I recently posted about using an iPad as a portable display for your Mac mini. Interestingly, the most common question was, “Can you use an older iMac or MacBook for the same purpose?” The fantastic news is, yes, you can! In this article, I’ll guide you through the simple steps to achieve this.
I highly recommend checking out the video below on using an iPad as a mobile display. While it doesn’t cover using a MacBook or iMac, the underlying concept is similar.
How to Make Your Old iMac or MacBook Useful Again
If you have an unused iMac or MacBook and want to put it to good use, this is an excellent way to extend the life of those devices. However, you will need a few items to get started.
What You Need:
- HDMI to USB-C capture card (I’ve tested several, and this specific model works flawlessly.)
- Old iMac or MacBook running macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Compatible models include iMacs from 2019, iMac Pros from 2017, and MacBook Pros and Airs from 2018.
- There are unofficial methods to install Sonoma on older devices using OpenCore Legacy.
- HDMI Monitor app (It’s free to download and use.)
- Regular HDMI cable (Anker has a dependable option, or you can use what you already have.)
With these items in hand, you’re ready to use your iMac as a display!
Setup
Setting everything up is quite straightforward.
- Plug in your Mac mini.
- Power up your old iMac or MacBook.
- Ensure both devices are switched on.
- Download the HDMI Monitor app on your older device.
- Follow the instructions provided by the HDMI Monitor app.
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the Mac mini and the other end to the HDMI capture card.
- Now, connect the capture card to the older computer running the HDMI monitor app.
- And just like that, your old device is now a display for your Mac Mini!
Additional Benefits
The exciting part about this setup is that it’s not limited to just using a Mac mini. You can also utilize your old iMac as a display for any device with an HDMI output. This means you can connect it to your Xbox, PS5, Switch, Steam Deck, Apple TV, or any other compatible gadget. This approach truly revitalizes older Apple hardware. Imagine being able to bring your Xbox on vacation and gaming anywhere using your new MacBook Pro!
Conclusion
Transforming an old iMac or MacBook into a display is a brilliant way to extend the usability of your aging Apple devices. With just a $20 HDMI capture card and a straightforward setup, you can repurpose these machines into versatile secondary displays for your Mac mini, gaming consoles, or even other laptops. This not only prolongs the life of your older technology but also presents a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to purchasing a new monitor.
So whether you aim to maximize your Apple ecosystem’s capabilities or simply want to make use of devices you already own, this strategy offers incredible flexibility and value. Try it out—you may be pleasantly surprised by the potential of your old devices!
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