If you have a Mac laptop computer or iMac with a display that ’s been damaged or no longer turns on , but you ’re trusted the electronic computer is still functioning , a repair may not be required to extract all its data or continue using it .
( In fact , without a pay AppleCare+ for Mac plan , repair costsfor a display often far outdo a Mac ’s economic value unless a repair shop can line up a refurbished or salvaged display . It may be gaudy or not much more expensive to plainly buy a used Mac of the same time of origin with a influence monitor . )
Use an external monitorto keep it alive or extract data
All Mac laptops and iMacs of the last many twelvemonth support an external admonisher , though the particular adapter and character varies based on the vintage of Mac :
Determine your Mac fashion model and the kind of monitor and dock or cable’s length you need .
Shut down the Mac if it ’s escape . ( If you ca n’t see the display well enough to select Shut Down , weightlift and hold the power push until it powers down , which is about 10 seconds . )
seize the monitor .
Start up the Mac . If you ’re favorable , the monitor is enable with presentation mirroring , so you see exactly on the monitoring gadget what would seem on the internal display .
If the extraneous monitor render the image of a 2nd sieve alternatively of a mirror of the internal display :
See if you could bring up the Displays taste pane and chink the Mirror Displays box in the Arrangement tab . Even if you ca n’t see it , you might be able to snap up the top of the windowpane with the cursor on the monitor that ’s invisible to you and scuff it to the monitor you may see ! It ’s a niggling like those severe chela toy car — but without being able to even see the pincer or the toy .
With a Mac laptop , shut the computer ’s lid , which may transfer the display to the external monitor . You ’ll require an outside keyboard , too .
stress restarting the Mac and thenreset its NVRAM or carriage per Apple ’s instructionsat inauguration . This might switch to mirrored displays .
If any of that works , you could continue to use the Mac normally , or use the second display to grapple transfer datum from it .
Also see : How to relate an honest-to-god Apple display to a new Mac . We also have a templet to thebest Mac monitors and displays .
Connect viaScreen Sharingor VNC
macOS allows remote silver screen access via a local internet using Bonjour , but only if you enabled Screen Sharing in the Sharing preference back breaker . If you might have done so , accompany these steps :
Power the Mac up .
If so , click the Mac ’s launching . Does Share Screen appear in the upper - right recess of the Finder windowpane ?
If that look , clack it , and enter the accounting information in the Screen Sharing app that launches . You should now have access .
With Screen Sharing enable , if you also click Computer preferences and enabled a watchword for VNC viewers , you should also or or else be able to use standard VNC projection screen - sharing computer software from any data processor on the connection ( including a Mac ) , or one that can reach out the connection remotely .
Use Target Disk Mode
If all else neglect , Target Disk Mode may save the Clarence Day . This give up a Mac to mount like a hard campaign on other Macs . Applehas a detailed set of instructionson its web site , but the synopsis is :
king down your damage Mac .
Plug it in with the appropriate wish - to - same cable’s length with the Mac you require to mount it on .
Start up your damaged Mac while holding down the T Florida key .
If all is well , your Mac with a confused show appears as a mount private road on the Mac to which it ’s attached .
Note that Target Disk Mode is a minute different on M - series Macs , but is can be done , see : All the unexampled way of doing matter on M1 Macs .
Connect the MacBook to a dock and use an external screen
if the laptop ’s screen is broken , you could still use the computer connected to an extraneous display . Sit the computer in a closed stand ( see our roundup of thebest MacBook sales booth ) and either unite forthwith to the monitor lizard via a video port if the laptop has one , via Thunderbolt using a USB - hundred - to - HDMI or DisplayPort adaptor cable , or through a USB - blow or Thunderbolt docking station or hub . Find out which are thebest Thunderbolt docks for Macandbest USB - 100 hubs for Mac .
This Mac 911 clause is in reception to a question submitted by Macworld lector Meredith .
Ask Mac 911
We ’ve compiled a list of the inquiry we get necessitate most frequently along with answers and links to pillar : read our super FAQto see if your head is covered . If not , we ’re always looking for new problems to solve ! Email yours tomac911@macworld.comincluding screen capture as appropriate , and whether you require your full name used . Not every question will be answer , we do n’t reply to e-mail , and we can not provide direct troubleshooting advice .
