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• Cast iPhone/iPad screen to PC/MAC easily Music, Movies and Screen Mirroring. Get started today. Cast AirPlay to PC/MAC. Turn your PC or Mac into an Apple TV. IOS 11 Compatible. Share on the Big Screen. Presentation, App demo, Game Play, or Family Pictures. Connect with People in classroom, meeting room and living room.

iMac, as the all-in-one desktop computer, has been the favorite computer for many users, and 4K retina screen is one of the highlights.

As time goes, old iMac may be put in the room corner.

If you did that, it is a big pity that you miss the large screen.

Why not use iMac as an external monitor for your PC, or other Mac computers?

That’s what we shall uncover in this post.

We will show the step-by-step guide to use iMac as an external monitor for PC, MacBook, and other computers.

Part 1. Use iMac as External Monitor for PC/MacBook via Target Display Mode

Target display mode is the hidden feature in iMac, which you can mirror PC or other Mac models into iMac for large screen.

For using the iMac as the external display, you should prepare what is as following:

● iMac computer

• 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010 with a Mini DisplayPort.
• All iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013 and mid 2014 with a Thunderbolt port.

● A Thunderbolt cable or a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable.

● Mac from 2019 or earlier or PC with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port.

Then let’s follow the steps below to get iMac as the external monitor for MacBook/mini or PC.

Step 1 Turn on both source MacBook/PC and iMac.

Step 2 Make sure the MacBook is logged in to the user account.

Step 3 Plug the cable into the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort on MacBook or PC. Then connect the other end of cable into the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort on your iMac.

Note: If you are using an adapter, connect the cable to the adapter first, then insert the other end into the Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port on the iMac.

Step 4 Press Command + F2 on the keyboard of the iMac to trigger the target display mode. In a few seconds, you should now see the screen of MacBook/PC mirrored on the iMac.

To exit the target display mode, you should press Command + F2 again or disconnect the cable.

Part 2. Use iMac as External Display for iPhone/iPad via QuickTime

Not only using iMac as the external monitor for PC and other Mac models, but also can you mirror iPhone/iPad into iMac for large screen. The tool that can help you is QuickTime.

QuickTime is the media player and screen recorder. Here, it acts as the screen mirror. The steps of using iMac as the large display for iPhone/iPad are also easy to follow.

Step 1 Connect iPhone to iMac

Get the USB cable to plug your iPhone into iMac.

Step 2 Enable QuickTime screen recording

Run QuickTime on your iMac. Click File in the upper left corner to choose New Movie Recording option.

Step 3 Select your iPhone

Click the drop-down list of the recording button to find your iPhone in the camera list.

Step 4 Mirror iPhone into iMac

Now you can see the screen of iPhone is mirrored on iMac. Meanwhile, all the actions you did on iPhone will be recorded in iMac.

You can choose to export the recording or give it up.

Apart from QuickTime, you can also use the third-party software, e.g. Reflector, to share your iPhone or iPad screen in iMac. More details about mirroring iPhone to Mac are here.

Part 3. Pro Tip: Use PC as External Display for iPhone iPad

To use iMac as the external display monitor for PC and other Mac models are easy. Moreover, you can also mirror your iPhone screen into iMac to use the large screen. However, not all the users are the fans of Mac computer. Sharing the iPhone or iPad screen on PC can also enjoy the large display.

How to use PC as the monitor for iPhone or iPad?

Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder is the fix. It is the professional software to enlarge iPhone/iPad/iPod screen on PC wirelessly and safely. With it, you can connect iPhone and iPad with PC and watch the videos on a large screen.

• Use PC as the external display monitor and recorder for iPhone and iPad.
• Share videos, music, and other data from iOS device to PC easily.
• Compatible with Windows 10/8/7 and iPhone/iPad running in iOS 14/13/12/11, etc.
• Mirror iPhone/iPad to PC with Wi-Fi easily.

Step 1 Enable Screen Mirroring on iPhone

Make sure both your iPhone/iPad and PC connect with the same Wi-Fi network.

Run iOS Screen Recorder program on your PC.

On iPhone, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen to open Control Center, and tap Screen Mirroring to choose Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder to enable the mirror feature.

Step 2 Make recording settings on PC

Return to this software on PC, you will see three tabs, Welcome, Settings and About.

Navigate the Settings tab, and you can customize the recording settings freely.

Step 3 Mirror and recording iPhone on PC

While all the settings are made well, just click the red record button on your iPhone, and it will start mirroring and recording iPhone screen on PC.

Click the Start Export button to save the recording as MP4 on PC.

To same extent, this software is similar to QuickTime. However, it works more powerfully than the latter.

Part 4. FAQS of Using iMac as Extremal Monitor

Target display mode does not work in iMac?

You can fix the target display mode by following the solutions here:
1. Make sure you are logged into iMac.
2. Make sure your iMac is running in macOS High Sierra or earlier.
3. Make sure the cable is connected correctly.

Why does it fail to use the iMac with 5K screen as the monitor for my PC?

In general, iMac has the resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 5120 x 2880 (5K). If you use the iMac with 2560 x 1440 resolution, then you should make sure the PC resolution is also 2560 x 1440. To use iMac with 5120 x 2880 resolution as the monitor for the PC, it is hard to make it. That’s why you cannot use the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina and newer ones as the monitor for PC.

Screen Mirroring For Mac Free Download

Can I use multiple iMac computer as the monitor for one PC or Mac?

Yes, you can use more than one iMac as a display provided all Mac computers. Both iMacs and the source Mac computer are using Thunderbolt connectivity. Each iMac used as a monitor counts against the simultaneously connected displays supported by the source Mac.

What is the maximum connected Thunderbolt monitor for Mac?

The maximum connected Thunderbolt display is 1 for MacBook Air (Mid 2011), MacBook Pro 13-inch (2011), Mac mini 2.3 GHz (Mid 2011), 2 is for MacBook Air (Mid 2012 - 2014), MacBook Pro Retina (Mid 2012 and later), MacBook Pro 15-inch (Early 2011 and later), MacBook Pro 17-inch (Early 2011 and later), Mac mini 2.5 GHz (Mid 2011), Mac mini (Late 2012 - 2014), iMac (Mid 2011 - 2013) and iMac 21.5-inch (Mid 2014), and 6 is for Mac Pro (2013).

Conclusion

To use old iMac as the external display monitor is a good solution for those who needs the large screen. You can use the target display mode to do it by connecting PC/Mac to iMac with the cable. Moreover, QuickTime also shares the mirror way to get iMac as the monitor for iPhone and iPad. As for watching the large screen on PC from iPhone/iPad, you can also use Apeaksoft iOS Screen Recorder.

Do you have any idea to use the large screen as the monitor for your device?

Let me know by leaving your comments below.

For the question about how to screen mirroring your iPhone to Mac, we’re going to show you three best ways to learn and practice.

Screen Mirroring & AirPlay Tips

Have you ever thought to view your iPhone on a bigger screen like on your Mac? Generally, iOS users may want to mirror iPhone screen to Mac for various purposes: doing a business presentation on a bigger screen can make works much more efficient; playing games is more fun; sharing personal photos with friends and families and transferring videos from iPhone to Mac creates a warmer atmosphere; and watching movies on a larger screen must be a cool experience.

Here, we’re going to show you three best ways to connect your iPhone to Mac, mirroring what you need on Mac. They can make you easily enjoy a bigger iPhone screen.

Method 1: How to Mirror Your iPhone Screen to Mac with QuickTime

QuickTime Player is an extensible multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of capturing the screen of your iPhone, iPad or iPod. You can capture exactly what you’re seeing on your iPhone. Or you can make a video recording of your Mac screen, for example, video of working demo, game reviewing, photos slide show and so on.

This capability requires a USB cable. Mirroring Requirements for devices are:

1. The Mac: macOS X Yosemite or later
2. The iPhone: iOS 8 or later

Here are the STEPS:

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.

Step 2: Open the QuickTime Player on your Mac.

Step 3: Click “File”, and choose “New Movie Recording”.

Step 4: Click the Options pop-up menu, then Choose Your Connected iPhone.

Choose “New Movie Recording” and “Your Connected iPhone”

Step 5: The iPhone screen will now instantly display on the Mac.

Successfully Mirroring Your iPhone Screen to Mac with QuickTime Player

1. The default input device will be set to the built-in camera. To change it to your iPhone, click the Optionspop-up menu (down arrow next to the Record button). Then select your connected iPhone.
2. When connecting iPhone to Mac, the Photos and iTunes are automatically launched. You can close those apps and continue the process.

Method 2: AirPlay iPhone to Mac with Reflector

AirPlay Mirroring sends exactly what is on the iPhone screen wirelessly. While Apple does support screen mirroring between iPhone and Apple TV, it doesn’t provide a built-in solution to directly display your iPhone screen on Mac. But luckily, an AirPlay Receiver-Reflector can enable AirPlay for iPhone.

This capability requires WiFi network. Mirroring Requirements for Devices are:

1. An AirPlay receiver: Reflector
2. The iPhone: iOS 7 or later

Here are the STEPS to airplay on Mac:

Step 1: Make sure your iPhone and Mac on the same wireless network.

Step 2: Download and launch Reflectoron your Mac.

Step 3: Open up Control Center on your iPhone:

• On iPhone X or later or iPad with iOS 12 or later: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen.
• On iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen.

Step 4: Tap the “AirPlay/Screen Mirroring”.

Step 5: Select your Mac from the list.

Step 6: If a code appears on your Mac, enter the onscreen code on your iPhone.

Step 7: The iPhone screen will now instantly appear on the Mac.

If you can’t enable AirPlay for iPhone, please:

1. Make sure that your Mac is near the iPhone, try moving closer to it and try again.
2. Make sure that your Mac and iPhone are updated to the latest software version.

Method 3: How to Mirror Your iPhone Screen to Mac with AnyTrans for iOS

AnyTrans for iOS is a comprehensive iPhone data management software, it provides you a Free Screen Mirror tool for iPhone screen mirroring. Here are some of its main features:

• It allows you to mirror iPhone screen to Mac (or PC) in a click.
• During the screen mirroring, you can also record or capture the screen.
• In addition, it can help transfer all your iPhone data to another iPhone/iPad, or Mac/PC computer, and vice versa.
• Also, it helps you backup your iPhone completely to protect you from unexpected data loss. And then you can restore them whenever required.

Mirroring your iPhone to Mac with AnyTrans for iOS requires WiFi network. Requirements for Devices are:

1. The Mac: macOS Catalina beta, macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, OS X 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8
2. The iPhone: iOS 5 or later

Here are the STEPS:

Step 1: Make sure your iPhone and Mac on the same wireless network.

Step 2: Download AnyTrans for iOS and launch it on your Mac.

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 3: Click the “Screen Mirroring” option on the left navigation of the interface.

Click the “Screen Mirroring” Option After You Launch AnyTrans for iOS

Screen Mirroring For Macbook To Tv

Step 4: Open up Control Center on your iPhone:

Screen Mirroring For Mac Free Download

• On iPhone X or later or iPad with iOS 12 or later: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen.
• On iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen.

Step 5: Tap the “AirPlay/Screen Mirroring” button, and Choose the Name “AnyTrans_XXX” (your computer name).

Tap the “AirPlay/Screen Mirroring” Button and Choose the Name AnyTrans_XXX

Step 6: The iPhone screen will now instantly display on the Mac.

Successfully Mirroring Your iPhone Screen to Mac with AnyTrans for iOS

Having problems with turning on Wi-Fi on your computer and iOS device, learn how to connect your iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi.

Brief Comparison among QuickTime, AirPlay and AnyTrans for iOS

The Bottom Line

Screen Mirroring For Mac Version 10.6.8

Today, most people own more than one electronic products to entertain life. Screen mirroring iPhone to a bigger screen is one of digital entertainment lifestyle. Once you’re screening your iPhone to Mac, you can fast control your media on your iPhone. Remote handling the functions and enjoying the bigger screen must be an unique experience provided by screen mirroring.

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