Control Iphone For Mac



Remote access to Mac, anywhere
Get Screens and work across multiple remote Macs.

While many countries are on a lockdown due to COVID-19, remote work is becoming a lifestyle. Remotely accessing a Mac is designed to be easy. Apple has spent a lot of time ensuring anyone can log in to their Macs — both desktop and laptop — from any other Mac device, anywhere. And, besides, there are a variety of third-party apps ready to help with that too.

Open your iPhone’s settings. Tap the gear application icon from the home screen of your iPhone to. 1.Connect iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a Wi-Fi network on the same local network as your Mac, PC, or Apple TV. Open the Remote app on your iOS device. Start Quicktime Player and Have Them Plug in the iPhone or iPad: Quicktime Player in Yosemite can.

Still, remotely managing their Mac sounds overly complicated to a lot of people. From how you connect to sharing files or screens to using your Apple device as a remote mouse, we want to demystify the process in the easy-to-follow guide below.

Best Remote Access Apps for Mac

There are times when you want to access your Mac remotely, and there are many different solutions to remote access your Mac. Best utilities in one pack, give it a go!

How to access your Mac from another location

There're two ways: you can allow remote login to your Mac from another computer, or allow others to access your computer using Remote Desktop (it's available from the App Store).

Allow remote login to your Mac from another computer

For devices using the same macOS, you can allow remote Mac login using a Secure Shell (SSH). This enables Mac remote desktop access using a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).

To set up Remote Login:

  • Go to System Preferences > Sharing
  • Select Remote Login.
  • Choose which users you want to have remote access or the ability to control your Mac.

You can either select All Users, which means any other device on your network, or any Mac you own, can access and connect, or click the plus sign to pick the exact users.

When you want to remotely log in to your Mac from another device, you need to know your username (the name that appears when you login) and your computer's IP address. Write them down and keep them safe, as allowing access to your Mac does make it potentially less secure, especially over cellular or public Wi-Fi networks.

Accessing, controlling, or viewing information on your Mac can be done with a built-in Terminal or any other SSH app using your username and IP address.

Allow others to access your computer using Apple Remote Desktop

With macOS remote Mac access and control is even easier. To set up it:

  • Go to Menu > System Preferences > Sharing
  • Select Remote Management - it should appear as a checkbox.
  • Now you can select who has remote desktop access. Either select, All Users, which means any other device on your network, or Mac you own, can access and connect, or click the Add button(+), which gives you the ability to select who can have remote access and/or control.

If you are using a VPN or VNC viewer and want to access your Mac remotely, you will need to setup a password first. It is also possible to use iOS devices, such as an iPhone and iPad, through Apple Remote Desktop, available from the App Store.

How to stay on the same page with Screens

Collaboration has become of utmost importance to today's workplaces. And with more and more people working remotely, being on the same screen (ahem, page) is a must.

Screens allows you to work remotely with any computer regardless of your location. Whether you are on a business trip or traveling, stay confident knowing you can access any file on your home computer at any time.

This robust screen sharing tool for Mac supports:

  • Multiple displays
  • Drag-and-drop file sharing
  • Hiding your remote screen while accessing it
  • Accessing other computers (e.g. colleague's) as a guest
  • Alternative shortcuts (useful when connecting Mac to PC)
  • Custom actions in case of disconnection

To start using Screens, get the app from Setapp and configure the following:

  1. Remote login and remote management (as per the guide above)
  2. Install Screens Connect helper app and create a Screens ID on every machine you'd like to connect to in the future
  3. Use your Screens ID in the Screens app and it will automatically determine which of your computers are available for connection

Remote desktop client for Mac

Control any computer remotely – a perfect way to access your Mac from anywhere without limitations.

Share files between devices

Today we have plenty of ways to send and share files. But ask someone to send something, and you are likely to get it through email. Due to the ubiquitousness of email, it's still the default method for file sharing, despite its obvious flaws and constraints.

Fortunately, there are much better ways:

Native macOS File Sharing

Few people know that their Mac has native file sharing functionality built in. To use this feature, activate it in the Sharing pane of System Preferences by checking File Sharing. If you only want to share specific folders, add them to the Shared Folders list. If you only want specific users to access the folder, add them to its Users list. Otherwise, everyone will be able to access it.

AirDrop

Although not the most reliable solution, AirDrop works fine for occasional sharing a file between Apple devices. In the Finder, choose Go and then AirDrop on both the sending and receiving Mac. As soon as you see the receiver's user icon, drag the desired file onto it to send.

Read more about how to use AirDrop

Dropshare

If you don't want to send files Mac-to-Mac directly but rather through a cloud storage, there is no easier way than Dropshare. The app works with numerous cloud providers, from Dropbox to Google Drive, and saves your files for sharing by simply dragging them onto its menu bar icon.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

The most technical but also the most robust way to share files from your mac is to use FTP, which you could do either through Terminal or an FTP Client, the latter being much more user friendly.

