Not sure how the lag would be, but other than that there is no way to do it on the iMac. Your best bet is to get an external display with HDMI in. Click to expand. In my experience it was great. Answer (1 of 2): I never imagined anything like that would be possible, but maybe it is, after all: A quick search revealed that one can put some iMacs in “target display” mode (includes a list of models where this works): Use your iMac as a display with Target Display Mode The next step is to. With the introduction of the 27″ iMac, Apple introduced a new target display mode that would allow consumers to use the iMac’s mini display port as an input. However, in order to use it with anything besides Apple’s own laptops, you’d need an HDMI to Mini Display port adaptor. There are certainly several ways but the easiest would be via screensharing. Boot up your imac, give the imac permission for all the sharing like screensharing, file sharing and so on on the computer from which you want to use the imac as a display. Then you open a finder window and search that other computer which must be on the same wifi network. Then click on the icon of that computer in the sidebar of the finder window on your imac. As soon as the window showing the other computer opens. Connect PS4 to power outlet. Connect PS4 to ExtremeCap using HDMI cable. Open application RECentral on Mac. Turn on PS4 and enjoy! A few steps and $150 is all it takes. No lag, no hardware or software issues. It also looks fantastic on the iMac. Even though the 5K iMac has a resolution of 5120 x 2800, and the PS4 resolution is at most 1080p.

• How To Use Imac As Monitor For Ps4 Headset
• How To Use Imac As Monitor For Ps4 Plus
• Use Imac As External Monitor
• Can Imac Be Monitor For A Pc
• How To Use Mac As Monitor For Ps4
• How To Use Mac As A Monitor For Ps4 Without Remote Play

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.

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.

You May Like:

Apple AirPlay Receiver on Windows 10/8/7(opens new window):

• Project iPhone and iPad screen on Windows PC;

• Record screen activity on iPhone and iPad.

Screen Recorder for Windows & Mac computer(opens new window):

• Record screen videos on computer with sound;

• Capture gameplay with no lag;

• Keyboard shortcut control and customize recording area.

# 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.

How To Use Imac As Monitor For Ps4 Headset

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.

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(opens new window) 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.

This is whether you can use your all in one computer as a monitor.

The answer is both yes and no.

So if you want to find out if you can use your all-in-one computer as a monitor, then you’re in the right place.

Let’s jump right in!

Table of Contents

All in One Computer vs. Monitor

All in one computers are great for several reasons.

First, you don’t have to purchase a monitor, keyboard, and mouse separately.

Another plus is that you can keep your work area more organized if you buy and all in one. It’s also a great choice if you’re limited on space.

Most all in ones are designed for 3 main purposes. These include web browsing, productivity, and media consumption. For example, if you are a heavy gamer, an all in one computer might not be the best choice.

External monitors are used in one of three ways. These include mirroring, or duplicating, and displaying the same images on all.

Other features typically include spanning, which extends and combines all displays into one shared workspace, or projecting or displaying an image on an external display while disabling the built-in display.

What Should I Look for in an All in One Computer?

If you are dead set on an all in one computer, also known as an AIO, there are some key things you should consider when shopping around for the best one for you.

It’s important to note that most AIOs are not user-serviceable and last for about 5 years.

Typically the display should be 4K. In addition to the display, other considerations include storage, CPU, memory, GPU, price, design, and ports.

The ports are essential, especially if you wonder, can I use my all in one computer as a monitor?

It’s also important that there are various ports, such as a USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0, headphone and mic jacks, and memory card reader.

Not only is it important to find an all in one with the right number of ports, but ease of accessibility to the ports is a feature to not overlook.

Often these ports are tucked in the back where they are difficult for the user to reach.

Depending on how much you’ll plug and unplug cords from the ports, hard to reach spots on your AIO may be a deal-breaker.

One or Two Monitors?

Like your AIO, there are some important things to consider to look out for if you decide to use two monitors.

Depending upon your all in one, you need to look for the maximum resolutions it can support.

Other features to watch for include the refresh rate, as a higher refresh rate will change more quickly, allowing for better quality.

Another caveat is to pay attention to the effect on battery power if you connect your all in one to a laptop.

How To Use Imac As Monitor For Ps4 Plus

Powering more pixels tends to drain laptop batteries.

Lastly, consider contrast ratios, response time, and viewing angles when using your all in one as a monitor.

