How to Remote Access a Mac From Another Mac (or From Anywhere)

Your files are on the iMac upstairs. Your family’s Mac needs help, and they’re across town. Or you just want your Mac mini’s power from the couch. Remote access lets you see and control one Mac from another, and macOS has everything you need built in.

This guide covers remote access Mac to Mac with Apple’s own tools first, then how to reach your Mac safely from outside your home, then the best remote access software for Mac when you need more.

The short version

You want to…	Use this
Control another Mac on the same network	Screen Sharing (built in)
Run Terminal commands on another Mac	Remote Login (SSH, built in)
Reach your Mac from anywhere, free	Tailscale + Screen Sharing, or Chrome Remote Desktop
Help a friend or family member	Screen Sharing with their Apple Account, or TeamViewer
The smoothest high-resolution remote desktop	Jump Desktop, or High Performance Screen Sharing
Connect your Mac to a Windows PC	Microsoft Windows App
Just show your screen on a TV	AirPlay (here’s how)

How to remote into a Mac with Screen Sharing

Screen Sharing is Apple’s built-in remote desktop. It’s free, private and fast. Turn it on for the Mac you want to control, then connect from the Mac you’re sitting at.

Step 1: Turn on Screen Sharing on the Mac you want to control

1. Choose Apple menu › System Settings.
2. Click General in the sidebar, then click Sharing. You may need to scroll down.
3. If Remote Management is on, turn it off. Screen Sharing and Remote Management can’t run at the same time.
4. Click the Info button (ⓘ) next to Screen Sharing, then turn on Screen Sharing.
5. Under Allow access for, choose Only these users, then click Add (+) and choose your account. All users works too, but fewer accounts means less risk.
6. Optional: turn on VNC viewers may control screen with password only if you plan to connect from a non-Apple VNC app. You’ll need to set a separate password.
7. Click Done.

While you’re here, note the Local hostname at the bottom of the Sharing settings, something like Studio-iMac.local. You’ll use it to connect by name.

On macOS Monterey and earlier, the same options are in System Preferences › Sharing.

Step 2: Connect from your other Mac

You have three ways in.

From the Screen Sharing app (macOS Sonoma and later):

1. Press ⌘ Command + Space, type Screen Sharing, and press Return.
2. Click Network in the sidebar, move the pointer over the Mac you want, and click Connect.
3. Enter the user name and password for an account on that Mac, then click Sign In.
4. If asked, choose Standard or High Performance (more on that below).

To connect by name or address instead, click the New Connection button in the toolbar, type the hostname or IP address, and click Connect. Every Mac you connect to is saved under All Connections for next time.

From the Finder:

1. In a Finder window, click Network in the sidebar.
2. Double-click the Mac you want.
3. Click Share Screen, then sign in.

With a vnc:// address:

1. In the Finder, choose Go › Connect to Server, or press ⌘K.
2. Type vnc:// followed by the Mac’s hostname or IP address, such as vnc://Studio-iMac.local.
3. Click Connect. Click the + button first to save the address as a favorite.

Tip: Once connected, choose Edit › Use Shared Clipboard to copy and paste between Macs. To move files, drag them into or out of the Screen Sharing window.

Help someone using their Apple Account

You can also type someone’s Apple Account (their email or phone number) into New Connection to ask to see or control their screen. It’s the friendliest way to help a parent or friend: no IP address to find, and they get a request first. In Screen Sharing › Settings, choose whether everyone or only your contacts can send you requests.

High Performance mode

On Macs with Apple silicon running macOS Sonoma or later, Screen Sharing offers a High Performance mode built for creative work.

• Smooth: 30 or 60 frames per second with low latency.
• Sharp: 4:4:4 color and HDR support when the viewing Mac’s display can show it.
• Sound: Stereo audio from the remote Mac.
• Flexible: One or two virtual displays, up to 4K, independent of the remote Mac’s own screens.

It’s demanding. Apple recommends about 75 Mbps for one 4K display, low latency and a wired connection, and each Mac allows one High Performance session at a time. The remote Mac’s own displays go dark while you’re signed in as its current user. Standard mode adapts resolution and frame rate to your connection, so it’s the better choice over Wi-Fi.

