Use imac as a windows monitor

kayradinaryus

kayradinaryus

Registered
Hello, i have mid 2011 27 inch imac. Although it is still useful, the work programs I use do not work because the updates do not come. Since the current exchange rate is quite challenging in our country, it has become impossible to buy an external monitor. So I want to use my current imac as a monitor for a windows based system. I've gone through a lot of posts/resources that this is possible.
Does anyone have real experience in this matter and can share with me? I really need this.

Thank you!
 
Right now I have a mini dp and a normal dp end cable. My computer does not have a mini dp slot, but I do have a dp slot.
There is one thing I am not very sure about. The mini end of the cable I have has a square marking. Lightning sign on the back of my iMac. I'm not sure if the problem comes from here.
 
The "lightning" marking on the Mac connector means "thunderbolt".
If you want to use your 2011 27-inch iMac as an external display, then the only choice is to use Target Display mode.
And, that choice also means that the source computer (the one that you want to send video from) must be a Mac (not a Windows PC).
There's an exception to that, if the Mac with Target Display mode does not have Thunderbolt, which would include models only from 2009 or 2010. Those models have mini displayport, and can show video from another computer that has a displayport output
Sorry, but your 2011 iMac has Thunderbolt, and is too new. A Windows PC will not work, only another Mac (with Thunderbolt)
 
The Mini DisplayPort for Target Display mode was only on 27-inch iMacs, and only for 2009 and 2010 models. 2011 to 2014 iMacs (both 27 and 21.5-inch) could be used for Target Display mode, but only with Thunderbolt, and if the source computer had native Thunderbolt ports (displayport and mini DisplayPort connections was not supported, and the feature was gone entirely in 2015 iMacs.
 
DeltaMac said:
The Mini DisplayPort for Target Display mode was only on 27-inch iMacs, and only for 2009 and 2010 models. 2011 to 2014 iMacs (both 27 and 21.5-inch) could be used for Target Display mode, but only with Thunderbolt, and if the source computer had native Thunderbolt ports (displayport and mini DisplayPort connections was not supported, and the feature was gone entirely in 2015 iMacs.
Click to expand...

Use your iMac as an external monitor
https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/how-to-use-your-imac-as-a-monitor/

https://www.macworld.com/article/34...monitor-you-need-an-old-version-of-macos.html

Note:

Using 27-inch iMac As Monitor Requires Very Specific Cable
http://www.cultofmac.com/20176/using-imac-as-monitor-requires-very-specific-cable/

Luna Display ($120)
https://astropad.com/product/lunadisplay/
allows you to use iMacs that otherwise can't be used as an external display as one (unfortunately, it's priced close to what you would pay for a brand-new external display)
 
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