Using a 27 Mid 2011 iMac as a monitor for a Mac Mini

[dcmaccam]

I have an old but fully functional 27” Late 2011 iMac that has a good screen and had a new GPU fitted. I also have an 11” 2015 Macbook Air.

No I know I can use my 2011 as a monitor for my Macbook Air via a Thunderbolt cable.

Now if I purchased a new M1 Mac Mini could I connect this to my 2011 iMac via the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 1/2 adapter plus a Thunderbolt cable (both of which I have). If it would work I guess I would need to set the machine up by temporarily connecting it to another display. Hopefully I should be able to run it with only the Thunderbolt cable connected. Then use the keyboard combo to switch into target display mode.

 

[appltech]

Hey there. I was wondering about the same thing. Having looked and read comments everywhere, I can almost 100% be sure, that you cannot use an older iMac in Target Display Mode.
See the original Apple article (which is, look carefully, deprecated). It says, "You can connect any of these older iMac models to another Mac from 2019 or earlier".
It seems Apple doesn't want us to use this feature, or cannot make it work on their new silicon.

 

[dcmaccam]

It is possible that “another Mac from 2019 or earlier” may not be relevant as the document states in red txt that its archived and no longer being updated by Apple.

 

[fischjea]

I have an old but fully functional 27” Late 2011 iMac that has a good screen and had a new GPU fitted. I also have an 11” 2015 Macbook Air.

No I know I can use my 2011 as a monitor for my Macbook Air via a Thunderbolt cable.

Now if I purchased a new M1 Mac Mini could I connect this to my 2011 iMac via the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 1/2 adapter plus a Thunderbolt cable (both of which I have). If it would work I guess I would need to set the machine up by temporarily connecting it to another display. Hopefully I should be able to run it with only the Thunderbolt cable connected. Then use the keyboard combo to switch into target display mode.

 

[fischjea]

I have been trying to solve exact same. 2011 IMAC to 2020 M1 Mac Mini. I found this article posted by @curtc757 and followed the directions but no luck . Maybe it will work for you.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...hunderbolt-displays-up-to-3-displays.2274691/