The following older iMac models can be used as an external display when plugged into another older Mac model.
The app searches for the PS4 console that you set up in Set up your PS4 console, and then connects. After it connects, the screen of your PS4 console displays on your Mac and you can start using Remote Play. From the second time onwards, you’ll be able to select the console. The purpose of this is to allow PC and Mac users to enjoy the PS4 gameplay on their preferred computer monitor devices. However, you do require a PS4 console in order to link it to your desktop. In fact, following is a list of things you would need to set up Remote Play. There are many ways to make your laptop a screen for gameplay. You can use any of them to play your favorite PS4 on the laptop. We discussed some of the popular ways to perform this task. By Using Capture Card. The most commonly used, easy, and simple way to use your laptop as a monitor for PS4 is by using Capture Card.
iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014
To use any of these iMac models as an external display:
- The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
- The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
- The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable.
24-inch and 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010
To use any of these iMac models as an external display:
- The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
- The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
- The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Mini DisplayPort cable.
How to use target display mode
- Make sure that your iMac is started up and meets the system requirements above.
- Make sure that the other Mac is started up and logged in to a macOS user account.
- Connect the two computers using the appropriate Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cable.
You can use more than one iMac as a display, if each iMac is using a Thunderbolt cable to connect directly to a Thunderbolt port on the other Mac (not the other iMac). - Press Command-F2 on the keyboard of the iMac. You should now see the desktop of the other Mac.
- To exit target display mode, press Command-F2 again. Or disconnect the cable, or restart either Mac.
Apps that were open on your iMac when entering target display mode remain open in target display mode. For example, if you begin playing music on your iMac and then enter target display mode, the music doesn't pause on your iMac.
The other Mac can't use the iMac computer's built-in camera or ports. To use external devices with your other Mac, connect them directly to the other Mac, not to your iMac.
Control brightness and sound
If you want to use the built-in speakers of your iMac to play audio from the other Mac:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, then click Output.
- Select the iMac as the device for sound output.
You can then use the sound and media keys on the keyboard of the other Mac to adjust volume and control media playback.
To control the brightness of the iMac display while it's in target display mode, use Displays preferences on the other Mac, or the brightness keys on the keyboard of the other Mac.
If target display mode doesn't work
If your iMac doesn't show the desktop of your other Mac, try these steps first:
![Ps4 Ps4](/uploads/1/1/7/7/117729412/531244949.jpg)
- Restart your iMac.
- Restart the other Mac.
- Unplug the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort cable from the other Mac, then plug it back in.
- Press Command-F2 on the iMac.
If that doesn't work, try these other solutions:
- If you're currently logged in to the iMac that you want to use as a display, choose Apple menu > Log Out to return to the login window. Then press Command-F2 again.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Keyboard. If ”Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” is selected, target display mode uses Command-Fn-F2 instead of Command-F2. It might also help to use the keyboard that came with your iMac. Some third-party keyboards and older Apple keyboards don't support target display mode.
- Make sure that your iMac is using macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or earlier. You can't use target display mode with later versions of macOS, or with Boot Camp and Windows.
Learn more
- Identify the ports on your Mac.
- Learn about adapters for the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C port on your Mac.
iMac, as the all-in-one desktop computer, has been the favorite computer for many users, and 4K retina screen is one of the highlights.
As time goes, old iMac may be put in the room corner.
If you did that, it is a big pity that you miss the large screen.
Why not use iMac as an external monitor for your PC, or other Mac computers?
That’s what we shall uncover in this post.
We will show the step-by-step guide to use iMac as an external monitor for PC, MacBook, and other computers.
Part 1. Use iMac as External Monitor for PC/MacBook via Target Display Mode
Target display mode is the hidden feature in iMac, which you can mirror PC or other Mac models into iMac for large screen.
For using the iMac as the external display, you should prepare what is as following:
● iMac computer
- 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010 with a Mini DisplayPort.
- All iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013 and mid 2014 with a Thunderbolt port.
● A Thunderbolt cable or a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable.
● Mac from 2019 or earlier or PC with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port.
Then let’s follow the steps below to get iMac as the external monitor for MacBook/mini or PC.
Step 1 Turn on both source MacBook/PC and iMac.
Step 2 Make sure the MacBook is logged in to the user account.
Step 3 Plug the cable into the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort on MacBook or PC. Then connect the other end of cable into the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort on your iMac.
Note: If you are using an adapter, connect the cable to the adapter first, then insert the other end into the Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port on the iMac.
Step 4 Press Command + F2 on the keyboard of the iMac to trigger the target display mode. In a few seconds, you should now see the screen of MacBook/PC mirrored on the iMac.
To exit the target display mode, you should press Command + F2 again or disconnect the cable.
Part 2. Use iMac as External Display for iPhone/iPad via QuickTime
Not only using iMac as the external monitor for PC and other Mac models, but also can you mirror iPhone/iPad into iMac for large screen. The tool that can help you is QuickTime.
QuickTime is the media player and screen recorder. Here, it acts as the screen mirror. The steps of using iMac as the large display for iPhone/iPad are also easy to follow.
