crwdns2933423:0crwdne2933423:0

Model A1225 / Early 2009 / 2.66, 2.93, or 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

crwdns2934591:0163crwdne2934591:0 crwdns2934593:0crwdne2934593:0

Is it possible to use an older iMac as a monitor for a MacBook Pro?

I want to use my iMac as a monitor for my 2015 MacBook Pro.

I know that this iMac missed the boat for Target Display Mode by 3 years but I’m wondering if there’s some other way that I can use this iMac as a monitor. I’ve seen other threads about this and they don’t look very promising.

@mayer @danj

Update (01/29/2019)

@oldturkey03 Alright so I finally have some time on my hands to crack this machine open and figure out what model of display panel my iMac has. Here’s an image of that sticker…

Block Image

crwdns2934089:0crwdne2934089:0 crwdns2934093:0crwdne2934093:0

crwdns2934109:0crwdne2934109:0

crwdns2889612:0crwdne2889612:0 0

crwdns2944067:02crwdne2944067:0:

@oldturkey03 has done this a few times with a few different systems. Lets see what he can offer.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@tronke.....possibly. not the iMac as a whole but maybe the panel itself. If at all possible let us know what number your panel is. If you open up your iMac with something like this guide iMac Intel 24" EMC 2267 Display Panel Replacement and take a look at the back of your Panel, you should see a sticker adhered to it. Let us know what the model number is.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

crwdns2934285:0crwdne2934285:0

crwdns2933313:01crwdne2933313:0

Yes it is possible, and very easy. All you need is a thunderbolt cable. Depending on your MacBook model, you may need a thunderbolt adapter (ie. thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3).

Step 1: login on both iMac and MacBook.

Step 2: connect all cables(and adapters if necessary)

Step 3: on iMac, press [Command + F2]

All done!

crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0

crwdns2889612:0crwdne2889612:0 -1

crwdns2944067:03crwdne2944067:0:

Unfortunately my iMac does not support target display mode due to its age.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

Isabel, can you give us some documentation for where you got this information?

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

crwdns2934285:0crwdne2934285:0

crwdns2934229:0crwdne2934229:0

tr121 crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
crwdns2936625:0crwdne2936625:0:

crwdns2936751:024crwdne2936751:0 0

crwdns2936753:07crwdne2936753:0 0

crwdns2936753:030crwdne2936753:0 0

crwdns2942667:0crwdne2942667:0 630