With a large and vibrant screen, iMac can work as a great external monitor for PC and MacBook. With Target Display Mode, it is possible to use some compatible iMac, such as 27-inch iMac in late 2009, mid 2010, as monitor for MacBook Pro/Air. But can you use iMac as monitor for Windows PC, PS4, XBox and other non-Apple devices? You can find many contradictory answers to this question online. And the truth is, it is possible to use iMac as monitor for PC, providing you have a compatible iMac and PC, and are using a right cable.
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This post is going to show you not only how to use iMac as external monitor for PC with the right cable, but also the other way around, use PC as external monitor for Mac laptops or even iMacs.
BenQ is known for its affordable monitors that are primarily aimed at home and office use, but it's moved a little more in the Mac direction with its recently introduced PD2720U 'designer monitor'. If you are using an Apple adapter, try the following: Connect your monitor and Mac and open System Preferences Displays. Press the Alt/option key. This should make the Detect Displays button appear.
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Use iMac as PC Monitor
To use iMac as second monitor for PC, first you should make sure that your iMac can be used as a display. Here are the iMacs that can be used as a second monitor.
- 27-inch iMac released on late 2009 and mid 2010 with Mini DisplayPort.
- iMac (Mid 2011-Mid 2014) with Thunderbolt port.
Note that Retina 5K iMac released on late 2014 and later can't be used as Target Display Mode displays.
To use iMac with Mini DisplayPort for monitor, you will need one of the following devices:
A PC that has a video card with a Mini DisplayPort and a supported video cable;
A PC with HDMI port and a HDMI to Mini DisplayPort converter.
A PC with Display Port and a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter.
To use iMac with Thunderbolt port for monitor, your PC should has a Thunderbolt port so that you can use a Thunderbolt cable to connect the two computers together.
Steps to use iMac as second monitor for PC
Step 1 Power off your Windows PC and iMac.
Step 2 Plug one end of the compatible cable into the HDMI, Display Port, Thunderbolt port on your PC's or Laptop.
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Step 3 Plug the other end of the cable to Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt connector on your iMac.
Step 4 Power on the PC & iMac. Press Command + F2 (or Command+ Fn + F2) on the keyboard of your iMac to put it into 'Target Display Mode', in which iMac can be used in an external monitor.
Tip: To get a better result, you may need adjust the video output of your Windows PC so that it can match 2560 x 1440, the resolution of the iMac's screen.
Use Windows PC as External Monitor for MacBook
If you have a Windows PC with a bigger screen and would like to use it as external monitor with your Mac, here is a tool that can easily use Windows desktop and laptop as second monitor for mac. FonePaw ScreenMo is a Windows program that can mirror iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch to PC via AirPlay. It can also display Mac screen on a Windows PC via WiFi. So no extra cable is needed. You can easily add an external monitor for MacBook via Wi-Fi.
Steps to Use Windows PC as Monitor for Mac
Step 1 Download and install FonePaw ScreenMo on your Windows PC.
Step 2 Connect both your Windows PC and MacBook to the same Wi-Fi. Open ScreenMo on your PC.
Step 3 Find AirPlay icon on the top menu bar on your Mac. Click it and you will find the name of FonePaw ScreenMo.
Step 4 Select FonePaw ScreenMo. The screen of your Mac will be projected to Windows PC immediately.
That's easy, right? Your can also use FonePaw ScreenMo to mirror iOS screen to PC, record iOS screen video, record screen video of Mac computer and more.
Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar
- Make sure that your Mac and iPad meet the Sidecar system requirements.
- You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to keep your iPad charged during use, connect it directly to your Mac with the USB charge cable that came with your iPad.
- Click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar on your Mac, then choose the option to connect to your iPad. Or use Sidecar preferences to connect.
If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then make sure that ”Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” is selected. - Your iPad should now show an extension of your Mac desktop. You can move windows to it and use it like any other display.
- To mirror your Mac display so that both screens show the same content, return to the AirPlay menu, which is a blue rectangle while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display. This is a great way to share your Mac screen with others.
- To end your Sidecar session, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect. Or click the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad.
Learn more about using external displays. For example, you can use Displays preferences to arrange displays so that your iPad extends the left, right, top, or bottom of your desktop.
Move a window to your iPad display
If you hover your pointer over the full-screen button of a window, you can choose to move that window to or from your iPad display. It's faster than dragging the window, and the window is perfectly resized for your display.
The sidebar puts commonly used controls on the side of your iPad screen. It includes Command, Shift, and other modifier keys, so you can choose essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead of a keyboard.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the sidebar or change its position.
Tap to show or hide the menu bar when viewing a window in full screen on iPad.
Command. Touch and hold to set the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Option. Touch and hold to set the Option key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Control. Touch and hold to set the Control key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Shift. Touch and hold to set the Shift key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Undo the last action. Some apps support multiple undos.
Use the Touch Bar
Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, you get a Touch Bar on your iPad screen even if your Mac doesn’t have a Touch Bar. It works just like the Touch Bar on Mac, and you can tap its controls with either your finger or Apple Pencil.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the Touch Bar or change its position.
If the Touch Bar doesn't appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then make sure that “Displays have separate Spaces” is selected.
Use gestures for scrolling and other actions
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/1/7/8/117880376/815918965.png)
Multi-Touch gestures on iPad remain available when using Sidecar. These gestures are particularly useful with Sidecar:
- Scroll: Swipe with two fingers.
- Copy: Pinch in with three fingers.
- Cut: Pinch in with three fingers twice.
- Paste: Pinch out with three fingers.
- Undo: Swipe left with three fingers, or double-tap with three fingers.
- Redo: Swipe right with three fingers.
Use Apple Pencil
To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.
Sidecar also supports double-tap, which you can turn on in Sidecar preferences. Double-tap enables apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
Use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
During your Sidecar session, you can type using a keyboard connected to either your Mac or iPad, including the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad.
To point, click, or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac, or use an Apple Pencil on your iPad.
Use iPad apps
While using Sidecar, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This suspends your Sidecar session until you switch back to the Sidecar app or disconnect Sidecar. The Sidecar app appears on your home screen only while using Sidecar.
![Use mac as monitor for pc laptop Use mac as monitor for pc laptop](/uploads/1/1/7/8/117880376/322039409.png)
Use Sidecar preferences
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sidecar. These preferences are available only on computers that support Sidecar.
- Show Sidebar: Show the sidebar on the left or right side of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Show Touch Bar: Show the Touch Bar on the bottom or top of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Enable double tap on Apple Pencil: Allow apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
- Connect to: Choose an iPad to connect to, or click Disconnect to stop using Sidecar.
Sidecar system requirements
Sidecar requires a compatible Mac using macOS Catalina and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13:
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Mac using macOS Catalina
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
- iMac introduced in 2017 or later, plus iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in 2019
iPad using iPadOS 13
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- iPad Pro: all models
- iPad (6th generation) or later
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
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Additional requirements
- Both devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.
- To use Sidecar wirelessly, both devices must be within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. Also make sure that the iPad is not sharing its cellular connection and the Mac is not sharing its Internet connection.
- To use Sidecar over USB, make sure that your iPad is set to trust your Mac.
Learn more
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- Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference, which can affect Sidecar performance when using Sidecar wirelessly.