There are a few popular FTP clients one could choose from. The robust file managing app ForkLift covers most of the FTP functionality but takes it to the next level and could be a viable replacement for the Finder altogether with its quick search, instant previews, and file comparison.

DCommander is another full-featured file transfer app for Mac that combines speed and reliability, able to handle thousands of files, schedule backups, and even automate transfers.

At last, when it comes to sharing the same files on different devices, an app like ChronoSync Express becomes invaluable.

ChronoSync Express is powerful tool for sharing and transferring files from Mac to Mac, or any another Apple device. With a feature called Synchronizer Document, you can select which files need to be automatically synchronized and shared between devices, just like that:

  1. Create a new synchronizer document for each folder synchronization you'd like to perform
  2. Name the synchronization
  3. Change the Operation to Synchronize Bidirectional
  4. Select folders to sync on the left and right
  5. Test with a Trial Sync

Do you need to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)?

Whether you are working on your Mac directly, logging into your Mac remotely, or sharing access with someone else, security should be on top of your mind.

As a rule of thumb, you should always use a VPN when connected to a public Wi-Fi network, as someone could log in and see the information you send just as easily as you do.

And with remote access — even in the View Only mode — someone can see every file and document on your Mac, except those that are password protected. Unfortunately, if you leave passwords in a visible document, you expose yourself to immense risks.

A secure VPN client for Mac like Shimo is well worth using to stop unwanted eyes from lurking around, especially if you are sharing sensitive files, financial records or customer data.

However, for extra peace of mind and security, consider firing up your VPN automatically on all networks you are not 100% sure about to keep your emails, bank accounts and personal documents safe.

To share your Mac with someone else, download a remote Virtual Network Computing (VNC) app like Jump Desktop. With full remote access and Mac remote control, the other person — or yourself connecting to another Mac — can have the same level of control as the person using that device. Except for Admin level access, since it's password protected.

Starting with Jump Desktop is easy: either yourself (gaining access) or the person you are giving a remote view or control access to your Mac, needs to add details of the device and the password.

Secure your access with VPN

Get a VPN client for Mac to avoid privacy infringement while connecting remotely. It's secure and free to try.

Once permission is granted at the other end, remote Mac screen sharing or control (whereby you can use the iOS device as a remote mouse) becomes possible.

How to use your iOS device as a remote mouse

If your remote work starts on a patio hammock somewhere in east Asia, you should note that Apple iOS devices, such as an iPhone or iPad, can be used to control a Mac remotely, much like a mouse can control a desktop or laptop. Apps that make this possible work on VNC.

Remote Mouse is the easiest, most effective way to turn your iOS device into a wireless remote control for your Mac.

Although remote access through a local network would be most effective, since the closer you are to the device the quicker the connection, it's also possible from anywhere in the world, providing the network is secure and fast enough.

Setting up and granting access to the iOS device is the same process as when someone wants to access using a Mac. Except you need to give them a password. And make sure it is different from your primary Mac or iOS (App Store) one.

So working together or checking on your devices can be done from anywhere in the world and there are lots of ways to do that, from sharing screens and files to having complete access to a system set up far away. Setapp equips you with all the apps needed to remotely access any device you need and elevate your work to the global level.

These might also interest you:


Setapp lives on Mac and iOS. Please come back from another device.

Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.

Read on

Sign Up

Setapp uses cookies to personalize your experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our cookie policy.

For the question about how to screen mirroring your iPhone to Mac, we’re going to show you three best ways to learn and practice.

Screen Mirroring & AirPlay Tips

Screen Mirroring Tips & Apps
iPhone/Android Mirroring
Airplay Tips

Have you ever thought to view your iPhone on a bigger screen like on your Mac? Generally, iOS users may want to mirror iPhone screen to Mac for various purposes: doing a business presentation on a bigger screen can make works much more efficient; playing games is more fun; sharing personal photos with friends and families and transferring videos from iPhone to Mac creates a warmer atmosphere; and watching movies on a larger screen must be a cool experience.

Here, we’re going to show you three best ways to connect your iPhone to Mac, mirroring what you need on Mac. They can make you easily enjoy a bigger iPhone screen.

Method 1: How to Mirror Your iPhone Screen to Mac with QuickTime

QuickTime Player is an extensible multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of capturing the screen of your iPhone, iPad or iPod. You can capture exactly what you’re seeing on your iPhone. Or you can make a video recording of your Mac screen, for example, video of working demo, game reviewing, photos slide show and so on.

