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Manage Your Mac Remotely from iPhone, iPad, Android or PC

Read this article to learn how to access your Mac screen remotely from iPhone or another computer. How to configure your Mac for remote access from iPhone, iPad, Android or PC. How to use various tools and apps to manage your computer remotely. How to configure your Internet connection, which software to use, and how to avoid common issues.

Manage Your Mac Remotely from iPhone, iPad, Android or PC

Remote interaction with your Mac is a very useful feature which may come in handy in all kinds of situations. You may need it while helping another user to configure their system, or when accessing your files from outside your home.

Although the remote access feature is quite easy, it takes a few steps to start using it, and the actual sequence depends on the particular case.

Also, never forget about security when remote access is enabled. Using a reliable password combined with two-factor authentication will help to protect your data and prevent unauthorized access. In today’s article, we’ll cover several ways to gain remote access to your Mac – from an iPhone or another computer with the help of built-in system features and third-party utilities as well.

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Method 1. Screen Sharing feature

And the first thing you should do is to configure your Mac for remote access. For this purpose, let’s use the following built-in features: Screen Sharing and Remote Management.

If all you need is just to connect to another Mac and share your screen or show it to others, use the Screen Sharing option.

For this method you don’t need any third-party utilities, since MacOS Monterey or later versions of the operating system already have this functionality embedded.

For successful connection, both computers need to belong to the same network and have MacOS Monterey or higher onboard. Also, both devices must have screen sharing enabled and corresponding permissions activated.

To enable the Screen Sharing feature, open SettingsGeneralSharingScreen Sharing.

Settings - General - Sharing - Screen Sharing

To make sure your Mac is protected from unknown users trying to get access, you need to configure this specific option. Click on the i button next to the line Screen Sharing.

Configure screen sharing on Mac

After that, check the box for Anyone may request permission to control screen. As a result, your approval will be required to gain access to your screen.

Anyone may request permission to control screen

Then enable VNC viewers may control screen with password, and set your access password.

VNC viewers may control screen with password

Since the configuration process is over, now you can use the screen sharing feature. To get the things started, open Finder on another Mac. In the Network tab, find the Mac you’d like to connect to.

Network tab, find the Mac you’d like to connect to

Double-click on it, and then choose Share Screen. Enter the user credentials for which access is allowed.

Double-click on your Mac device, and then choose Share Screen

As a result, a window will open, showing you the screen of the particular Mac that you want to control remotely. After that, you’ll gain access to various files and folders on this remote computer, and will be able to add or delete files or folders, use various apps and so on.

Window will open, showing you the screen of the particular Mac that you want to control remotely

Method 2. How to enable Remote Management

The Sharing menu also contains one more item, Remote Management. To enable it, open SettingsGeneralSharing.

Settings - General - Sharing

In the Advanced tab, drag the slider to the Enabled position next to Remote Management.

Remote Management: in the Advanced tab, drag the slider to the Enabled position

To configure all the aspects, click on the i button. Enable access for VNC viewers and set a password.

Click on the (i) button. Enable access for VNC viewers

To turn on additional access functions, click on the Options button. Enable the ones you need and click ОК.

Additional access functions

Method 3. RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop

To manage your Mac, from example from an iPhone, visit Appstore and install this app – RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop or any similar app. When the installation is over, tap Open.

RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop

Allow the app to find devices on the local network.

RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop - allow the app to find devices on the local network

In the last window, tap Get Started.

RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop - Get Started

In the app window, open the Bonjour tab. You will see the list of Apple devices connected to the local network.

RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop - Bonjour

Tap on the device, then choose Connect and enter the password for the user account that is granted remote access, or the password to your Mac user account.

RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop - Connect

The logon screen will appear on your iPhone. Enter the login and the password for your Mac account.

RealVNC Viewer: Remote Desktop - the logon screen on your iPhone

As a result, you will gain access to your Mac from this iPhone. You’ll be able to completely control this Apple computer, files and folders, settings and so on.

Method 4. TeamViewer

For remote access from another Mac or PC, you will need a different utility – for example, Team Viewer, Chrome Remote Desktop or Microsoft Remote Desktop.

For instance, TeamViewer lets you connect remotely to your Mac from virtually anywhere. To arrange a remote connection, download and install TeamViewer on both devices.

Then open the application on both computers. Find the ID and password for the Mac that you need to access.

TeamViewer: the ID and password for the Mac

Enter this ID and password into the application window on the computer from which you’d like to connect.

TeamViewer: enter this ID and password into the application window on the computer from which you’d like to connect

After that, you’ll gain access to the computer’s screen and will be able to manage it remotely.

TeamViewer: access to a remote PC is granted

Method 5. Chrome Remote Desktop

If you use Google Chrome, there is one more easy solution for you. For this method, all you need is a browser, which means that it’s a cross-platform app that works equally well on macOS and Windows. Using this browser, you’ll be able to access all contents of the remote computer.

For starters, install the browser on both devices. While on Mac, open Chrome, and go to the Remote Access tab.

Chrome Remote Desktop

After that, click on the round blue arrow saying Download Chrome Remote Desktop. Just install the extension.

Download Chrome Remote Desktop

When the app is added, it will appear in the Launchpad.

When Chrome Remote Desktop is added , it will appear in the Launchpad

Start it and turn on Remote connection. Enable remote connection, give the device name, set the PIN.

Chrome Remote Desktop: remote connection

Configure permissions in the system settings, and this list will display available devices that you can connect to.

Chrome Remote Desktop: Configure permissions in the system settings

Choose the one you need, enter the PIN, and you will gain access to the screen of this Mac.

Chrome Remote Desktop: access a Mac screen remotely

Now this computer will be available at any time as long as it is powered on and running. This is how you’ll be able to connect to your Mac from any other computer with a MacOS, Windows or Linux operating systems, as well as from an iPhone or an Android phone.

To connect from an iPhone open the browser – Remote Access. To connect from an iPhone open the browser – Remote Access – choose the device you’d like to connect to, and type the PIN.

Chrome Remote Desktop on iPhone

As you can see, now you can control your Mac from iPhone. Which means you can run apps and open files, browse folders, change system settings and so on.

Recover data from pen drives, memory cards, HDDs and SSDs in macOS.

Popular tools to access MacOS remotely

Name Platforms to connect to Platforms to connect from
1. Screen Sharing macOS macOS
2. Chrome Remote Desktop Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
3. TeamViewer Windows, macOS Windows, macOS
4. Real VNC Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Chrome, Android, iOS
5. Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac Windows, macOS Windows, macOS, Android и iOS
6. AnyDesk Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome
7. GetScreen Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
8. Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager Windows, macOS Windows, macOS
9. NoMachine Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS
10. LogMeIn Windows, macOS Windows, macOS, iOS

Conclusion

Summing up, now you know a few ways to gain remote access to a Mac screen from your iPhone or another computer. Depending on the situation, you can choose any of them as long as it’s comfortable for you.

However, never forget about security: set reliable passwords and use two-factor authentication to protect your data and prevent unauthorized access to your Mac.

Vladimir Artiukh

Author: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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