook air) AND minidisplay (iMac) to usb-c (macbook air). Neither of these configurations work -- and all are apple products. If anyone has a workaround, I'd love to hear it because I'd prefer not to have to purchase a new monitor! Always an issue with upgrading an apple...

 

[Deccr]

You could start with “screen sharing” over your local network, or if it’s not good enough buy a Luna Display USB-C adapter.

Unfortunately Apple has removed the ability to use target display mode (TDM) with M1 Macs.

 

[Deccr]

Luke Miani went the whole way and turned a 2011 27 iMac into not only a display but a full M1 iMac mini - by tearing down and installing the M1 mini inside the iMac enclosure:

YouTuber creates 'world's first' Apple Silicon iMac using M1 Mac mini parts [Video] - 9to5Mac

While we wait on Apple to release the first Apple Silicon-powered iMac sometime this year, YouTuber Luke Miani has taken...

9to5mac.com

 

[Cookie18]

So if I have a 2010 iMac, running High Sierra and the correct cable will the M1 Mini work with target display mode?

 

[Cookie18]

So if I have a 2010 iMac, running High Sierra and the correct cable will the M1 Mini work with target display mode?

To answer my own question, my USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable arrived today and I can confirm that the M1 Mini works flawlessly with my 2010 iMac in Target Display Mode. I'm posting this updated because I couldn't find a clear and concise answer on whether it would work so I took a shot.

My iMac is running High Sierra and I got a Cable Matters USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable.

 

[Robertoz]

To sum up, if I understand (correct me if I'm wrong), because it's confusing with these same shaped connections TB3/USB C, TB2/Displayport.

it's ok to run TDM from a M1 to :
imac under or from 2010 with Mini DisplayPort

,
running high sierra or earlier,
with a USB C/TB3 to TB2 adaptor + a TB2 cable (connected to the imac on the Mini DisplayPort)

will not work on :
imac running later than high sierra OS,
imac up to 2011 (included) because Mini DisplayPort have been remplaced by Thunderbolt

1 or 2 (same shape as DP, not same fonction).
imac up to 2017 to today with TB3, because this is TB anyway not DP, in the shape of USBC.

In all cases, Mac mini M1 will not work.

Sorry for my frenchy angliche ! ?

 

[fischjea]

For my own use, I researched and successfully tested methods of integrating an M1 Mac mini with a Thunderbolt Display and up to to two iMacs in Target Display Mode. My focus was on minimizing expense since both my Late 2009 iMac and Thunderbolt Display are aging. So I've identified low cost interface items that are currently available on Amazon. For a single iMac, the interface items are less than $40. For the Thunderbolt Display, the cost is < $50. The attached PDF should make clear how to get this done. You can go all out with three displays or just one. Note that you can use only one of the M1 Mini's Thunderbolt ports for a display unless you turn to something like a DisplayLink adapter. The options I've included are focused on employing existing Apple screens that you may already own and they should not add additional calculation burden on the CPU in the way DisplayLink appears to. Some of this should be applicable to M1 laptops and I hope this helps someone!

I have followed your doc (option 1b)and used a TB to TB3 cable (with adapter) to connect my 2011 IMAC (running High Sierra 10.13.6) to my new 2020 Mac Mini M1 but nothing happens, whether I do or do not invoke F2 for TDM. Any suggestions?

 

[fischjea]

To answer my own question, my USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable arrived today and I can confirm that the M1 Mini works flawlessly with my 2010 iMac in Target Display Mode. I'm posting this updated because I couldn't find a clear and concise answer on whether it would work so I took a shot.

My iMac is running High Sierra and I got a Cable Matters USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable.

Do you have any additional info on the Cable Matters USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable. Maybe a link to the specific one you purchased.

 

[Cookie18]

Do you have any additional info on the Cable Matters USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable. Maybe a link to the specific one you purchased.

Here is the exact one I purchased. This is the Amazon France link since I'm in France but I'm sure it is available everywhere. It works flawlessly between my M1 Mac Mini and my 2010 iMac. I just plug it in and it auto switches to TDM.