This capability requires a USB cable. Mirroring Requirements for devices are:

  1. The Mac: macOS X Yosemite or later
  2. The iPhone: iOS 8 or later

Here are the STEPS:

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.

Step 2: Open the QuickTime Player on your Mac.

Step 3: Click “File”, and choose “New Movie Recording”.

Step 4: Click the Options pop-up menu, then Choose Your Connected iPhone.

Choose “New Movie Recording” and “Your Connected iPhone”

Step 5: The iPhone screen will now instantly display on the Mac.

Successfully Mirroring Your iPhone Screen to Mac with QuickTime Player

  1. The default input device will be set to the built-in camera. To change it to your iPhone, click the Optionspop-up menu (down arrow next to the Record button). Then select your connected iPhone.
  2. When connecting iPhone to Mac, the Photos and iTunes are automatically launched. You can close those apps and continue the process.

Method 2: AirPlay iPhone to Mac with Reflector

AirPlay Mirroring sends exactly what is on the iPhone screen wirelessly. While Apple does support screen mirroring between iPhone and Apple TV, it doesn’t provide a built-in solution to directly display your iPhone screen on Mac. But luckily, an AirPlay Receiver-Reflector can enable AirPlay for iPhone.

This capability requires WiFi network. Mirroring Requirements for Devices are:

  1. An AirPlay receiver: Reflector
  2. The iPhone: iOS 7 or later

Here are the STEPS to airplay on Mac:

Step 1: Make sure your iPhone and Mac on the same wireless network.

Step 2: Download and launch Reflectoron your Mac.

Step 3: Open up Control Center on your iPhone:

  • On iPhone X or later or iPad with iOS 12 or later: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen.
  • On iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen.

Step 4: Tap the “AirPlay/Screen Mirroring”.

Step 5: Select your Mac from the list.

Step 6: If a code appears on your Mac, enter the onscreen code on your iPhone.

Step 7: The iPhone screen will now instantly appear on the Mac.

If you can’t enable AirPlay for iPhone, please:

  1. Make sure that your Mac is near the iPhone, try moving closer to it and try again.
  2. Make sure that your Mac and iPhone are updated to the latest software version.

Method 3: How to Mirror Your iPhone Screen to Mac with AnyTrans for iOS

AnyTrans for iOS is a comprehensive iPhone data management software, it provides you a Free Screen Mirror tool for iPhone screen mirroring. Here are some of its main features:

  • It allows you to mirror iPhone screen to Mac (or PC) in a click.
  • During the screen mirroring, you can also record or capture the screen.
  • In addition, it can help transfer all your iPhone data to another iPhone/iPad, or Mac/PC computer, and vice versa.
  • Also, it helps you backup your iPhone completely to protect you from unexpected data loss. And then you can restore them whenever required.

Mirroring your iPhone to Mac with AnyTrans for iOS requires WiFi network. Requirements for Devices are:

  1. The Mac: macOS Catalina beta, macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, OS X 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8
  2. The iPhone: iOS 5 or later

Here are the STEPS:

Step 1: Make sure your iPhone and Mac on the same wireless network.

Step 2: Download AnyTrans for iOS and launch it on your Mac.

Control Iphone From Mac

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 3: Click the “Screen Mirroring” option on the left navigation of the interface.

Click the “Screen Mirroring” Option After You Launch AnyTrans for iOS

Step 4: Open up Control Center on your iPhone:

  • On iPhone X or later or iPad with iOS 12 or later: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen.
  • On iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen.

Step 5: Tap the “AirPlay/Screen Mirroring” button, and Choose the Name “AnyTrans_XXX” (your computer name).

Tap the “AirPlay/Screen Mirroring” Button and Choose the Name AnyTrans_XXX

Step 6: The iPhone screen will now instantly display on the Mac.

Successfully Mirroring Your iPhone Screen to Mac with AnyTrans for iOS

Having problems with turning on Wi-Fi on your computer and iOS device, learn how to connect your iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi.

Brief Comparison among QuickTime, AirPlay and AnyTrans for iOS

Control Iphone Through Mac

QuickTimeAirPlayAnyTrans for iOS
WiFiNot supportedSupportedSupported
ConditionOne-clickReflector neededOne-click
Mirror/Record/Capture
PriceFreeFree Trial for ReflectorFree Trial for screen mirroring

The Bottom Line

Today, most people own more than one electronic products to entertain life. Screen mirroring iPhone to a bigger screen is one of digital entertainment lifestyle. Once you’re screening your iPhone to Mac, you can fast control your media on your iPhone. Remote handling the functions and enjoying the bigger screen must be an unique experience provided by screen mirroring.

Control Iphone For Mac

Control Macbook From Iphone

More Related Articles

Product-related questions? Contact Our Support Team to Get Quick Solution >