If you have more than one Mac, maybe one in the office and one at home, you may need to access something you did on one Mac on the other. Alternatively, you may need to access files and applications on your Mac using your iPad. There are several different ways to gain remote access to a Mac from another Mac, iPad, iPhone or even from a Windows computer. Can someone remotely access my Mac?
Setting up and using the Remote feature on my Mac
The Remote on My Mac feature allows you to securely connect to other Macs via the Internet.
Remotely on my Mac is a remotely available iCloud feature that lets you configure networks on Macs. Thanks to the Remote on my Mac feature you can:
Share files: Find files and folders on the remote Mac and drag them to the local Mac.
Share the screen: use a remote Mac like a local computer. Use the local mouse and keyboard to open applications and edit documents on the remote Mac.
What is needed
To set up and use the Remote feature on my Mac, you need:
- At least two Macs with OS X Lion 10.7.5 or later, but not newer than macOS High Sierra. On each computer, sign in to iCloud using the same Apple ID.
- AirPort Time Capsule base station, AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express or other internet router with UPnP or NAT-PMP support with the latest available firmware. The AirPort base station requires firmware version 7.6.1 or later and AirPort 6.3 or later.
- For Screen Sharing: Two-way (up / down) internet connection with a transmission speed of at least 300 Kbps. It is possible to use the file sharing function with slower connections. If file sharing does not work as expected, check your settings and connections.
- Firewall for remote connections. Some firewalls may block certain connections using the Remote feature on my Mac. For example, when you are at home, you may not be able to connect to a Mac at work. When you’re at work, you may be able to connect to a Mac at home. If you don’t know if your firewall allows connections using the Remote on My Mac feature, contact your organization’s network administrator.
To access files on an external hard drive using an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Time Capsule base station, you need a USB hard drive formatted in the Mac OS Extended (journaled) file system. When using it with the Remote on My Mac feature, the hard disk will appear as a base station under the Sharing section in the Finder sidebar.
If your Mac dies, the following steps will help you find it and protect your information.
Locating your computer using Find My
If you have set up Find My Mac before you lost or stolen your Mac, you can use it to locate your Mac on the map or to play a sound to help you find it. You can also remotely lock or erase data on a Mac. To use the Locator application, log in to iCloud.com on another computer, or open the Locator application on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.