Your Intel Mac won't get macOS 27: here's what to do with it

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What did Apple announce about Intel Macs and macOS 27?

At WWDC25, in the Platforms State of the Union, Apple said that “macOS Tahoe will be the final release for Intel Macs”. Apple's macOS 27 compatibility list now includes only Macs with Apple Silicon. Your Intel Mac's latest system still depends on its exact model: not every Intel Mac can run Tahoe, and Apple's macOS Tahoe compatibility list shows which ones can.

What can an Intel Mac still do without the latest macOS?

Start from the tasks you want to keep doing on it. If the apps you need still open, edit and save your documents, those tasks can stay useful on the existing system: drafting text, reading PDFs or reviewing a project in an app that remains compatible. Try a normal piece of work before deciding that the computer has no role left, and treat each app's compatibility, including your browser's, as a separate question.

Apple recommends keeping a Mac on the latest macOS compatible with its model. Its security releases page lists the updates published for each system; check it, together with Apple's update guidance, for the version your Mac actually runs.

How can I reuse an old Intel Mac as a second monitor?

If the old Mac has a screen, MacDisplay can give it a new job beside your main Mac. The Mac used as the screen needs macOS 11 Big Sur or later; the main Mac, whose desktop you extend, needs macOS 12.3 or later.

1. Install and open MacDisplay on both MacsThe in-app guide walks you through the first-time permissions.
2. Connect the two MacsA cable is recommended for daily use, and a USB-C to Ethernet adapter works too; if the old Mac has only Thunderbolt 2, use Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
3. On the old Mac, choose “Become a monitor”Or press ⌘⇧M.
4. On the main Mac, choose “Extend screen”Or press ⌘⇧E, then follow the in-app guide to complete the connection.

You're extending the main Mac's workspace onto the old Mac's screen: keep your writing on the main display and a brief beside it, or project notes next to your main window. Choose something you regularly need to see while you work.

An Intel iMac beside your new Mac

If your iMac meets the requirement, use it for the reference material while the newer Mac handles the main task: a document, a research page or a project outline you'd otherwise keep switching back to. The iMac's age alone doesn't settle compatibility, so check the model first: our model-by-model list of iMacs and our guide on using an old iMac as a second monitor cover it.

An Intel MacBook as an extra screen at your desk

A MacBook that meets the same requirement works the same way: put it beside the display you already use and keep notes or a reference document on it. An HDMI cable alone won't turn it into a monitor; our guide on using a MacBook as a second monitor explains the setup.

Can I keep both Macs working with one keyboard and mouse?

You may prefer to keep using the Intel Mac's own apps instead of turning it into a screen. MacDisplay's Keyboard & Mouse feature lets you control the other Mac with the same keyboard and mouse, and the shared clipboard lets you copy and paste between the two. You might keep a compatible writing app on the older computer while working on your main project on the newer Mac: two separate computers, each with its own desktop. Our guide on controlling two Macs with one keyboard and mouse shows how.

How do I move files between the old Mac and the new one?

MacDisplay includes direct file transfer over Thunderbolt or Ethernet: it's cable-only and doesn't use Wi-Fi. Use it to send a document or a project folder between the two Macs; our guide on transferring files between two Macs over a cable explains it.

Keep in mind that the extended screen works differently: while it's active, MacDisplay pauses Keyboard & Mouse and File Transfer, and both resume on their own as soon as you stop extending. Transfer what you need before extending, or stop the extension when you want to work across the two computers. MacDisplay needs no account and no cloud: screen, controls and files travel only between your two Macs.

What else can I do with an old Intel Mac?

A dedicated second computer can make sense even without another display: keep it for writing sessions, reading reference documents, practicing a skill in software that still supports its system, or an occasional project. Before relying on it, open the project, check the software it needs and try saving or exporting a result. That gives you a concrete reason to keep the Mac and a task to judge it by.

Should I sell, trade in, or give away my Intel Mac?

If you would rarely use it, selling it or giving it away may suit you better. Describe the exact model, the installed macOS, its condition and the included accessories accurately, so the next owner can judge it for their own work. For a trade-in, check the current offer for your device and country: Apple Trade In gives credit for eligible devices and also recycles them.

Before handing it over, keep a copy of the files you want and follow Apple's steps for your model in its guide on what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your Mac.

Can I try reusing the Mac before buying anything?

MacDisplay has a free version that never expires: extended screen and Keyboard & Mouse in 10-minute blocks, up to 60 minutes a day, and 2 GB of file transfer a day, all counted on the Mac that extends, controls or sends; receiving is always unlimited. The full version costs €29.99 + VAT once, with no subscription and updates included, and one license covers up to three personal Macs that extend their screen, control another Mac or send files. The Macs on the receiving end, the ones used as a screen, controlled or receiving files, need no license and have no limits, even in the free version: you can use as many as you like. Give your Intel Mac a specific job and see whether you want it to stay part of your working day.

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Team MacDisplay MacDisplay Published on 21 October 2026

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