Early beta. Encore is still in early beta, so things can change or break. Free while we finish it.

Give your old iMac a new life.Use your old iMac as a second monitor for your Mac.

Download for MacmacOS 14 or laterDownload for iMacmacOS 10.13 or later

Version 0.9.0 · Free · Updates itself

Your old iMac, back at work.

Can it be a second screen?

Yes! Drag a window onto it.

A second screen

Your Mac sees the iMac as an extra display. Drag windows onto it.

Do I need to buy anything?

Nope. A cable is just faster.

Wi-Fi or cable

Nothing to buy. An Ethernet or Thunderbolt cable makes it faster and sharper. Which cable?

Do I set it up every time?

Once. After that it reconnects.

Connects by itself

Pair once with a code. After that it just reconnects.

Three steps. Two minutes.

1
Download both apps
Encore on your Mac, Encore Receiver on the iMac.
2
Type the code
Click Connect next to your iMac and type the 4-digit code it shows.
3
Done
The iMac is your second screen. Next time it connects by itself.

Read the install guide

Works with every Intel iMac from Late 2009 to 2020.

The iMac needs macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later. Your Mac needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

Check your iMac

New in 0.9.0.

The Encore panel drops down from the notch: Screen, StandBy, Sound, Camera, Connection and Picture, each switched with one click.

New in 0.8

The notch: quick control

Move your pointer under the notch and Encore drops down. Screen, StandBy, sound, camera, connection and picture, each one click away. On a Mac without a notch, press Control-Option-E.

Encore connecting to an iMac: a cloud of particles gathers, a green check appears and the panel shows the iMac streaming over the cable.

New in 0.8

Connect in a moment

Open the panel and Encore finds your iMac and connects by itself, over the cable first when there is one. A green check, and the iMac is your second screen. No codes, no settings.

The Encore window: Sound on this iMac is switched on, then Camera and microphone, while the iMac streams over the cable.

New in 0.8

Sound, camera, mouse and keyboard

Your Mac's sound plays on the iMac speakers, the iMac camera and microphone work as your Mac's webcam, and the iMac keyboard and mouse control your Mac. One switch each.

Encore Receiver in StandBy: an analogue clock face with the date and the weather.

StandBy on the iMac

When it's not a screen, the iMac shows a clock, weather and calendar. Pick a face on your Mac.

The Encore window on a Mac with two iMacs, each with its own Monitor or StandBy, Picture, Connection, sound and camera settings.

Several iMacs at once

Each iMac gets its own row: monitor or StandBy, Sharp or Smooth, Cable or Wi-Fi, sound and camera.

Keyboard and mouse

Control your Mac with the keyboard and mouse plugged into the iMac.

Sound

Play your Mac's sound on one or more iMacs, all at the same moment.

All release notes

Free during early access.

No account, no ads, no tracking. Both apps update themselves.

Download both apps

Questions

Is Encore really free?

Yes, Encore is free during early access. If that changes, you'll hear it in the app well in advance. No account, no ads, no tracking.

Which iMacs work?

Every Intel iMac from Late 2009 to 2020 with macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later. 2007 to Early 2009 (OS X 10.10 or 10.11): Encore Receiver Legacy. Look up yours on the compatibility page.

Which Mac do I need?

Any Mac on macOS 14 Sonoma or later: a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio or a newer iMac.

Do I need a cable?

No. Wi-Fi works without anything. A cable is optional and faster: Gigabit Ethernet, or Thunderbolt if both Macs have it. Which cable to buy.

Why does macOS warn me the first time?

Encore is not registered with Apple, which costs a yearly fee. macOS asks once; the install guide shows the clicks.

Does my screen go over the internet?

No. The picture only travels between your Mac and your iMac, over your own network or cable. There is no account and no Encore server.