Target Display Mode: Using an iMac as a 2nd monitor for a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air

I have a mid-2011 27" iMac as a home computer, a 13" MacBook Air as a travel computer, and recently got a 13" MacBook Pro Retina as a work machine. I was thinking about getting a second monitor for using the MacBook Pro at home, but it turns out I can just use my 27" iMac as a second monitor. The secret? Target Display Mode and a Thunderbolt cable. If you're using a MacBook Pro as your main computer, but still have one of the iMac models below, Target Display Mode will help you breathe new life into your old machine. All you need is either a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cable. This makes an older iMac a great backup computer that doubles as a second monitor.

Target Display Mode Compatibility

How To Turn On Target Display Mode

To use your iMac as a second monitor:

1. Turn on both machines
2. Connect the cable
3. Press Command-F2 on the keyboard of your iMac *If you're using F1, F2, as standard function keys, then use Command-Fn-F2 *Some older keyboards may not activate Target Display Mode. I'm using a newer standard Mac wired keyboard and it works great.

To exit Target Display Mode, just hit Command-F2 again or detach the cable. If one of the computers goes into sleep mode, that will also exit Target Display Mode.