How to use a Mac laptop or iMac with a broken display

A few options can work, depending on the damage and your model.

- GLENN FLEISHMAN

If you have a Mac laptop or iMac with a display that's been damaged or no longer turns on, but you're sure the computer is still functioning, a repair may not be required to extract all its data or continue using it.

(In fact, without a paid AppleCare+ for Mac plan, repair costs (fave.co/42ZygPD) for a display often far exceed a Mac's value unless a repair shop can find a refurbished or salvaged display. It may be cheaper or not much more expensive to simply buy a used Mac of the same vintage with a working monitor.)

USE AN EXTERNAL MONITOR TO KEEP IT ALIVE OR EXTRACT DATA

All Mac laptops and iMacs of the last many years support an external monitor, though. the particular adapter and type varies based on the vintage of Mac:

1. Determine your Mac model and the kind of monitor and dock or cable you need.

2. Shut down the Mac if it's running. (If you can't see the display well enough to select Shut Down, press and hold the power button until it powers down, which is about 10 seconds.)

3. Attach the monitor.

4. Start up the Mac. If you're lucky, the monitor is enabled with display mirroring, so you see exactly on the monitor what would appear on the internal display.

If the external monitor shows the image of a second screen instead of a mirror of the internal display: