i have an old iMac from 2010-21.5 inch.Running mac OS High Sierra version10.13.16 and want o use the old monitor and keyboard with a new mac mini-is that possible?
iPhone X, iOS 16
Can’t be done. The old iMac cannot be used as a monitor for any new Mac.
You’ll need to purchase a monitor to go with the new Mac mini. A basic monitor may be purchased for about $100. A nice monitor may be had for $300-$350 or so.
You probably can use the old keyboard with a new Mac mini.
I'm guessing that your 2010 iMac came with an Apple Wireless Keyboard (Aluminum) that connects via Bluetooth and that runs off AA batteries. If you replaced the keyboard after October 2015, it might havev been with one of Apple's original Magic Keyboards that have rechargeable batteries and a Lightning port (and that use Lightning to USB connections for recharging and pairing).
How you pair the old keyboard to the new Mac mini would depend on which keyboard you have.
Set up your Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad with your Mac - Apple Support
If you have one of the Magic Keyboards with a Lightning port, there are various ways of overcoming the USB-A vs. USB-C difference, including
First, as you have been advised nope that will not work. You need to purchase an external display, they begin a <$100 and do not require and expensive cables or software. A very nice 27" display can be found in the $300 range.
Also, please remember your old iMac is not a monitor it is a computer that has a monitor. The words are subtle, the differences however are HUGE.
"Using old monitor with a new mac mini: i have an old iMac from 2010-21.5 inch.Running mac OS High Sierra version10.13.16 and want o use the old monitor and keyboard with a new mac mini-is that possible?"
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Using a 30-Inch Apple Cinema Display with your Mac:
As for a monitor to use with a USB-C only Mac, there is an adapter you can use for the 30-Inch Apple Cinema Display. Use my User Tip: Configuring a USB-C Only Mac with a 30-Inch Apple Cinema Display - User Tip
That iMac does not support Target Display Mode. In 2010, only the 27-inch iMacs had that feature.
Apple later added restrictions to Target Display Mode such that no current Mac can use ANY iMac as a Target Display. But in this case, that's just "making the rubble bounce" since your iMac never could accept any video input, in the first place.
You need to buy a real display.
TheLittles wrote:
"Using old monitor with a new mac mini: i have an old iMac from 2010-21.5 inch.Running mac OS High Sierra version10.13.16 and want o use the old monitor and keyboard with a new mac mini-is that possible?"
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Using a 30-Inch Apple Cinema Display with your Mac:
As for a monitor to use with a USB-C only Mac, there is an adapter you can use for the 30-Inch Apple Cinema Display. Use my User Tip: Configuring a USB-C Only Mac with a 30-Inch Apple Cinema Display - User Tip
How is this relevant? The OP explicitly said that they wanted to reuse the monitor from a 21.5" 2010 iMac. That's a very different beast from a 30-inch Apple Cinema Display (which is a standalone monitor).
Using old monitor with a new mac mini
