Use your defined keyboard shortcut to switch your iMac in and out of Target Display Mode.Now that you know how to use target disk mode, you should familiarize yourself with some of the applications for this boot mode. I use BetterTouchTool: Add a new keyboard shortcut and execute the following terminal command: ssh ~/switchTDM.sh And test whether you can login from a remote machine using: ssh 6:īind the call to the remote script to a keyboard shortcut. Modify the script to be executable: chmod +x switchTDM.shĮnable SSH access to the TDM iMac by enabling 'Remote Login' in the sharing options of the System Preferences. Osascript -e 'tell application 'System Events' to key code 144 using command down' Put this script in the user directory ( /users/). Plug the Arduino into the iMac to be used in Target Display ModeĬreate a script (here I named it switchTDM.sh) to send the CMD+F2 keyboard command telling the iMac to switch in or out of Target Display Mode. Plug in the Arduino Leonardo compatible board and upload the sketch. Start/restart the Arduino IDE, open an example sketch for the keyboard library (I used the Keyboard Message Send example). Modify the Arduino Leonardo board description in /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/boards.txt in the Arduino IDE app package to include the necessary USB descriptor to match the following: leonardo.name=Arduino Leonardo Text editor (I use Atom but any will do)ĭownload and install the Arduino IDE (I did this with version 1.8.12).Arduino Leonardo or compatible board with ATMega32u4 chip ~4-8 USD on AliExpress.I was actually researching the same problem today and found a solution to the remote switching issue.Īpple Keyboard Emulator to switch remotely switch Target Display Mode of an iMac without a physically connected keyboard If you're a more advanced user, you could also check out this Super User question. When you unplug the MacBook, the iMac's Bluetooth will be powered back up and the monitor restored. It also switches off the Bluetooth on the iMac, freeing up your mouse and keyboard to pair with your MacBook (assuming you're using a bluetooth keyboard and mouse). For example, if you plug your MacBook into your iMac via Thunderbolt, this extention will automatically switch the iMac to Target Display Mode, allowing you to use your iMac as a monitor. This was designed specifically for people wanting to use their iMacs in target display mode, and works especially well in situations where you want to connect a MacBook to the iMac. It basically allows you to use one keyboard with multiple devices.

This allows you to pair your computers via bluetooth and then use 1Keyboard to send the Command F2 keyboard shortcut. There are two options that I'm aware of which may meet your needs:

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