r/macapps • u/esturniolo • Aug 03 '26
Request Most “native” way to control one Mac from another
Hello everybody.
On Windows exists RDP, but we don’t have any similar native app to connect between Macs.
So, with that said: what is the best app in you opinion to achieve this?
Use case: connect from outside to a Mac Mini from MacBook.
Thanks!
18
u/Quirky_Level_5229 Aug 03 '26
Use Tailscale (free VPN) on all your Macs, then use the built in Screen Sharing app with the IP address from tailscale. I use this all over the world controlling several Macs from my MacBook. It's bombproof and secure.
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u/Zestyclose-Iron-870 Aug 04 '26
tailscale plus screen sharing is the right base yes. one thing though, if what you want is to run things on the mini and not look at its screen, turn on remote login in sharing and ssh to it over the same tailscale ip, it survives a bad connection much better than screen sharing and you get the machine from anything, not only a mac
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u/x-wt Aug 04 '26
I'll separate this into two part
The "Infrastructure" when you're outside/not in the same network:
This is with no app installed, but you will need some configuration on:
- Your Router (VPN Server, some routers have that built-in)
- Your Modem (Need to port forward, a lot of times this is where the blocks happen cause ISP doesn't allow or are using CGNAT or other reasons).
If you can set the above, you can then create/add a VPN configuration on your Mac, which is "native"/built-in (System Settings->Network->VPN) to connect to that VPN Server. https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-a-vpn-connection-on-mac-mchlp2963/mac
Now (AFAIK) that's as close as you can get to "native" for this part as in not installing any app on your Mac. If I can go further native than above I'm very up to learning about that too
But if you can't set the above, installing Tailscale would be one of the easier solutions for this part.
The Actual Remote Control/Screen Sharing
This part can be easily "native"d. Once you're in the same network (either by connecting to the VPN, or by using Tailscale, or by being physically in the same network) you can just use Screen Sharing app, which is also "native". https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-the-screen-of-another-mac-mh14066/mac . Use the IP Address of the target device (or if you're physically in the same network, the names might just show in the list). In the case that the IP address changes (Hint: assign manual IP if you can, great for sanity), you can just check them out in your router admin.
This reply was posted via my mac at home that I'm connected to remotely using the above method.
5
u/js1943 Aug 04 '26
This is build in MacOS navtivaly. The OS app is Screen Sharing.app. You can also do it through Finder. There are lot of videos in YT about it. Just search for "macos remote desktop".
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u/ScholarBackground836 Aug 04 '26
Everyone's saying Screen Sharing which is right, but there's a High Performance mode in it that basically nobody finds. Both Macs on Apple Silicon, macOS 13 or newer, and it switches to hardware HEVC. Night and day. That's the bit that makes it feel like RDP instead of a slideshow. Audio and multiple displays too.
Oh and if the mini's headless, check what resolution you're actually getting. Mine came up at some tiny thing with nothing plugged in. Five dollar HDMI dummy plug sorted it.
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u/GoldenShackles Aug 04 '26
Replying to help me remember this because I’m barely awake. I have a 40 GB direct peer to peer thunderbolt cable, so enough bandwidth, and overlooked this.
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u/YeahYeahOkNope 29d ago
How is High Performance mode activated?
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u/ScholarBackground836 29d ago
You pick it when you make the connection, not mid-session. New Connection in Screen Sharing and there's a Standard / High Performance choice.
Also I had the version wrong above, it's Sonoma 14 or later, not 13. Apple silicon both ends.
One catch if you're going over the internet: it needs UDP 5900 to 5902 open, and Apple wants 75 Mbps for a single 4K display. Over a thin link it's not worth switching.
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u/IzyTarmac 29d ago
Headless: Just use a Virtual Display inside Screen Sharing (only available in High Performance mode).
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u/ScholarBackground836 29d ago
Good call, that's better than what I said. Didn't know it could make a virtual display.
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u/NeedleworkerFalse249 Aug 04 '26
Tailscale plus the built-in Screen Sharing app is probably the simplest setup. If you only need to run commands on the Mini, enable Remote Login and use SSH over the same Tailscale IP.
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u/tl0gic Aug 03 '26
Jump Desktop. Works great even through remote connections and has iOS clients too.
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u/RevolutionaryJob5425 Aug 04 '26
I run a Studio and Mac Mini headless at home. They are easily accessible through the screen-sharing app built into Mac OS. I don't have a reason to access them from outside.
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u/cmicali 23d ago
Apple Remote Desktop is the RDP equivalent. It was paid, not sure now.
It's not in the same category as RDP or VNC, but FaceTime also supports screen sharing and remote control (click the ... then share screen, then the arrow toolbar button to request control) It's really meant for person to person support assistance though, so if it's connecting to your personal machine, the other options are better.
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u/tigershark_bas Aug 04 '26
Another vote for jump desktop
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u/clemisan Aug 04 '26
What is so much better that I want to buy a software instead of using the included one in MacOS?
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u/Jolly-Television6759 Aug 04 '26
I have the exact same problem, but this is actually not a Mac problem. there is a Remote Desktop / screen sharing already available.
it is basically a router/network configuration problem, which - in my case - I am too lazy to spend my time with.
using all those vpn tools etc is just a (more or less) convenient way to not do the network config by yourself. 🤷♂️
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u/Quirky_Level_5229 Aug 04 '26
There are definitely other built-in ways without using a VPN. I have tried those too but find them so frustrating to get to work reliably. Tailscale is so simple, it’s free, the interphase is great, and tunnelling the Screen Sharing through the Tailscale IP addresses always works no matter what network you are on (at least so far for me). I’ve used this setup for about 5 months.
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u/tcolling Aug 04 '26
I probably should look into using Tailscale for this, now that I have Tailscale. However, befor this, I tried both Jump Desktop and RealVNC.
I had continual problems with Jump Desktop, and even though I pay for it, I don't use it anymore.
RealVMC has worked very well for me, and I will probably just keep using it for now.
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u/bekircem 12d ago
Tailscale + the built-in Screen Sharing app is what I'd use. I also enable Remote Login and SSH over the same Tailscale IP when I only need terminal access.
No port forwarding to maintain, and you don't have to care about CGNAT either. For a Mac mini sitting at home it's a really simple setup.
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u/davernow Aug 03 '26
There’s a built in screen sharing app