M1 iMac with wired Airplay screen display

[rogan]

I have a work MBP (M1Pro) and an LG UltraFine 4k.
We have new work policies around what you can and can't use work devices for, so I am looking to get a Mac for home (currently just use an iPad for most things "personal" but will need an actual computer now).

My wife also needs a display for work, so I am thinking of giving her the LG.

This has led me down the path of.. can I get the M1 iMac, and use it as a display via the Airplay display sharing (wired) launched last year.
Isn't used for gaming, or watching video, just for browsing and coding.

Does anyone do this? is it good enough? Or should I spend the extra ~$1000 on Mac Mini and Studio display.

 

[rm5]

Not sure I'm understanding. Are you planning on connecting something (iPad, MacBook, etc.) to the iMac using AirPlay, or just using the iMac "as-is?"

You can't "hard-wire" something to use with AirPlay - it's completely wireless. And, the ability to use an iMac as a wired monitor w/ a MacBook, etc. has been gone for almost 10 years.

 

[rogan]

Not sure I'm understanding. Are you planning on connecting something (iPad, MacBook, etc.) to the iMac using AirPlay, or just using the iMac "as-is?"

You can't "hard-wire" something to use with AirPlay - it's completely wireless. And, the ability to use an iMac as a wired monitor w/ a MacBook, etc. has been gone for almost 10 years.

iMac as is and also as a display for work MBP.

I thought you could ‘wired airplay display’ as of monterey?

was interested in the performance

 

[Scarboose]

I have the exact same situation. M1 Pro laptop for work and I bought an M1 iMac for personal use. I use it as a second monitor for my work laptop. You can hardwire it but you will notice an ever so slight delay. I still play music on my iMac while using it as a second display too. I think you'll be happy with it if you go that route!

 

[rogan]

I have the exact same situation. M1 Pro laptop for work and I bought an M1 iMac for personal use. I use it as a second monitor for my work laptop. You can hardwire it but you will notice an ever so slight delay. I still play music on my iMac while using it as a second display too. I think you'll be happy with it if you go that route!

thanks for the reply! some questions if too dont mind,

do you get the full 4k resolution?
what do you do any mouse/keyboard between the two

 

[Scarboose]

thanks for the reply! some questions if too dont mind,

do you get the full 4k resolution?
what do you do any mouse/keyboard between the two

Yup! There is no difference between the iMac resolution and the airplay from the MacBook. You can change the resolution to a lower setting if you want too. I have a keyboard that connects via bluetooth that I can switch between the two and then just have different mice for each. It does power the MacBook at the same time while working on it too. I leave the power brick in a basket on the side that I can grab if I am not going to be working at my desk, which is really nice.

Seriously, besides the extremely minor lag, which I've gotten used to, this is a great setup that I am very happy with!

 

[rogan]

Yup! There is no difference between the iMac resolution and the airplay from the MacBook. You can change the resolution to a lower setting if you want too. I have a keyboard that connects via bluetooth that I can switch between the two and then just have different mice for each. It does power the MacBook at the same time while working on it too. I leave the power brick in a basket on the side that I can grab if I am not going to be working at my desk, which is really nice.

Seriously, besides the extremely minor lag, which I've gotten used to, this is a great setup that I am very happy with!

this is amazing, thank you so much

 

[JerryCooke]

You can't "hard-wire" something to use with AirPlay - it's completely wireless. And, the ability to use an iMac as a wired monitor w/ a MacBook, etc. has been gone for almost 10 years.

Not quite that long; iMacs as new as 8 years old can be used as TDM monitors.

The 2011 to mid-2014 models that have Thunderbolt can be used in Target Display Mode with most Macs released pre-M1. Apple say the source needs to be Catalina and the target needs to be High Sierra, but I’ve got a 2017 21.5” and a 2012 27” both running Monterey working quite happily together ??‍♂️

AirPlay is also not entirely wireless; you can run AirPlay mirroring over USB, Ethernet, or Thunderbolt as well.

 

[darngooddesign]

Take a look at the Luna display dongle.

 

[carl varley]

You can also use built in screen sharing with a cheap headless HDMI adapter to extend your desktop. I use it from a mac mini to an iMac 2011 27 inch as a second screen.

