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How to Screen Share With Another Mac's Desktop

There's more than one way to connect to another Mac

By Tom Nelson Tom Nelson Writer Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others. Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 17, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad

What to Know

On the target Mac, choose System Preferences > Sharing > Screen Sharing to turn this feature on. Repeat on the other Mac.Use Finder to connect to the target Mac's address or find it by name from the Finder Sidebar.You can also screen share directly through the Messages app. This article explains how to set up screen sharing on your Mac and access another Mac's desktop by connecting to the target Mac's address, finding it by name from the Finder Sidebar, or by using the Messages app. The information in this article applies to Macs with macOS Mojave (10.14) and later.

Set Up Mac Screen Sharing

Screen sharing is a helpful feature built into Macs. It's easy to set up a Mac to share your screen, files, and services with other users on your network, access documents and apps remotely, or restart your Mac remotely. The first step is to turn on screen sharing on your Mac and the Mac you want to access. Go to the Apple menu, and choose System Preferences > Sharing. Select the Screen Sharing checkbox to enable this feature. If Remote Management is selected, deselect it. Screen Sharing and Remote Management can't work at the same time. Specify who can share your screen. Choose All Users for any user on your network or select Only These Users to limit who can share your screen. If you selected Only These Users, choose the Add button (plus sign) to add a user from Users & Groups or Network Users. Optionally, select Computer Settings and select the Anyone may request permission to control screen check box. This way, other users won't have to enter a username and password when they want to access your screen. When you're finished with your preferences, close the Sharing dialog box. You're ready to begin a screen-sharing session with another user.

Start Screen Sharing Using the Target Mac' s Address

After you enable screen sharing on both machines, the other party can connect to your computer and initiate a screen-sharing session by using your Mac's address. From the Apple menu, go to System Preferences > Sharing > Screen Sharing and note the Mac's address. The format will look like vnc://[IPAddress] or vnc://[Name.Domain]. On the Mac that is requesting screen access, choose Finder > Go > Connect to Server. Enter the address of the Mac you want to view, then select Connect. If you're required to log in for access, enter the username and password and click Sign In. If both computers are logged in using the same Apple ID, the screen-sharing session begins immediately once you select Share Screen. A new window opens, displaying the target Mac's desktop. If both Macs aren't logged in with the same Apple ID credentials or the Guest option isn't enabled on the target Mac, you're prompted to enter the username and password of the other user. Or you can request permission to share the screen if the computer allows it. You can now interact with the remote desktop just as if you were sitting in front of that Mac. Take control, launch apps, manipulate files, and more.

Start a Screen-Sharing Session Using the Finder Sidebar

Using the Finder Sidebar is a fast method for locating the target Mac by name to start screen sharing. Go to Finder > File > New Finder Window. In the Finder Sidebar, select Locations > Network. This displays a list of shared network resources, including the target Mac. If no items appear in the Locations section of the sidebar, hold the pointer over the word Locations and select Show. Select the target Mac from the Network list. Click Share Screen to access the target Mac or enter credentials and then select Connect if prompted to log in. The remote Mac's desktop opens in a separate window on your Mac. Use it as if it were right in front of you. You'll see controls for adjusting the scale and an icon in the menu bar that lets you know you're screen sharing.

Start a Screen-Sharing Session From Messages

Using the Messages app on your Mac is another easy way to start a screen-sharing session. Open the Messages app on your Mac. Initiate a conversation with your friend, or select a conversation already in progress. In the chosen conversation, select Details in the upper-right corner of the conversation window. From the pop-up window that opens, select the Screen Sharing button. It looks like two small displays. A second pop-up menu appears. Choose Invite to Share My Screen or Ask to Share Screen. If the friend accepts the request, screen sharing begins. At first, the friend viewing your Mac's desktop can only view and not interact with your Mac. They can, however, request the ability to control your Mac by selecting the Control option in the Screen Sharing window. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Mac Screen Sharing How to Remotely Restart or Shut Down Your Mac How to Screen Share on a Mac How to Find a Wi-Fi Password on an iPhone How to Connect to a Server 15 Best Free Remote Access Software Tools (Oct. 2022) How to Map a Network Drive on a Mac How to Turn Off Family Sharing for iTunes How to Share Your Internet Connection on a Mac via Wi-Fi How to Connect Chromecast to Hotel Wi-Fi How to Screen Share on Discord How to Set Up and Use Home Sharing in iTunes How to Set up Your New Mac How to Screen Share on Netflix What Is macOS? How to Use Slack Screen Sharing Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies