Airplay 2 Mac Just Got Better, any year iMacs can now be used as a wireless display thanks 2 OCLP

In this video I will show you how to use an old imac as a wireless monitor for any other mac computer you may have laying around using Airplay to mac. Also if you hook up a simple USB cable you will be able to increase your resolutions and fix any latency issues that arise when your network is lagging. Enable airplay and reduce lag and artifacts.

Airplay is similar to Target display mode and will work for the beautiful 5K iMacs.
You must upgrade your system to either Monterey Or Ventura in order to have the Airplay Feature.
Older model mac computers can install the latest OS using Open Core Legacy Patcher (OCLP).

Use an old iMac as a monitor.

use a 2014 iMac as a monitor
use a 2015 iMac as a monitor
use a 2016 iMac as a monitor
use a 2017 iMac as a monitor
use a 2018 iMac as a monitor
use a 2019 iMac as a monitor
use a 2020 iMac as a monitor
use a 2021 iMac as a monitor
use a 2022 iMac as a monitor
use a 2023 iMac as a monitor
use a 2024 iMac as a monitor

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Target Display Mode
Here is what we know so far.

The 2009-2010 iMacs use Mini Display Port and will work with the M1-M2 macs (also work with Windows Computers)

The 2011-2013 iMacs work with TDM between only those year models. They will not TDM to the M1-M2. There are OS restrictions APPLE Nerfed this feature after High Sierra. These restrictions do not apply if you are running OCLP.

The 2015-2023 iMacs WILL NOT WORK. Though beautiful displays. They never supported TDM and so we are all left with Airplay (with USB or ethernet to improve performance)

All this provided that the display macs are running OCLP. in some cases the HOST computer may also require OCLP to enable certain features such as airplay.

I have not attempted a daisy chain but in the past this was an option.

Apple nerfed this TDM but THANK YOU TO OCLP to the rescue.

According to Apple these models are supported

But we are finding new ways to work around what Apple says is possible.

[SamSpadeTech]

For those of you interested in how to activate Airplay in native software with OCLP. Check out the second half of my other video.

[mirrormirage]

Thanks @Badspade!

Tested and works much better than Airplay over wifi. Was able to extend display from M1 Macbook Pro to Late 2014 iMac 27 inch 5k. 1920x1080 is fine for my needs.
Steps
1) Installed OCLP and upgraded to Ventura on iMac 2014. This channel has a video on how to do it
2) Go into settings of iMac 2014 and search for Airplay and toggle the option to recieve
3) Use a good usb-c to usb-A cable - make sure it supports data/not just charging. I am using an HP cable which has 5Gbps tx speed.
4) Go to displays in M1 Macbook pro, and add the iMac as an extended display.

Note: my bluetooth mouse was noticeably slower, switched it to usb wireless and it works fine too.

[udanceever]

nice to see this working! wish iMac just had a generic HDMI or DisplayPort over USB-C - this would repurpose that gorgeous display well beyond the life of its CPU!

[neo]

Really great solution here. Without the USB connection, the lag is very noticible. Now it's almost completely gone

[陳涵宇-ds]

I did that by using thunderbolt 4 cable, now I know a cheaper solution, thanks.

[VuotavaSaapas]

I am so pleased that you relesed this video. I can now use my late 2015 iMac as external monitor with my Macbook Air M2. I use the iMac with 4K resolution and the screen quality is really good and there is now lag or artifacts. Thank you very much!🎉

[javikrisna]

wonderful. got my new Mac Studio connected to my old iMac 27 2015 at 3840x2160 (4K) which is the same resolution of the Samsung M7 monitor that I use to Mac Studio. No lag at all. Thank you very much.

[larskristiansen]

Hi Sam
I'm buying a Mac Mini M4 (not yet) and have an Imac 27" 5K Late 2015 running Monterey 12.7.6. I've seen your great videos but still unsure if this setup can be done. I can't find airplay receives sharing check box, does that mean I have to install OCLP? - Help the Danish Imac user // Lars

[Noahlfe]

Hellloooo. I've been trying to figure out the best output to my M1 iMac from my M3 Pro MacBook and found a great but not perfect solution: turn off any kind of internet on the iMac. By forcing Airplay via Thunderbolt, this has dramatically reduced lag and image quality distortion from high frame rate content. I have left the internet on my MacBook as this is the used device. I hope this helps people looking for a more consistent connection.

[belugaback]

Thanks for this! Going to try this with a brand new macbook pro as the main machine into a late 2015 retina display iMac. Do you see any issues there? Will follow up if I can get it working!

[KrycekA]

Thank you for this video! Now I am also finally able to use my 2020 iMac 27” as an external display without having any lags or artifacts. Until now I used Airplay via WiFi which was not usable at all for my day-to-day job. I just happen to have a USB-C to USB-C cable laying around (the original one from my iPad Air 2020) which I tried after watching your tutorial. After plugging in the cable, I was also able to choose the same resolutions as you were. 3840 x 2160 is indeed not ideal so I am curious to hear if anyone else already tried a better high speed data cable to see if MacOS will suggest more resolution options. In any case, I am already happy with the current results!

[magicflyinggekko]

Have hooked up my Mac Studio w/ Studio Display and my 2020 Intel iMac via Thunderbolt. While they should have the identical 5k resolution, it does not
another problem I have is that even when setting them all up at the same resolution, there seems to be som, e scaling and the display doesn't align properly. So there is definitely some funkiness to it.

[nerdblues]

Wanted to let people know that usb c to thunderbolt adapter is not as good as a simple usb c to a cable. This seems counterintuitive, but apple logic. I had to upgrade the WiFi card on my iMac 12, 2 (2011) to a Broadcom BCM94360CD (requires soldering) and upgrade the iMac to Monterey to get the AirPlay to connect to a MacBook Pro 2021 (M1). Usb a to c cable produced results as shown in this video. Was using a usb 3.2 cable if it matters. The ports on the iMac are only USB 2.0. I tried using a thunderbolt 2 cable and the usb c to thunderbolt adapter, both apple brand, and airplay actually only offered up to 1080p on the iMac versus the native 1440p. Wanted to let other people know.

[AlexanderSomma]

For clarity this brings back TDM to the 2011-2013 iMacs and even allows it to work when using Apple silicon as the machine driving both screens. For the 2009-2010 to work you need display port or a display port adapter solution?

[KyleWhiteTV]

Thanks Sam! This work but the quality that my 5k iMac is displaying is no longer crystal clear. Why does Apple make this so difficult

[rafaeldomenikos]

Ok I am gonna try this now. If it works it’ll be the funniest setup ever. A maxed out M3 Max MBP connected to a base 2015 21.5” iMac hahaha!! I so want this to work! I’d love not to throw away the iMac

[In-Ear-Studio]

I can send the iMac 27, 2011 (with OCP) and also an iMac 27, 2017 (without OCP) image to my M1 MacMini, but how can i send the M1 MacMini image to these iMacs ?

[Derpy]

Can I air play a screen AND have two displays attached if the Mac supports up to two?

[MPSD]

Hi again, found your help very helpful last time so I thought I could ask again.

I have a new MacBook pro m3, and a iMac mud 2010 with big sure.
Is it possible to use the iMac as a display though HDMI-mini display port

[neomartian]

Really love the video and your setup. Quick question. Just bought an M2 Mac mini. I already have an iMac 27" late 2015 5K Retina display. Is there a way to use my iMac as an external display for my new M2 Mac mini. P.S. the new Mac mini is running Ventura 13.5 while the iMac is running Ventura 13.5.1. Please reply. Many thanks.