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iPad Remote Access/Screen Share Mac Mini

Superman730

Superman730

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 25, 2012
132
94
I have an old Mac Mini with no keyboard, mouse, or monitor downstairs attached directly to my router. I use the built in "Screen Share" feature from my Macbook Pro to access it and I use it for downloading, file transfers, doing batch analysis on things so that I can unburden my laptop and use the faster direct network connection rather than Wifi.

I recently got an iPad Pro was wondering - Is there was a built in function/Apple designed App that I could do the same thing? I have the iPad built into my WFH workflow so it's more readily available than pulling out my personal laptop to check on things in the middle of the day.
 
I think OP was looking for a 1st party solution. I‘d be interested in one as well, not sure I would trust a 3rd party for this.
Personally, I wouldn’t even mind if it’s limited to using only while on the same wifi network. Sidecar might work if it was able to be initiated from the iPad, but I don’t think it is.
 
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I’ve used Jump Desktop for more then 2 years now. Seems to work well for me, worth a try. I mainly use it to control my 2009 and 2012 Minis from my iPad.
 
You can use the stock Files app to connect to your Mac mini

iPad User Guide

Here’s everything you need to know about iPad, straight from Apple. This definitive guide helps you get started using iPad and discover all the amazing things it can do.
support.apple.com
 
Last edited:
BasicGreatGuy said:
You can use the stock Files app to connect to your Mac mini

iPad User Guide

Here’s everything you need to know about iPad, straight from Apple. This definitive guide helps you get started using iPad and discover all the amazing things it can do.
support.apple.com
Click to expand...
The OP is looking for a way to share the screen of a Mac with a first-party tool. There’s no way to do that.
 
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subjonas said:
I think OP was looking for a 1st party solution. I‘d be interested in one as well, not sure I would trust a 3rd party for this.
Personally, I wouldn’t even mind if it’s limited to using only while on the same wifi network. Sidecar might work if it was able to be initiated from the iPad, but I don’t think it is.
Click to expand...
Sidecar is just using the iPad as an external display of the Mac; it’s not a way to remotely control a Mac.
Screens is a good app for this, as recommended above. It especially works well with a trackpad and keyboard on the iPad, but those aren’t necessary.
 
chrfr said:
Sidecar is just using the iPad as an external display of the Mac; it’s not a way to remotely control a Mac.
Screens is a good app for this, as recommended above. It especially works well with a trackpad and keyboard on the iPad, but those aren’t necessary.
Click to expand...
Yeah Sidecar doesn’t seem to be meant for screen sharing, but if you’re just using it at home, it should work nearly the same. Just set Sidecar to mirror instead of extend the desktop, then you have a “shared” screen. And the iPad keyboard works remotely too purportedly. I forgot to mention it’s just the pointing that doesn’t work, except maybe with the Apple Pencil which probably isn’t ideal, but then you could just use a wireless mouse or trackpad that’s paired with the Mac.
 
subjonas said:
Yeah Sidecar doesn’t seem to be meant for screen sharing, but if you’re just using it at home, it should work nearly the same. Just set Sidecar to mirror instead of extend the desktop, then you have a “shared” screen. And the iPad keyboard works remotely too purportedly. I forgot to mention it’s just the pointing that doesn’t work, except maybe with the Apple Pencil which probably isn’t ideal, but then you could just use a wireless mouse or trackpad that’s paired with the Mac.
Click to expand...
Given that Sidecar is only supported on the 2018 Mini, I doubt the OP's "Old Mac mini" is a 2018, so this won't be a solution here.
 
chrfr said:
Given that Sidecar is only supported on the 2018 Mini, I doubt the OP's "Old Mac mini" is a 2018, so this won't be a solution here.
Click to expand...
Oh right. Well, I didn’t think Sidecar was a solution here anyway because it can’t be initiated from the iPad, which kind of defeats the purpose of screen sharing. But yeah, sadly, it’s also limited to only newer machines.
 
Given Apple’s focus on security and privacy, I am surprised there is no solution from them. Forcing users to use third party solutions seems less safe to me, and I would really like Apple to address this need better..or at all I guess.
 
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