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Any remote ios app to enter password on the same WiFi
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Brian33
macrumors 68000
There are iOS apps that allow you to log into a Mac on the same WiFi network. They display the Mac screen on your iPhone or iPad, and provide a keyboard to log in. Finger can be used as mouse; tap to click.
The Mac must have "Screen Sharing" turned on. I use a free one called "VNC Viewer" and it's worked well for me -- I like it. There are others on the Apps store -- look for "VNC" or "Screen Sharing". Hope I understood your question correctly!
The Mac must have "Screen Sharing" turned on. I use a free one called "VNC Viewer" and it's worked well for me -- I like it. There are others on the Apps store -- look for "VNC" or "Screen Sharing". Hope I understood your question correctly!
Thank you for the reply!
I’ll try VNC Viewer a bit later. As far as I understand it needs both, an app on my phone / iPad as well as their server software on the mac?
P.S. Basically I need a ‘remote keyboard’ on my iPhone which would allow me to enter my account password when I want to use wireless display (Luna) only, and have no visual support - no picture before the computer is logged in. Astropad / Luna will automatically connect and start streaming to my wireless display as soon as Mac has got to desktop, however it cannot display picture while Mac is at login screen.
I could use a wired / BT / radio keyboard to enter password in a ‘blind mode’ to ‘unlock’ the mac, however that does not seem very reliable, and I’d like to keep it all to one device - iPad which serves as a wireless display as well (or entering password on iPhone in worst case scenario).
Brian33
macrumors 68000
No. There is no need for any additional server software on the Mac, because macOS has a VNC screen sharing server capability built-in. All you need to do on the Mac is go to System Preferences-->Sharing-->Screen Sharing and check the box to turn the feature on. While you're there note the "Computer Name" of your Mac.
Then load the iOS app (VNC Viewer) on your iPhone or iPad. In the app, your Mac will probably show up in the Bonjour section. If not, go to Address Book and enter either the "Computer Name" of your Mac (or its local network IP address).
This will only work if the Mac and the iOS device are on the same local network (for many people that means the same WiFi network); it won't work over the Internet (unless you take additonal steps).
If all goes well you should see the login screen of the Mac on your iOS device. If I remember correctly, you just need to tap in in the password field to get a keyboard.
I'm not familiar with astropad or Luna, but I think this would work for your use case. Good luck!
I needed to disable FileVault in order to be able to enter a password via VNC when my mac starts up. But its working fine now.
I tried free VNC apps, however somehow I could not get it to work, connect correctly. Then I decided to try TouchPad, and it seems to work great and do what I need. Even without visual support I see when my mac is connected to the network / TouchPad on my iPad, and can enter password from the app. Kind of ‘blind mode’ as well but it is on the same iPad where Luna launches afterwards and it seems to be fine - I know that I can enter the password when the connection is established.
Thank you for the support and advices!
I tried free VNC apps, however somehow I could not get it to work, connect correctly. Then I decided to try TouchPad, and it seems to work great and do what I need. Even without visual support I see when my mac is connected to the network / TouchPad on my iPad, and can enter password from the app. Kind of ‘blind mode’ as well but it is on the same iPad where Luna launches afterwards and it seems to be fine - I know that I can enter the password when the connection is established.
Thank you for the support and advices!
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Brian33
macrumors 68000
I didn't think about whether a VNC client could connect to a FileVault-enabled Mac on the first startup while the disk is still locked. I Guess it makes sense that it couldn't, because macOS hasn't been booted up yet at that point -- it needs an account password to unlock the disk first.
TouchPad looks like a neat app -- I didn't even know there were apps like that. Glad you found something that works for you!
TouchPad looks like a neat app -- I didn't even know there were apps like that. Glad you found something that works for you!