 

[raggedd]

You can also use built in screen sharing with a cheap headless HDMI adapter to extend your desktop. I use it from a mac mini to an iMac 2011 27 inch as a second screen.

Carl, would I be able to use my 2017 iMac display for a mac mini m1 via screen sharing, how would this work? thanks

 

[carl varley]

Hi, I have not tried it on a 5k iMac and that is a lot of pixels to push around. Though you could use a smaller window on the iMac.

I would not use it as a primary work monitor but is best used as a second display.

For a second display you will need a 4K headless HDMI adapter. This is the one I use:

EZDIY-FAB HDMI Dummy Plug,Headless Ghost, Display Emulator, Supports 4K 3840x2160 60Hz-1Pack

It fixes a problem you probably didn't even know you had - unlocking the full potential of your graphics card hardware. By simulating the presence of an attached display, display emulator allows you to use all of the power and available resolutions locked away inside your graphics hard...

www.amazon.co.uk

I think it is possible to use it without the dongle to mirror a display or to show a smallish screen.

Some quick instructions:

Screen sharing and file sharing need to be turned on in Sharing preferences and your network set up accordingly.

On your iMac you will need to attach a ethernet cable and the other end to the Mac mini.

Turn off wifi for a moment

You should still see your Mac mini on your iMac in locations in the left of any finder window on your sidebar. Or you can in the finder go to the Go menu and select Network. Choose your Mac mini and double click it.

In the top right of that window there should be a share screen button next to disconnect.

Press it and you should be into your Mac mini.

Hope that helps

 

[yolo88]

Hey everyone,

I have some issues with my setup:
I'm using
- iMac 2021 (private device)
- MB Pro 2020, Intel chip (work device)

Unfortunately, I cannot use Airplay to extend the screen from my work MBP to my private iMac anymore.
There was a security update for my work MBP that now prevents me from using my Apple ID on the MBP.

Before, with Airplay I could extend the screen to my iMac because I was using the same Apple ID on both devices (MBP + iMac).

My question:
Is there any way to extend the MBP to the iMac screen without using the same Apple ID on both devices? (I cannot use Luna Display as my company does not allow to install software).

 

[Scarboose]

Unfortunately, I dont think so. I believe that is the most important factor is that you have to be using the same Apple ID.

 

[yolo88]

Unfortunately, I dont think so. I believe that is the most important factor is that you have to be using the same Apple ID.

Thanks for your reply! That was my guess as well.
Time to buy a studio display then, I believe (damn Apple )

 

[frank o.]

Hey everyone,

I have some issues with my setup:
I'm using
- iMac 2021 (private device)
- MB Pro 2020, Intel chip (work device)

Unfortunately, I cannot use Airplay to extend the screen from my work MBP to my private iMac anymore.
There was a security update for my work MBP that now prevents me from using my Apple ID on the MBP.

Before, with Airplay I could extend the screen to my iMac because I was using the same Apple ID on both devices (MBP + iMac).

My question:
Is there any way to extend the MBP to the iMac screen without using the same Apple ID on both devices? (I cannot use Luna Display as my company does not allow to install software).

Hey, you can use airplay to extend the screen without an apple id. You can change it in the "airplay receiver settings". You can change it from "Apple ID" to "everyone in the same network" and "everyone". Only disadvantage is, that every time you want to connect to your imac you have enter a code on your macbook. It doesn´t connect automatically.

 

[yolo88]

Hey, you can use airplay to extend the screen without an apple id. You can change it in the "airplay receiver settings". You can change it from "Apple ID" to "everyone in the same network" and "everyone". Only disadvantage is, that every time you want to connect to your imac you have enter a code on your macbook. It doesn´t connect automatically.

hey frank:

thank you so much for your help. I've tried it and I am sitting right now at my work mac connected to my private iMac as an external display via airplay's "everyone" setting.
This is so awesome!

Thanks frank—you can be be sure that helped some random person on the internet today

 

[frank o.]

hey frank:

thank you so much for your help. I've tried it and I am sitting right now at my work mac connected to my private iMac as an external display via airplay's "everyone" setting.
This is so awesome!

Thanks frank—you can be be sure that helped some random person on the internet today

I´m glad to see it helped and is working now.👍