Second Display Support

What you need

Two Macs: the one you work on with macOS 14 or later, and one to use as a display with macOS 12.3 or later, joined by a Thunderbolt cable or the same network.

Applies to both MacsUpdated 5 October 2026

The Mac you work on

macOS 14 Sonoma or later. This Mac sends its screen, so it’s the one that asks for Screen Recording.
A Thunderbolt port, for the lossless picture.
An email address, an Apple Account or a Google account, to sign in and start the free trial.

The Mac you use as a display

An iMac, or any other Mac with macOS 12.3 Monterey or later, with Intel or Apple silicon.
A Thunderbolt port, for the lossless picture.
No account and no Screen Recording permission.

Between them

For the lossless picture at 60 frames per second: a Thunderbolt cable, in a port with the ⚡︎ symbol on each Mac. Thunderbolt: which cable and which port?

Without Thunderbolt, put both Macs on the same Wi‑Fi or Ethernet network, and Second Display compresses the picture to suit the connection. Use Wi‑Fi or Ethernet

Not in this version: an iPad or iPhone as either device, the display Mac’s keyboard, mouse and speakers, HDR and wide colour (P3).