Installed Monterey but can't extend monitor

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Level 1

8 points

Installed Monterey but can't extend monitor

I have two 27" iMacs. One is a 2017 5K with 16 GB RAM running Monterey 12.6, and the other is a 2019 5K Retina with 32GB RAM running Monterray 12.6. It was my understanding Monterey allows one iMac to extend the display to a second iMac. That's not happening in my case. I can share the mouse and keyboard across both Macs, but I can't drag an open window (Chrome, Word, Excel, etc.) from one to the other. I have a Dell running Windows and three 27" screens and I can move open windows back and forth across any of the three displays. That's how I wanted the Macs to function.

I'm doing everything using Bluetooth. Do I need to connect the Macs via cable? I'm not unhappy with the setup as is because I can function, but I wanted to be able to move windows across the different displays.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 12.6

Posted on Oct 10, 2022 1:42 PM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

121,126 points

Oct 11, 2022 12:12 AM in response to Crash777

If you are looking for Target Display mode, that was for older iMacs running older OS versions. Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

There is now Airplay Display in Monterey. I couldn’t find an Apple article.

https://eclecticlight.co/2021/11/08/airplay-display-in-monterey/

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Answer 2

Crash777 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 11, 2022 3:17 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks Barney. I'm familiar with TDM and understood it won't work with the newer Macs. I've read that Monterey would allow one Mac to extend it's screen to another Mac, or Macbook. That was the reason I downloaded it. But again, I'm not entirely unhappy. It's not the ideal setup I was seeking but it still is better than two separate Macs.

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Answer 3

Crash777 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 17, 2022 3:18 AM in response to Crash777

So I was able to get the primary Mac to extend the monitor to the second Mac, and I'm able to move back and forth with the mouse. Still not able to drag an open window from one Mac to the other, which is how my Dell w/ Windows 10 works, but at least it's better than it was.

The main issue that I'd like to resolve right now is waking the second Mac from sleep mode. I'm able to share the mouse and keyboard between both Macs, but when they go to sleep I can only wake the primary with the kepboard or mouse. I have to use a plug in keyboard or a different wireless mouse to the secondary Mac that's still asleep.

Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.

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Answer 4

Oct 17, 2022 3:59 AM in response to Crash777

There are two different features which you need to distinguish: one is Airplay, and another is Universal Control.

In Airplay you mirror or extend the desktop onto a second device (in your case, another iMac). If you extend the desktop you will be using your other iMac effectively as a second display and you can move windows, etc.

Universal Control is different. Each mac is still displaying its own interface, but you are controlling them from a single keyboard and mouse. The moment you move your pointer across the edge, you start controlling the other mac, seamlessly. It is like using a KVM but without any device or switches.

By your description it looks like you wanted Airplay but were instead using Universal Control.

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Answer 5

Crash777 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 17, 2022 5:30 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis. That helped and I was able to get it to work as desired. However, the extended display looks horrible. It's enlarged and fuzzy, and the brightness is somewhat dull. The primary Mac is sharp and bright. None of the settings I tried improved things.