Remote Login and Remote Management

Two more switches live in the same Sharing settings.

Remote Login turns on SSH, so you can run commands on your Mac from a terminal. It’s ideal for moving files with SFTP or managing a headless Mac mini.

1. Go to System Settings › General › Sharing.
2. Turn on Remote Login, then click its Info button.
3. Limit Allow access for to the users who need it. Turn on Allow full disk access for remote users only if you need it.
4. The info sheet shows the exact command to use, such as ssh yourname@Studio-iMac.local. Type it into Terminal on another Mac.

Apple notes that remote login can make a Mac less secure, so leave it off on Macs that don’t need it. For a better client than plain Terminal, see our picks for the best SSH client for Mac and the best terminal app for Mac.

Remote Management lets Apple Remote Desktop, Apple’s paid admin app, manage a Mac: install software, run reports, control screens. It’s built for schools and IT departments. Everyone else wants Screen Sharing.

How to access your Mac from outside your home network

Screen Sharing is designed for Macs on the same network. Away from home, your router stands between you and your Mac, and that’s a good thing.

Why port forwarding is a bad idea

Older guides tell you to forward port 5900 on your router to your Mac. Don’t. It puts your Mac’s login on the open internet, where bots scan for that port and try passwords around the clock. One weak password or unpatched flaw, and someone else is at your desk.

The safe way: Tailscale

Tailscale creates a private, encrypted network between your own devices. Nothing is exposed to the internet, and there’s nothing to configure on your router. The Personal plan is free for non-commercial use.

1. Install Tailscale on both Macs and sign in with the same account.
2. Leave Screen Sharing turned on, as above, on the Mac you want to reach.
3. On the other Mac, open the Screen Sharing app, click New Connection, and enter the remote Mac’s Tailscale name or its 100.x.x.x address.
4. Sign in as usual.

The same address works for SSH and file sharing, and Tailscale relays traffic when it can’t connect directly, so it works on hotel and office Wi-Fi.

Tip: Keep the remote Mac plugged in and stop it from sleeping. On a desktop Mac, go to System Settings › Energy (or Energy Saver) and turn on Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off. On a MacBook, go to System Settings › Battery › Options and turn on Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off.

The best remote access software for Mac

Built-in tools cover most needs. These apps add one-click access from anywhere, cross-platform support or better performance, with no private network to set up.

App	Price model	Connect from	Best for
Screen Sharing	Free (built in)	Mac	Mac to Mac at home
Chrome Remote Desktop	Free	Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, browser	Free access from anywhere
TeamViewer	Free for personal use; subscription	Nearly everything	Helping other people
Jump Desktop	One-time purchase (Mac)	Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android, web	Best performance and Mac polish
RustDesk	Free, open source; paid self-hosted server	Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android	Privacy and self-hosting
AnyDesk	Free for personal use; subscription	Nearly everything	Light, quick sessions
Splashtop	Free on local network; subscription	Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android	Low-cost unattended access
Windows App	Free	Mac (to Windows)	Controlling a Windows PC

Chrome Remote Desktop

Best for: Free access to your own Mac from anywhere · Price: Free · Website

Google’s remote desktop works through your Google account. Install the small host app on your Mac, set a PIN, grant the permissions macOS asks for in Privacy & Security, and you can reach it from any browser or the mobile app. Features are basic, but it’s dependable and costs nothing.

• Pros: Free, simple, works from any browser and phone
• Cons: Basic features; requires a Google account

TeamViewer

Best for: Helping family, friends or clients · Price: Free for personal use; subscription for business · Website

TeamViewer is the long-standing standard for remote support. The other person installs the app and reads you an ID and code; you’re connected in seconds, from almost any device. It adds file transfer, chat, multiple monitors and unattended access. Personal use is free. If TeamViewer suspects commercial use, it may limit sessions and ask you to buy a license.

