Can the iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) be used as display with M4 Mac Mini?

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anniecaya Author

Level 1

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Can the iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) be used as display with M4 Mac Mini?

Is it possible to connect the mac mini M4 to my 2013, 21.5-inch iMac and use it as a display only?

iMac 21.5″

Posted on Feb 10, 2025 9:29 AM

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Answer 1

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VikingOSX

Level 10

123,290 points

Feb 10, 2025 9:49 AM in response to anniecaya

Nope. Apple discontinued Target Display mode before the 2014 5K iMacs were released. Just decide on your display requirements and purchase a real display for that Mac Mini. I am using a 32-in LG 4K UltraFine Ergo display with my M4 Mac Mini Pro. Using a Belkin Ultra High-Speed HDMI 2.1 cable.

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Answer 2

Feb 10, 2025 9:50 AM in response to anniecaya

No, it cannot.

You will need a proper monitor to set up and use the Mac mini.

The ability to use iMac as a monitor died when the first Retina iMacs were released (2014?) and died in software with the release of macOS Big Sur.

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Answer 3

Feb 10, 2025 10:15 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

To add: Using an iMac As A Monitor (Thank you, John Galt)

and this: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

Read the second one especially carefully. The devil is in the details.

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Answer 4

Feb 10, 2025 10:11 AM in response to anniecaya

Yes, that info is incorrect. It is AI generated garbage.

That info pertains only to vintage Macs.

Key: the M4 Mac mini cannot run Catalina.

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Answer 5

anniecaya Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 10, 2025 9:59 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

I found this when searched google..

Can I assume this information is incorrect then?

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Yes, a late 2013 21.5-inch iMac can be used as a display for an M4 Mac Mini if you use Target Display Mode and the correct cables. However, the iMac must be running macOS High Sierra or earlier, and the Mac Mini must be running macOS Catalina or earlier.

How to use Target Display Mode

Connect the iMac and Mac Mini with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Make sure the iMac is running macOS High Sierra or earlier.
Make sure the Mac Mini is running macOS Catalina or earlier.
On the iMac, select Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard.
Ensure that Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys is not selected.
On the iMac, press Command-F2.

If Target Display Mode doesn't work, you can try these steps:

Log out of the iMac and then press Command-F2 again.
Use the keyboard that came with the iMac.
Boot the iMac into safe mode.

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Can the iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) be used as display with M4 Mac Mini?

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