Target Display

[FredtheTed]

I am trying to use an old fully working iMac as a second monitor for a new iMac but without success.



OLD IMAC - Nov. 2013 - 21.5” using Catalina 10.15.7

NEW IMAC - Nov. 2023 - 24” using Solona 14.1.2

Joining with Thunderbolt cable.



I would appreciate any help and if it is not possible to make this work with Target Display, can you suggest any alternative solutions please.

 

[chrfr]

I am trying to use an old fully working iMac as a second monitor for a new iMac but without success.



OLD IMAC - Nov. 2013 - 21.5” using Catalina 10.15.7

NEW IMAC - Nov. 2023 - 24” using Solona 14.1.2

Joining with Thunderbolt cable.



I would appreciate any help and if it is not possible to make this work with Target Display, can you suggest any alternative solutions please.

Did you refer to Apple's document on this?

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

 

[FredtheTed]

Did you refer to Apple's document on this?

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

Yes but it indicates that the OS’s are not compatible

 

[chrfr]

Yes but it indicates that the OS’s are not compatible

Exactly. Not just the OSes but also Apple Silicon Macs can't use Thunderbolt iMacs in display target mode either.

 

[FredtheTed]

Exactly. Not just the OSes but also Apple Silicon Macs can't use Thunderbolt iMacs in display target mode either.

Any way round this…an alternative method?

 

[Juicy Box]

Did you refer to Apple's document on this?

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

Any way round this…an alternative method?

Some of the information is not accurate in Apple's TDM guide, but in case of the Late 2013 iMac and your AS iMac, Target Display Mode will not work.

If your iMac was a Late 2009 to Mid 2010 27" iMac, TDM would work with AS Macs.

There are alternatives, but nothing as good as Apple's TDM, mainly due to latency.

Some alternatives:
Third Party solutions, like Luna Display
The build-in Screen Sharing
Video capture devices

I used Screen Sharing a lot. I have a lot of Macs, some that are headless, and I screen share from one to another daily. The biggest downside is that there is latency or lag, but this can be mitigated with the settings which favors speed over quality. You can also connect both together to greatly reduce latency. I love screen sharing and think Apple did a pretty good job with it. You can use it in full screen and sometimes I cannot tell I am actually screen sharing from another Mac due to how well it works.

That said, it isn't the same as having another screen, and probably won't help you do whatever you are trying to do, so Luna Display might be better for you.

Luna Display — by Astropad

The only hardware solution that turns any Mac or iPad into a wireless second display.

astropad.com

 

[FredtheTed]

Some of the information is not accurate in Apple's TDM guide, but in case of the Late 2013 iMac and your AS iMac, Target Display Mode will not work.

If your iMac was a Late 2009 to Mid 2010 27" iMac, TDM would work with AS Macs.

There are alternatives, but nothing as good as Apple's TDM, mainly due to latency.

Some alternatives:
Third Party solutions, like Luna Display
The build-in Screen Sharing
Video capture devices

I used Screen Sharing a lot. I have a lot of Macs, some that are headless, and I screen share from one to another daily. The biggest downside is that there is latency or lag, but this can be mitigated with the settings which favors speed over quality. You can also connect both together to greatly reduce latency. I love screen sharing and think Apple did a pretty good job with it. You can use it in full screen and sometimes I cannot tell I am actually screen sharing from another Mac due to how well it works.

That said, it isn't the same as having another screen, and probably won't help you do whatever you are trying to do, so Luna Display might be better for you.

Luna Display — by Astropad

The only hardware solution that turns any Mac or iPad into a wireless second display.

astropad.com

Thanks I’ll give it a shot cheers