Late 2012 27'' iMac as display for M1 Mac Mini?

[danielgonzalezmx]

Hello! New guy here. I've been reading threads on this subject but I find the information to be a little confusing.

I'm thinking of buying a new Apple Silicon Mac Mini, and was thinking of using my current iMac as a main display, is it possible with the right cables/adapters? I've read that some models will support it, while others won't.

I'm using a Late 2012, 27'' iMac running Catalina.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can point me in the right direction!

Daniel.

 

[EugW]

Hello! New guy here. I've been reading threads on this subject but I find the information to be a little confusing.

I'm thinking of buying a new Apple Silicon Mac Mini, and was thinking of using my current iMac as a main display, is it possible with the right cables/adapters? I've read that some models will support it, while others won't.

I'm using a Late 2012, 27'' iMac running Catalina.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can point me in the right direction!

Daniel.

Catalina not supported. Works on High Sierra for 2012 iMacs though.

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models.

support.apple.com

 

[danielgonzalezmx]

Thanks, I'll try downgrading then.

 

[Deccr]

No. Save the effort, target display mode is not supported with Apple Silicon Macs.

I have a mid 2011 27” iMac and M1 Mac mini so can confirm it will not work.

The only way you can use your iMac as a display is using something like screen sharing (VNC) or a Luna Display adapter, over your local network.

The only way you could directly connect them up is by taking a extreme option:
- tear apart the iMac and remove the internals, install a LCD driver board to the iMac LCD panel and connect up. This will turn your iMac into a monitor but it will not longer work as a computer.

 

[EugW]

No. Save the effort, target display mode is not supported with Apple Silicon Macs.

I have a mid 2011 27” iMac and M1 Mac mini so can confirm it will not work.

The only way you can use your iMac as a display is using something like screen sharing (VNC) or a Luna Display adapter, over your local network.

The only way you could directly connect them up is by taking a extreme option:
- tear apart the iMac and remove the internals, install a LCD driver board to the iMac LCD panel and connect up. This will turn your iMac into a monitor but it will not longer work as a computer.

Hmm... I didn’t know that. That’s lame.

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models.

support.apple.com

You can connect any of these older iMac models to another Mac from 2019 or earlier for use as an external display. Learn how to identify your iMac model.