Step 1 Connect iPhone to iMac
Get the USB cable to plug your iPhone into iMac.
Step 2 Enable QuickTime screen recording
Run QuickTime on your iMac. Click File in the upper left corner to choose New Movie Recording option.
Step 3 Select your iPhone
Click the drop-down list of the recording button to find your iPhone in the camera list.
Step 4 Mirror iPhone into iMac
Now you can see the screen of iPhone is mirrored on iMac. Meanwhile, all the actions you did on iPhone will be recorded in iMac.
You can choose to export the recording or give it up.
Apart from QuickTime, you can also use the third-party software, e.g. Reflector, to share your iPhone or iPad screen in iMac. More details about mirroring iPhone to Mac are here.
![How To Use Your Mac As A Monitor For Ps4 How To Use Your Mac As A Monitor For Ps4](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1FKtsXdfvK1RjSspfq6zzXFXat/13-3-Inch-Supper-Ultra-narrow-Border-HDR-Portable-Monitor-1920-1080P-IPS-Screen-For-PS3.jpg)
Part 3. Pro Tip: Use PC as External Display for iPhone iPad
To use iMac as the external display monitor for PC and other Mac models are easy. Moreover, you can also mirror your iPhone screen into iMac to use the large screen. However, not all the users are the fans of Mac computer. Sharing the iPhone or iPad screen on PC can also enjoy the large display.
How to use PC as the monitor for iPhone or iPad?
Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder is the fix. It is the professional software to enlarge iPhone/iPad/iPod screen on PC wirelessly and safely. With it, you can connect iPhone and iPad with PC and watch the videos on a large screen.
- Use PC as the external display monitor and recorder for iPhone and iPad.
- Share videos, music, and other data from iOS device to PC easily.
- Compatible with Windows 10/8/7 and iPhone/iPad running in iOS 14/13/12/11, etc.
- Mirror iPhone/iPad to PC with Wi-Fi easily.
How To Use Your Mac As A Monitor For Ps4 Controller
Step 1 Enable Screen Mirroring on iPhone
Make sure both your iPhone/iPad and PC connect with the same Wi-Fi network.
Run iOS Screen Recorder program on your PC.
On iPhone, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen to open Control Center, and tap Screen Mirroring to choose Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder to enable the mirror feature.
Step 2 Make recording settings on PC
Return to this software on PC, you will see three tabs, Welcome, Settings and About.
Navigate the Settings tab, and you can customize the recording settings freely.
Step 3 Mirror and recording iPhone on PC
While all the settings are made well, just click the red record button on your iPhone, and it will start mirroring and recording iPhone screen on PC.
Click the Start Export button to save the recording as MP4 on PC.
To same extent, this software is similar to QuickTime. However, it works more powerfully than the latter.
Part 4. FAQS of Using iMac as Extremal Monitor
Target display mode does not work in iMac?
You can fix the target display mode by following the solutions here:
1. Make sure you are logged into iMac.
2. Make sure your iMac is running in macOS Big Sur or earlier.
3. Make sure the cable is connected correctly.
1. Make sure you are logged into iMac.
2. Make sure your iMac is running in macOS Big Sur or earlier.
3. Make sure the cable is connected correctly.
Why does it fail to use the iMac with 5K screen as the monitor for my PC?
In general, iMac has the resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 5120 x 2880 (5K). If you use the iMac with 2560 x 1440 resolution, then you should make sure the PC resolution is also 2560 x 1440. To use iMac with 5120 x 2880 resolution as the monitor for the PC, it is hard to make it. That’s why you cannot use the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina and newer ones as the monitor for PC.
Can I use multiple iMac computer as the monitor for one PC or Mac?
Yes, you can use more than one iMac as a display provided all Mac computers. Both iMacs and the source Mac computer are using Thunderbolt connectivity. Each iMac used as a monitor counts against the simultaneously connected displays supported by the source Mac.
What is the maximum connected Thunderbolt monitor for Mac?
The maximum connected Thunderbolt display is 1 for MacBook Air (Mid 2011), MacBook Pro 13-inch (2011), Mac mini 2.3 GHz (Mid 2011), 2 is for MacBook Air (Mid 2012 - 2014), MacBook Pro Retina (Mid 2012 and later), MacBook Pro 15-inch (Early 2011 and later), MacBook Pro 17-inch (Early 2011 and later), Mac mini 2.5 GHz (Mid 2011), Mac mini (Late 2012 - 2014), iMac (Mid 2011 - 2013) and iMac 21.5-inch (Mid 2014), and 6 is for Mac Pro (2013).
Conclusion
To use old iMac as the external display monitor is a good solution for those who needs the large screen. You can use the target display mode to do it by connecting PC/Mac to iMac with the cable. Moreover, QuickTime also shares the mirror way to get iMac as the monitor for iPhone and iPad. As for watching the large screen on PC from iPhone/iPad, you can also use Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder.
Do you have any idea to use the large screen as the monitor for your device?
How To Use Your Mac As A Monitor For Ps4 Mini
Let me know by leaving your comments below.