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using a late 2012 21.5" iMac as an external display

I've just got a new 2020 27" iMac and want to use my old 21.5" late 2012 iMac as an additional display. The old iMac is currently running El Capitan. I've connected them together using a thunderbolt 2 cable with thunderbolt 2 to 3 adaptor.


I've pressed cmd+f2 on the old machine, and nothing,

I've tried to get the new machine to detect a display - nothing

I've re-booted both machines - nothing

I've disconnected the cables and put them back in - nothing


Has anyone got any good ideas on how I can get this to work?


Thanks

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Aug 13, 2020 10:50 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 13, 2020 4:57 PM

If it's the new iMac (released a few days ago), it does not support Target Display Mode.


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

"You can connect any of these older iMac models to another Mac from 2019 or earlier"

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using a late 2012 21.5" iMac as an external display

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