Using 27" iMac as a Display for my 13" MBP

I've read a couple of posts on this forum, but am still unsure whether this is possible.
I have a 27" i7 iMac and a 13" MBP (2009) and I want to know if I can use the iMac as a display for my MBP. Is this possible, if so what do I need to acheive this (cables, software etc.) and how do you switch between the iMac and MBP on the same monitor. Also, has anyone had an experience with Henge Docks for the MBP ?
Thanks in advance.

Yes, you can. This article explains how: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924
You will need a Mini DisplayPort cable.

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Is it possible to use an iMac as the display for a Mac mini?

Is it possible to use an iMac as the display for a Mac mini?

iMacs late 2009 or newer can be used in Target display
mode. Any older, no can do.
The only other way is via network Screen Sharing or
some otherVPN network like solution. The issue here
though is that video performance will be pretty severely
hampered.

TS1367 Is there are a way to use my imac as a display for my macbook pro? I have a thunderbolt cable but it doesnt seem to do anything

Is there are a way to use my imac as a display for my macbook pro? I have a thunderbolt cable but it doesnt seem to do anything

Hello eassic,
Thanks for the question, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like Target Display Mode may be what you are looking for:
Target Display Mode lets you use a Mac as the external display for another “primary” Mac. In some cases, you can also play the sound from your primary Mac on the speakers of the external Mac. For example, a MacBook Pro could use a 27-inch iMac as the display and play its audio on the iMac as well.
OS X Mountain Lion: Use another Mac as a display
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11302
Use an iMac with Thunderbolt as a display
If you have an iMac with Thunderbolt, any other Mac with Thunderbolt can use it as a display. The iMac will play both the video and audio from the other Mac.
1. Connect the Thunderbolt cable to the Thunderbolt ports on each computer.
2. Make sure both Mac computers are turned on and awake.
3. Press Command (⌘)-F2 on the keyboard of the external display Mac.
4. If you want the external display Mac to play audio as well as video from the primary Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, and then click Output. Select the external display Mac from the list of devices.
Thanks,
Matt M.

Can I use my iMac as a 'display' for my MacBook Pro?

Hi all, I am really hoping someone can help me here.
I am wondering if I can use my 24" iMac as a display for my MacBook Pro (both running Snow Leopard).
It's my father's 80th birthday party in about 24 hours time. I am doing up the music and slideshow (thanks Apple - so easy!).
My plan was to simply take my iMac and use it. However, I managed to drop the wireless keyboard (darn those dogs) and now my keyboard won't work. I have no backup keyboards here (gave the wired one to Dad to use with his Mac mini). I live in a country area with no access to a Mac store and it will take more than 24 hours to get a new one. Went to my local 'other computer' general store last night: I really don't want to buy an ugly black keyboard..... I have just had a great idea:
Can I network my MacBook Pro and use it as the source for the slide show and simply use the iMac as a display? I have plenty of DVI adaptors but am just not sure how I would go about the software side of things? Or should I simply buy an ugly PC keyboard (and if I do, will the WIndows button work as an Apple button???)
Any suggestions would be really appreciated.
Thanks!

The imac 24 can't be used as a monitor over a DVI connection or the like, Suzanne, but you may be able to achieve what you want to using "Screen Sharing" by networking the two computers. This lets your MBP effectively control what is running on the iMac.
See HERE for the basic setup. For information about how to access the "shareable" screen from the MBP see HERE.
One possible problem may be actually getting this set-up on the iMac if it is not already enabled, however, unless you can borrow a keyboard from someone (your password may have to be entered to enable it). You may be able to get around this, if necessary, using the "keyboard viewer" (which you can place in the menubar using System preferences > Keyboard, if you don't already have it there).
Cheers
Rod

How can I use an Imac as a display for a MacPro?

I purchased a used 2009 MacPro with the understanding I could use my iMac as a monitor using a mini display cable. I was under the impression that plugging in the mini display cable would cause the iMac to automatically default as a display for the MacPro. In all of the examples I've seen are of a laptop using an iMac as a display. I don't know how to access the Mac Pro's system preferences without a monitor to set up the iMac as a display. Any suggestions?
Thanks

OS X Mountain Lion: Use another Mac as a display
The feature seems to require Thunderbolt or 27" iMac.
Then Command-F2 on the display Mac.

Using 2011 iMac as external display for new Retina macbook / port sharing question

I'd like to see if there is a way to use the firewire port on the back my 2011 iMac 27" when it's connected to my 2014 15" Retina Macbook.
The two work fine right now - the iMac is the main display for the macbook, but I wanted to know if there is a way to utilize the extra ports - namely the firewire port on the iMac through the Macbook. I've created aggregate devices before - would this be the way to go?
Thanks!

Hello gstern1994,
Yes you can. Form the article below you should be able to do that, just make sure that you plug in those devices when you have already set up the Target Display Mode on the iMac.
Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht3924
Regards,
-Norm G.

HT3924 using 2008 imac 24" as display for 2011 macbook pro

can i use my 2008 iMac 24" as the display for my 2011 Mac book pro

Not really on that year, only thing that may work for you is Screen Sharing, where you run one from the other one, but not much help with what you wan't.

Can I use my iMac as a display for a Dell laptop?

I have a 27" 2011 imac that I would like to use periodically as a monitor for my Dell Latitude E7240. Can I do this? Thank you.

