Luna Display’s powerful Target Display Mode feature for Mac adds Ethernet and Thunderbolt support

Previously, Mac-to-Mac Mode just worked over Lunas cordless connection. With todays upgrade, Mac-to-Mac Mode will likewise support Ethernet and Thunderbolt connection between Macs, with a seamless set-up process.
This will improve the Mac-to-Mac Mode experience for users with restricted WiFi connection or who choose not to link wirelessly, as theyll now have the alternative for a wired connection.

We confirmed with Astropad and its $99 hardware adapter is still needed when using Luna Displays Mac to Mac mode over Ethernet or Thunderbolt. It supports acknowledging the 2nd Mac as a display screen, GPU velocity, and trustworthy performance.
Nevertheless, one limitation, in the meantime, is a secondary iMac is limited to non-Retina resolutions. But Luna Display is looking into offering 4K/5K assistance (bear in mind Apple never ever offered Target Display support for its Retina iMacs).

When the new M1 iMacs released, we blogged about Target Display Mode being absent from the hardware. While Luna Show has actually provided a wireless alternative that works with all Macs for some time, a new upgrade today essentially revives Target Show Mode with Ethernet and Thunderbolt support, with one constraint.

As a refresher, Target Display Mode was last supported in the mid-2014 iMacs and earlier ( non-Retina models) and Apple formally killed the function with macOS Mojave and later. It enabled the usage of a Mac as an external screen, powered by another Mac.
We previously highlighted Astropads Luna Display and its Mac to Mac mode as an excellent workaround to get the performance of Target Display Mode but up until today, it only worked over a cordless connection. Now with Luna Display 4.5, the software supports wired connections over Ethernet or Thunderbolt similar to Target Display Mode did.

Luna Display 4.5 release notes:

Mac-to-Mac Mode now supports Ethernet and Thunderbolt connection in between Macs
Main Luna app now shows a battery sign for the secondary device
Secondary Mac keyboard improvements: essential repeats are correctly working
Renewed macOS app icons
Retina support on M1 is more reliable now
In the iOS app: enhanced compatibility with 2020 iPad Air.
General bug repairs and enhancements.

Top image via Phillip Caudell.
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