Now that you know what to look for, the all-important question to answer is, why should I use a second screen and can I use my all in one computer as a monitor?

A second screen has numerous benefits. In fact, beyond more room to work, two screens will allow the user to multi-task, edit side by side, and compartmentalize documents and apps, among other benefits.

All in One as a Monitor: It’s Complicated

So, can you use your all in one computer as a monitor? The answer is both yes and no.

You can use your all in one computer as a monitor, but it might be tricky. Usually, all in one computers work only as display in, but can’t be used as a monitor.

This doesn’t mean that using your all in one as a monitor is out of the question. You can connect the all in one using an HDMI port, but finding that elusive HDMI port might prove to be a problem.

Using your all in one computer as a monitor depends on several factors.

Typically all in one computers don’t usually have an obvious way to connect because there are a lack of video ports, as stated above. In fact, most display ports are OUT ports only.

That’s why it’s essential to check for these features before buying an all in one.

Before connecting your all in one, one thing to consider is to have the appropriate male/female connections on the cables for both devices.

Getting Around the Port

Fear not. There may be a number of ways you can get around this issue and use your all in one computer. In fact, depending upon the computer, there are a number of ways to use it in this manner.

First things first, you will want to check for the video input port. The newer all in one’s will have either a socket for HDMI or a DisplayPort.

If you have an older computer, you will want to look for a white DVI port or a blue VGA socket.

If this is the case, you have lucked out, and all you need is a proper cable depending upon what video import port you have, as stated above.

If your computer does not have one, you can go to the Windows Action Center on the all in one and click connect.

On the PC, you will click “Project,” and this should establish a wireless connection.

HDMI Sockets

If your AIO has the proper HDMI socket , log in to the operating system on your all in one desktop and plug in the HDMI cable. Depending on your model, there may be a toggle button which you can move back and forth between screens.

Always make sure that you have a signal from the other computer. This signal may go out if the all in one goes into a sleep mode, therefore losing the connectivity.

If you want to pare down to one keyboard and mouse, there is a way to do this through a USB port as well.

Minimizing your keyboard and mouse can declutter your workspace, which is probably one of the reasons why you chose and all in one model in the first place.

Don’t Have a USB Port?

If you don’t have a USB port on your computer, you might start browsing ways to use your computer as a monitor.

There are forums and other sites that suggest that you can use your AIO as a monitor if you don’t have a USB port, but we don’t recommend these methods.

Some of these methods are more of a DIY project that can permanently damage your computer and potentially harm you if you’re not careful.

If you’re curious about how to make your AIO a monitor but don’t have a USB in port, contact your local computer professional for some advice. Don’t attempt to disassemble or modify your computer on your own.

What Are My Options?

So, what are the other options you have in order to get you all in one connected as a monitor?

Another way to use your all in one computer is through the output video via the USB port. In order to do this, an adapter converts the format into one compatible with your computer.

You will need a USB video adapter, which is available in VGA, HDMI, or DisplayPort outputs. This depends on the inputs on the second computer.

Adapt and Dongle

What’s the deal with an adapter? Well, if you have no compatible port, this would be your option. Some computers will allow for a USB-C port, but there is also an adapter to convert a USB-C to HDMI.

Why would you need this adapter? Well, the USB-C port is basically the newer version of the tried and true USB port. Only some computers have this because it is so new.

While it does provide better connectivity and delivers data faster, it is, again, not as common as the USB port. So what is the alternative? Well, that device is called a dongle.

Use Imac As External Monitor

What is a dongle? Yes, you may be very familiar with some computer terms like hard drive, mouse, or USB. Well, a dongle is basically like an extension cord for your computer.

This cord plugs into an open slot or port in your computer. A dongle also usually has 1 or more ports of its own, allowing for even more connected devices.

Can Imac Be Monitor For A Pc

Here’s the tricky part. Different computers require different dongles. For example, there is a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable. If you prefer HDMI, that’s not a problem as there is a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI dongle.

How To Use Mac As Monitor For Ps4

If All Else Fails, Software

If that doesn’t work, you can always purchase remote desktop software. This purchase will also come with some warnings.

Three of the most important include that the software should be from the software maker only, it typically should have a Windows-based download and should have been updated in the last year or two.

How To Use Mac As A Monitor For Ps4 Without Remote Play

Here’s a video on using an all-in-one computer as a monitor: