Screen Sharing app

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

Back in the day, I used to use "Back to my Mac" to remote access my dad's Mac when required. (I'm his IT person.). From memory, the "Screen Sharing" app was at the core of that interface? At any rate, when "Back to my Mac" stopped working, I was for some time able to get dad to look up what his current IP was, and use Screen Sharing to log in and control his Mac.

It's something had hasn't worked for some time / models of Macs.

Currently, he has a 2020 M1 iMac, running whatever OS it launched with, and I am running a 2020 M1 Mac Mini running Sequoia.

Is the Screen Sharing app still able to be used to remotely control a computer that's not on site? I'm using it right now for a local machine, but we're talking 400km away... If so - what information do I need? IP address? Something else?

Thanks.

cosmic

 

[Basic75]

I'd try AnyDesk instead.

 

[cosmichobo]

Trying to get my dad to download an installer app, install the app, open the app, set up anything... I'm up for hours of joy.

At least Screen Sharing we've done before, and he at worst just has to look up his current IP.

 

[Bigwaff]

Is the Screen Sharing app still able to be used to remotely control a computer that's not on site? I'm using it right now for a local machine, but we're talking 400km away... If so - what information do I need? IP address? Something else?

It can be used. If your Dad has an Apple Account, have him sign in on his iMac and then turn on both screen sharing and FaceTime. Start FaceTime call with Dad and have him share the screen.

Share your screen in FaceTime on Mac

In FaceTime on your Mac, share your screen with others in a FaceTime video call.

support.apple.com

 

[BrianBaughn]

If your Dad's router has a dynamic DNS function you could sign up for a free account at no-ip.com. I've got one of those and the only thing I have to do is respond to a reminder email each month to verify I'm still using it.

 

[maflynn]

What about apps like zoom, or microsoft teams?

 

[doogm]

For access like this, I really like Screens 5, with the free companion app Screens Connect installed on the remote computer.

Screens - Seemlessly Control your Computers from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Vision Pro - Edovia

Support for software made by Edovia, Inc.

www.edovia.com

 

[michaelrdk]

Is the Screen Sharing app still able to be used to remotely control a computer that's not on site?

Yes, all you need is his Apple Account. He needs to be signed in with it, including for FaceTime on his Mac.

You can just enter his Apple Account (email address) and click Connect to send a request.

On his screen, he will now see a notification in the upper right where he has to accept the sharing of his screen each time. Once the connection is established you can both talk over Screen Sharing, but I usually prefer to mute it and keep a regular phone call going. For some reason AirPods won’t work with the Screen Sharing app.

After the first screen sharing session, he will be listed under recent connections for future use.

 

[Basic75]

What about apps like zoom, or microsoft teams?

Do they allow remote control, or just remote viewing?

 

[cosmichobo]

Yes, all you need is his Apple Account. He needs to be signed in with it, including for FaceTime on his Mac.

You can just enter his Apple Account (email address) and click Connect to send a request.

On his screen, he will now see a notification in the upper right where he has to accept the sharing of his screen each time. Once the connection is established you can both talk over Screen Sharing, but I usually prefer to mute it and keep a regular phone call going. For some reason AirPods won’t work with the Screen Sharing app.

After the first screen sharing session, he will be listed under recent connections for future use.

Thank-you, michaelrdk. Much appreciated. I'll give it a go.

 

[pullman]

I'm using ZeroTier to access my elderly mother's Mac Mini (2011) in another country from my Macs, both old Intel Macs and an MBA M1. There's also an iOS app.

It's easy to install and set up and has a very generous free option with up to 25 devices. Shared Macs appear in each other's Finder under Network. Access is possible either within Finder or via Screen Sharing.

Hope it helps
philip

 

[Starfia]

As far as I can tell, the built-in Screen Sharing app is still usable. I use it regularly from Tahoe to control my Mac mini from 2012 running Mojave. You can establish connections using either a network host name or an Apple Account.

 

[lostPod]

I use a Jump Desktop to remote into my ‘puters.

 

[Ben Sparrow]

Yes, all you need is his Apple Account. He needs to be signed in with it, including for FaceTime on his Mac.

You can just enter his Apple Account (email address) and click Connect to send a request.

Or you can just click in the finder-menu "Go to"->"Connect to server" enter "vnc://TheAppleId@whatever.tld".
All that is needed is that the computer you want to connect to has to be signed in.
Bookmark the address, so you don´t need to type it in every time you want to connect.

 

[pullman]

As far as I can tell, the built-in Screen Sharing app is still usable. I use it regularly from Tahoe to control my Mac mini from 2012 running Mojave. You can establish connections using either a network host name or an Apple Account.

Has that changed in Tahoe? From Sequoia and Monterey I'm not able to use Screen Sharing when the Macs are not on the same wifi network. Perhaps I'm doing it the wrong way.

 

[Starfia]

Has that changed in Tahoe? From Sequoia and Monterey I'm not able to use Screen Sharing when the Macs are not on the same wifi network. Perhaps I'm doing it the wrong way.

I'm not sure about that – my two Macs (including this one, running Tahoe) are on the same network, so there's no subnet-related routing. (I don't think I ever dabbled with Screen Sharing connections using Internet-level IP routing.)

 

[Cmd_Z_4ever]

I think you can try anydesk if you want to take access of your dad's mac, and if you want only see his screen then you can do it with google meet only.