MacOS 26.1 Unable to Cancel to Screen Share on Host Machine

[smithdr]

Hello:

I am using the MacOS 26.1 on a M3Ultra Studio. I frequently use M1Max MBP operating under MacOS 15.6.1 to connect to the Studio via High Performance Screen Sharing. In the past, when the Studio was operating under 15.6.1, I was able to select the esc button on the Studio to cancel the screen sharing connection from my M1Max MBP. However, since I have upgraded to MacOS 26.1 on the Studio I am no longer able to cancel the screen sharing connection on the Studio with either the esc or CMD+OPT+ESC. With MacOS 26.1, the only way I am able to close the screen sharing connection is to cancel it on the M1Max MBP.

Does anyone know how to cancel a screen sharing connection when the host machine is operating under 26.1? Or, is this a new feature or bug in 26.1?

Thank you in advance.

 

[chabig]

You're asking if there is a way to close a screen sharing connection from the host, rather than the client. I just connected from my MacBook Air to my Mac Mini, both on 26.1 and I don't see any way to disconnect from the Mini, without turning off sharing in System Settings.

 

[smithdr]

This is exactly what I am asking. In my instance, I cannot even get into the host with the keyboard/trackpad--the hosts monitor is blacked out when the client is connected via screen sharing. This is new behavior with 26.1. In the past, when the host was on 15.6.1 I could hit the escape key and cancel the clients screen sharing connection.

 

[chabig]

So you are like an admin, and want to kick others off? From your own account, I think you’d have to turn screen sharing off.

 

[smithdr]

I am the administrator. In 15.6.1 I never had to go into settings to turn off screen sharing. All I had to do was hit esc on the host computer to cancel screen sharing. Besides, I can't even get into settings on the host computer to turn off screen sharing until I cancel screen sharing in the client.

 

[smithrh]

You're using High Performance screen sharing if the hosts display is blanked, that's not new, it has always worked that way. HP screen sharing has been around for Apple Silicon Macs for a while now.

If you want non-exclusive sharing and no blanking of the hosts display, use the old style sharing, which Apple calls "standard."

 

[smithrh]

Also, almost missed your login name... so close!

 

[smithdr]

You are not correct. High Performance Screen Sharing never worked in this manner with 15.6.1. I was always able to go to the host computer and cancel the screen sharing of the client. This only makes sense as it prevents the host computer from be hijacked by a client.

 

[smithdr]

Hello All:

I have this figured out as to why I was unable to disconnect a client when using screen sharing. When I updated to MacOS 26.1 for some reason I had difficulty selecting screen sharing. When this occurred, I selected Remote Management to be able to get any screen sharing (regular or high performance) to work from the client. However, this prevented me from restoring access to the host be selecting the ESC on the keyboard.

This morning, on the host, I disabled Remote Management and this time I was able selected Screen Sharing. This configuration allows me to cancel the clients screen sharing from the host by selecting ESC on the keyboard.

Thank you all for you input as it stimulated my thinking that led me to resolve this issue.

 

[chabig]

Thanks for that update. We all learn from shared experiences. I'd never heard of regular versus high performance screen sharing before. I've enabled screen sharing via the remote management switch, primarily because I am the server admin but I am not local to it.

 

[smithdr]

Hi C,

I use High Performance Screen Sharing (it gives me sound where there is no sound on regular screen sharing) because I edit videos from my MBP--easier on my back than hunched over a desktop. Plus, I do not get the overheating/throttling of the MBP while editing and it is easier on the battery.

Sounds to me like Remote Management is ideal for your situation as a remote server administrator. You don't want individuals knocking you off.

Thank you again for your contributions in help to stimulate my thinking to solve this my problem.

Don