Cable Matters [Vidéo Uniquement] bidirectionnel Cable Mini DisplayPort USB C 1,8 m (câble USB C vers Mini DisplayPort) prenant en Charge 4K 60Hz - Non Compatible avec Le Stockage Thunderbolt ou USB C

Connectez-vous davantage aux produits Cable Matters USB-C | Le câble Mini DisplayPort prend en charge les derniers ordinateurs portables et smartphones légers avec USB-C ou Thunderbolt 3 et un écran 4K UHD avec Mini DisplayPort. Profitez de vidéos vives et de données audio authentiques prises en ...

www.amazon.fr

 

[Amethyst1]

it's ok to run TDM from a M1 to :
imac under or from 2010 with Mini DisplayPort

,
running high sierra or earlier,
with a USB C/TB3 to TB2 adaptor + a TB2 cable (connected to the imac on the Mini DisplayPort)

A Thunderbolt cable will not work. You need a USB-C to Mini-Displayport cable. And the iMac has to be a 2009 or 2010 27" model. Other iMacs will not work even if they have Mini-DisplayPort.

 

[4sallypat]

With restrictions in using the 2010 or older iMacs as displays for the M1 - I am glad I still have many and use the 2008 24" and 2011 27" Apple displays with my M1 devices.

My current M1 Mini is connected to a 27" Apple Thunderbolt display (thru Apple TB3-2 adapter) and love the native pitch/type resolution.

Hoping to use the 24" Apple Cinema LED display w/ MiniDisplay port (TB3-2 adapter) with my pre-ordered M1 iMac 24".

Amazing even after 13 years, Apple designed a monitor that still works with current technology (albeit thru use of adapters)......

 

[Amethyst1]

Hoping to use the 24" Apple Cinema LED display w/ MiniDisplay port (TB3-2 adapter) with my pre-ordered M1 iMac 24".

This will not work. The TB3-to-TB2 adapter does not pass through a DisplayPort signal. You will need a USB-C (male) to Mini-DisplayPort (female) adapter for the 24".

 

[xraydoc]

Hoping to use the 24" Apple Cinema LED display w/ MiniDisplay port (TB3-2 adapter) with my pre-ordered M1 iMac 24".

That adapter is not designed for that purpose. Will not work.

 

[Amethyst1]

Amazing even after 13 years, Apple designed a monitor that still works with current technology (albeit thru use of adapters)......

I don't see why that is such a big deal. This stuff is supposed to be backwards-compatible after all. Show me a CRT monitor hooked up to an M1 Mac (using this) - then I'm impressed

 

[Atsu1166]

It worked perfectly first time for me. Be aware of two things though:

1) I am using a Late 2009 iMac that had a mini DisplayPort. Newer iMac models have a Thunderbolt port and others have said that does not work. I have no way to verify. Note carefully the symbol designating which port the iMac is equipped with because the physical connector may look identical.

2) This connection will not power your MacBook Air. You’ll need The second USB4/Thunderbolt port for that.

I‘ve included a photo of the specific cable used which has limited availability on Amazon. Your results may vary with other cables.

Thank you for exact cable information, it was very helpful. Therefore, I can use iMac'27(2009) with M1_MacBookPro13.

so, is there someone who tried M1_MacBookPro13 to connect dual iMac or triple iMac at the same time through Target display mode?Although I've already succeeded the connection between M1_MacBookPro13 and 2009 iMac'27 with target display mode, as I have 3 iMac'27(2009, 2009, 2010), I'm looking forward to connect 2 of them with M1_MacBookPro13 if possible.

I need your help.

Thanks in advance,
Atsu1166

 

[4sallypat]

This will not work. The TB3-to-TB2 adapter does not pass through a DisplayPort signal. You will need a USB-C (male) to Mini-DisplayPort (female) adapter for the 24".

I was able to connect a 11 year old 24" Apple LED Cinema display to my M1 iMac using this adapter - USB-C to MiniDisplay port adapter:

The Apple 24" display lines up pretty well with the new iMac.
Sound, microphone and FaceTime camera works perfectly thru the adapter.
This is a good setup for Zoom, Skype, Team, WebEx meetings - choose between the 720 and 1080 Facetime cameras.

 

[ironjaw]

I was able to connect a 11 year old 24" Apple LED Cinema display to my M1 iMac using this adapter - USB-C to MiniDisplay port adapter:

View attachment 1783530
The Apple 24" display lines up pretty well with the new iMac.
Sound, microphone and FaceTime camera works perfectly thru the adapter.
This is a good setup for Zoom, Skype, Team, WebEx meetings - choose between the 720 and 1080 Facetime cameras.

Do you think it would be possible to connect two of these Apple 24" displays via ether the adaptor or a dock?

 

[Amethyst1]

Do you think it would be possible to connect two of these Apple 24" displays via ether the adaptor or a dock?

No. The M1 iMac can only run one external display.