I don't use windows or have access to a pc with DisplayPort output to test.
From what I can find on the subject, the iMac can be used as a monitor with some game consoles and pc's that have the correct DisplayPort protocol.
see > http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/ins-outs-imacs-target-display-mode/
and http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-your-imac-as-a-monitor/

Can I use my iMac as a display for a G5 - New Mac User

I am still a fairly new iMac user, I would like to know if I can use my exsisting iMac with someones elses G5, and use my iMac as a screen display for his G5. Im sorry if this topic does not belong in this forum, I did try searching thru other forums to post and read up on this info.
Please direct me to the right place, or answer my question. Thanks in advance.

Here's the scoop, if you want to use any iMac as an external display for a G5 Mac you have these options.
1. Target Disk Mode, only available on iMacs with Firewire:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58207
This only gives you access to the data files of that Mac and basically treats it as an external hard disk.
2. Networking via ethernet, wireless, or Firewire, you can setup Virtual Network Computing or Remote Desktop:
http://www.macupdate.com/search.php?keywords=VNC&os=macosx
http://www.macupdate.com/search.php?os=macosx&keywords=remote+desktop
3. As others have suggested, somehow to remove the VGA cable from the logicboard of the iMac and connect it to the Mac externally.
The external VGA port of iMacs only display what is on the Mac itself and as far I know can't be used in a reverse signal application.

Can i use my iMac as a display for an hdmi source?

i would like to use it with a PS3

It depends which iMac you have. Some of the iMac released recently can operate in Target Display Mode.
Here are the search results for iMac Target Display Mode in these fora.

Is it possible to use an iMac as a display for other machine?

It looks like my 2009 iMac 27" is slowing right down, is there a way to use it as a monitor for say a mac mini, or even as a second display to a new iMac?

Take a look at this link, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924

Using 2009 iMac as second display for 2012 iMac

I am using my 2009 iMac as a second display using a mini display plugged into the 2012 iMac Thunderbolt port. When I plug it in, it works fine, but if I need to restart my 2012 iMac, it won't recognize the second display on reboot.
How do I make my 2012 iMac automatically recognize the second display? The only way I seem to make it work is by unplugging the cable, and then plugging it back in. When I do, it immediately recognizes the second display.

Thank you. Here's where my confusion comes in
"iMac (Mid 2011) and later: target Display Mode does not work with Mini DisplayPort cable"
Symptoms
When you attempt to connect an iMac (21.5-inch or 27-inch, Mid 2011) and later to another computer with a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, the screen of the target iMac will not become an external display when you press Command-F2 to activate Target Display Mode.
Resolution
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) and iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) and later computers support Target Display Mode via Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable (2 m) when the source is another Thunderbolt-equipped computer.
iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) computers do not support Target Display Mode via Mini DisplayPort cables.

Can I use an iMac as a display for a Wii & Playstation 3?

Hello folks,
My GF and I are planning to buy a 24" iMac and we are planning to replace our old boxy television with the iMac.
Can someone please tell me if it's possible to connect a Wii or a Playstation to the iMac, or should I keep the old telly handy.
Cheers

I'm not sure how easy it will be with the Wii and not sure what PS your talking about. I have done it with the Xbox 360 as it has a DVI adapter to my 24" iMac. However some people are using boxes like this one; http://www.consolesource.com/ecomm/catalog/XCM-1080p-VGA-Adapter-Xbox-360-Wii-PS 3-PSP-Slim-p-2709.html to use a Wii with monitors. Granted it will only be VGA so you will need a VGA to Mini-DVI for the iMac. This is a little pricey but will work with most systems.
There are just stand alone cables like this one; http://www.consoleshop.com/product.php?productid=20658&partner=googlebase&bid=3 so you might need to look around for adapters. It can be done though.

Using '09 iMac as Target Display via Thunderbolt Cable Fail

I have a peculiar situation that I hoping someone can decipher with certainty:
I have a late 2009 iMac core i7, 27" running 10.9.1
I just received a Mac Pro - my plan was to use the iMac as a display for the Mac Pro at least for a while. I purchased a thunderbolt cable. I have connected the mac pro via thunderbolt cable to the mini display port on the iMac.
Unfortunately I simply cannot get CMD-F2 to work, or FN-CMD-F2 on the iMac. I have tried PRAM resets etc. The system does nothing when I hit those keys. I verified the mac pro is working via HDMI.
I am now wondering if I have the right cable. I understood thunderbolt and mini display port to be interchangeable and backward compatible so that my situation would work.
What am I missing? Thanks much, really would like to get this mac pro on screen without buying a new monitor!

I found that MDP iMac MUST use a MDP cable. Which of course is not as easy to come by as the thunderbolt which I picked up. Really annoying.
http://blog.macsales.com/10899-target-display-mode-and-thunderbolt

Using an iMac as a display

Would it be possible to connect my MDD to an iMac, and then use the iMac as a display for both?

Not that I'm aware of. But, that said, you could mount your MDD tower on the network and use Apple Remote Desktop to display your MDD Desktop in a window on the iMac. I do this frequently around the house, and this means once you have the MDD setup with ARD (System Preferences/Sharing, click on Remote Desktop in left box listing sharing services in Tiger, or Remote Management in same box in Leopard), then set up Options to allow your iMac to access your MDD over the network.
This works perfectly, and the new iMacs are sufficiently powerful that responsiveness is good. If you're using Tiger, you'll need to purchase and install Apple's Remote Desktop software on the iMac to access the MDD's Desktop screen. If you're using Leopard, that's called Screen Sharing and you can access your MDD simply by opening a window on the iMac, going to the Shared area in the sidebar on the left side of the window, clicking on your shared MDD tower, then selecting Share Screen.
Have fun...

Using 27" iMac as a Display for my 13" MBP

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