Mac Screen Sharing

Mac Screen Sharing

on

Somebody wants to look at your screen. That is two checkboxes and about two minutes.

Seeing and controlling are two separate permissions on a Mac. Grant only the first and you will be seen, but the pointer will not move.

Language of that Mac

The settings are named as they appear on the Mac in front of you, which need not be the language of this page.

How can somebody see my screen?

  1. Switch screen sharing on. If Remote Management next to it is on, turn that off first — macOS refuses to have both at once and does not explain why the other switch will not stay put.

  2. Below the switch there is an address starting with vnc://. Read that to the helper. Alternatively they can ask you through the Messages app using your Apple ID, and then no address is needed at all.

How can somebody remote-control my Mac?

Everything in the section above still applies. Only this is added:

  1. The helper can control from their side directly: their window has a switch between observing and controlling. Nothing further needs granting on your side.

Checked on: 12.7

Apple menu, top left → About This Mac — It shows the name there, for example "Sequoia 15.6". From macOS 13 onwards this window looks different than before.