• Pros: Works almost everywhere, easy for non-technical people
• Cons: Commercial-use checks can interrupt free users; business plans are expensive

Jump Desktop

Best for: The best-feeling remote desktop on a Mac · Price: Paid (one-time purchase on Mac) · Website

Jump Desktop feels the most like sitting at the other computer. Its Fluid connection uses hardware encoding, follows your display’s refresh rate, and supports virtual displays, USB devices and game controllers. It can also connect to Macs over standard Screen Sharing (VNC) and to Windows PCs over RDP, which makes it a one-stop client. The Mac app is a one-time purchase with a free trial; team plans are a subscription.

• Pros: Excellent performance, deep Mac support, works with VNC and RDP too
• Cons: Paid; iPhone and iPad versions are separate purchases

RustDesk

Best for: Privacy-minded users who want to self-host · Price: Free (open source); paid self-hosted server · Website

RustDesk is a free, open-source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk. Out of the box, it connects through public relay servers. For full control, run your own free server, so your sessions never touch anyone else’s infrastructure. RustDesk Server Pro, billed yearly, adds a web console, address book, access control and two-factor authentication.

• Pros: Free, open source, self-hostable
• Cons: Less polished; self-hosting takes some technical skill

AnyDesk

Best for: Quick, lightweight sessions · Price: Free for personal use; subscription · Website

AnyDesk is small, fast to install and responsive over slower connections. Like TeamViewer, it connects with an ID, supports unattended access and file transfer, and works across platforms. The free plan is for personal use only, with fewer features; business use needs a subscription.

• Pros: Lightweight, responsive on weak connections
• Cons: Free plan is limited; frequently impersonated by scammers

Splashtop

Best for: Affordable unattended access · Price: Free on local network; subscription · Website

Splashtop Personal is free for non-commercial use on your home network. Add the Anywhere Access Pack, a subscription, to connect from elsewhere. Splashtop’s Remote Access plans cover individuals and teams, with good streaming quality and sound.

• Pros: Smooth streaming, low-cost paid tiers
• Cons: Free version is local-network only; several confusing plans

Microsoft Windows App

Best for: Controlling a Windows PC from your Mac · Price: Free · Website

Windows App replaced Microsoft Remote Desktop on the Mac. Download it free from the Mac App Store (it requires macOS Sonoma or later) to connect to Windows PCs over RDP, plus Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and Microsoft Dev Box. The PC must run a Pro, Enterprise or Server edition of Windows with Remote Desktop turned on; Windows Home can’t accept these connections.

• Pros: Free, official, excellent Windows integration
• Cons: Windows only; doesn’t work with Windows Home

Need to run Windows on the Mac itself instead? See our guide to the best virtual machine for Mac.

Security tips for remote access

Remote access is a door into your Mac. Keep it locked.

• Use a strong password on every account that’s allowed in, and limit access to specific users.
• Never forward ports for Screen Sharing or SSH. Use Tailscale or a remote access app.
• Turn on two-factor authentication in any remote access app that offers it.
• Turn off what you don’t use. If you stopped using Remote Login, switch it off in Sharing.
• Keep the firewall on. macOS’s firewall still allows the sharing services you turn on. Our guide to the Mac firewall shows how to set it up.
• Hang up on strangers. Apple, Microsoft and your bank will never call and ask you to install TeamViewer, AnyDesk or RustDesk. If someone does, it’s a scam.

Warning: If someone you don’t know has controlled your Mac, disconnect from the internet, uninstall the remote access app, change your passwords from another device, and contact your bank if you entered any financial details.

Remote access is also not a backup. If the Mac at home fails, your files go with it. Pair it with a cloud backup for Mac so they’re safe either way.

How we picked

We started with Apple’s built-in tools, because they’re free, private and already on your Mac. For third-party apps, we looked for software that’s actively maintained for current macOS and compared:

• Reach: Whether it works across networks without router changes
• Performance: Responsiveness, image quality and multi-display support
• Security: Encryption, two-factor authentication and self-hosting options
• Price model: Free, one-time or subscription, without quoting prices that change
• Ease: How quickly a non-technical person can get connected

We checked each app’s current pricing model and official download source, and verified macOS menu paths against Apple Support.