How to Remote Desktop from One Mac to Another

Controlling one Mac from another is one of those things macOS actually handles well, at least on the same network. Here's how to do it, plus what to do when the two Macs aren't in the same place.

Same network: use what's built in

First, on the Mac you want to control, go to System Settings, then General, then Sharing, and turn on Screen Sharing.

Then on the other Mac, open Finder and look in the sidebar under Network. Your Mac should show up there. Click it, hit Share Screen, and enter the username and password of the target Mac. That's it, you're in.

If it doesn't show up in the sidebar, press Command+K in Finder and type the address directly:

Swap in your Mac's actual local IP, which you can find in System Settings under Wi-Fi. On newer versions of macOS there's also a dedicated Screen Sharing app with a high performance mode that feels noticeably smoother between two Apple Silicon Macs.

Different networks: it gets annoying

Over the internet, the built-in way stops working because your router blocks incoming connections. Your options:

• Messages screen sharing. If there's a person on the other Mac, open a conversation with them in Messages, click their name, and choose to share screens. Works over the internet with zero setup. Great for helping family with computer problems.
• A VPN like Tailscale. Makes both Macs act like they're on the same network, so the Finder method works again. Solid but requires setup on every machine.
• Third-party apps. Screens and Jump Desktop both handle the connection for you without router changes. We compared the options in our remote desktop roundup.

One question worth asking

A lot of people searching for Mac-to-Mac remote desktop don't actually have a second Mac with them. They're out with just their phone, and the second Mac was the only way they knew to reach the first one.

If that's you, Macky solves the actual problem: it puts your Mac's screen on your iPhone with full control, from anywhere, with no network setup at all. You install the Mac app and the iPhone app, sign in, connect. There's also a built-in terminal, which is often faster than clicking around a streamed desktop when you just need to run a command.

So: two Macs on the same Wi-Fi, use Screen Sharing, it's free and good. Away from home with your phone, that's what Macky is for.