Help please. Not techy at all but I am hoping to connect my MacBook pro Intel (thunderbolt 3/ USB-c) to pair with my old iMac 2011 (thunderbolt 1) so I can use my iMac for a second screen. Where can I purchase a cable/ adapter that would connect the two ports, I am having some difficulty sourcing. Thanks in advance.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Thunderbolt 1 to 3 port
- Thread starter Helpmeplz555
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Apple sells a TB2-TB3 adapter, all you'd need is a TB2 cable to go with it. TB1 and TB2 share the same port shape, so it should fit, you just won't see TB2 transfer speeds.
It's also bidirectional, but I'm not absolutely sure if that's important in this case. But it seems like all of the other adapters I've seen don't support bidirectionality except the Apple version, so it may be something to watch out for.
It's also bidirectional, but I'm not absolutely sure if that's important in this case. But it seems like all of the other adapters I've seen don't support bidirectionality except the Apple version, so it may be something to watch out for.
You can’t use an iMac as a second screen with a Thunderbolt connection. Thunderbolt can carry display output, not input.
Apple created Target Display Mode that allows using old iMacs as a display.
2009/2010 used DisplayPort.
2011-2014 uses Thunderbolt.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592
Works for me with Monterey (target: iMac 27 inch late 2013)
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/displaylink-luna-display-2011-imac.2294250/post-30474454