Help and support
Check whether your two Macs are compatible, read the answers before you download, and fix the most common problems. Still stuck? A real person replies.
Does it work with my Macs?
The model year is only a rough guide — also make sure that Mac is updated (Apple menu → About This Mac).
The Mac you'll use as the screen
Needs macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later — available on iMacs from 2014 and MacBooks from late 2013.
The main Mac (that extends its screen)
Needs macOS 12.3 or later. If it's older it can't send its screen, but it can still be the monitor.
Macs from 2013-2015 with Thunderbolt 2
Connect the two Macs over Ethernet or Wi-Fi: with MacDisplay the performance is almost identical to Thunderbolt. No Ethernet port on the MacBook? A USB-C→Ethernet adapter is enough.
Before you download
How much does it cost? Is there a subscription?
€29.99 + VAT, one time only — no subscription, updates included. License on 3 "source" Macs and unlimited receivers. 30-day refund.
Can I try it for free?
Yes, forever: the free version never expires. Limits: 10-minute sessions, a 60-second pause, 60 minutes per day. No account, no card.
Where does my data go?
Nowhere: the video travels only between your two Macs (cable or local network). Zero cloud, zero account, zero telemetry. It works even without internet.
What's the difference from AirPlay or Sidecar?
Sidecar connects an iPad, not a Mac. AirPlay to a Mac only works on recent Macs and sends a compressed image. MacDisplay does a true Mac→Mac extension at native resolution, even on 2014-2019 iMacs.
What do I need to get started?
Two Macs and any connection between them: Thunderbolt, Ethernet or the same Wi-Fi network. The app is 10 MB, notarized by Apple, and the same on both (only the role changes).
Troubleshooting
The two Macs can't find each other
Open MacDisplay on both Macs (one on "Become a monitor", the other on "Extend screen"). From "Continue" on the monitor you have 60 seconds to press "Start connection" on the main Mac. Check System Settings → Network (with a cable: yellow dot + "Self-Assigned IP"; with Wi-Fi: the same network). Antivirus running? Add MacDisplay to the exceptions.
The monitor closed by itself
It's the 60-second safety: if no main Mac connects within a minute of "Continue", the monitor closes. Reopen it, choose "Become a monitor", "Continue" and start the main Mac within a minute.
Black screen on the monitor / permission error
The Screen Recording permission is needed only on the main Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording → enable MacDisplay, then quit and reopen the app. If that's not enough, remove and re-add MacDisplay in that list and restart the Mac.
Cable connected but not working
Check that the cable is recognized (Network → "Thunderbolt Bridge"/"Ethernet" with a yellow dot). It must be a certified Thunderbolt cable or a real Ethernet cable — USB-C "charge only" cables don't work. Unplug, restart both Macs, reconnect.
Slow or stuttering image
On Wi-Fi? Switch to a cable. Wi-Fi only? 5 GHz band and closer to the router. Stuttering even with a cable? Write to us with the two Mac models.
Blurry image, or icons too big or too small
Enable HiDPI (Retina) and pick the right preset for the screen; adjust the GUI Density (2.0× is standard).
The monitor Mac goes to sleep by itself
Enable "Keep the Mac awake while receiving" in the monitor window (it's the default).
License problems
Key not recognized → copy the whole key from the email. 3-Mac limit → MacDisplay menu → License, deactivate one. Email never arrived → check spam or write to us.
Free version limits
The free version has 10-minute sessions, a 60-second pause between them, and a maximum of 60 minutes per day (the count resets at midnight). The Mac used as the monitor (the receiver) is always unlimited. To remove every limit there's a one-time €29.99 license, with no subscription.
QuickMonitor: how to use it
Enter "Become a monitor", then the MacDisplay menu at the top → "Export Quick Monitor" → save it to a USB stick. Insert it into the other Mac, double-click, and it's ready.
You'll hear back from a real person — usually within a day.