Connect to a macOS device

Learn how to access a macOS computer over Meshnet from Windows, macOS, or Linux.

ServerServerTo log in to your macOS computer remotely over Meshnet, you need to set up remote access on your macOS system and use a remote desktop client on the device from which you are connecting.

Before you begin

  • Ensure that your remote PC and the device you want to use to access it are linked over Meshnet.

  • Look up the Nord name or Meshnet IP address of the computer you're connecting to in your NordVPN app.

    The macOS device's Nord name is hovered over to display the copy option in the NordVPN app

Enable remote access on your Mac

To set up your Mac to accept remote connections, you need to enable the integrated Screen Sharing service, which uses Virtual Network Computing (VNC) technology.

Note

For this procedure, macOS Big Sur 11.0 is used as an example.

Set up your remote Mac to accept connections:

  1. Select the Apple menu > System preferences and click Sharing.

  2. Select the Screen sharing checkbox.

If you need to perform more advanced remote access tasks, such as installing software, select Remote management instead.

Connect to your remote PC

Because macOS relies on the VNC protocol for establishing remote connections, the following options are suggested for remote access:

  • Using the NoMachine app, which functions as both a server and a client

  • Installing a VNC client on a local device

  • For Mac-to-Mac connections, employing the native Connect to Server feature available within macOS

This guide provides detailed instructions on how to use each of these options.

Using NoMachine for remote connections

To establish a remote connection using NoMachine, proceed with the guidelines below.

Start by downloading the NoMachine app and installing it on both your remote and local computers.

Set up a remote connection

  1. Launch NoMachine on your local device and select the Add button to create a new connection.

  2. Optionally, in the Name field, provide a custom name for the connection.

  3. In the Host field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access, and then select Add.

    In the Host field, the Meshnet IP is entered and the Add button is highlighted
  4. On the NoMachine main screen, double-click the newly created connection to initiate the remote connection.

  5. If a warning appears indicating that the host's authenticity cannot be confirmed, select OK to proceed.

  6. Enter your remote desktop credentials and select OK.

    • Username: your remote PC account name

    • Password: the password you use to log in to your remote PC

With these steps completed, you should now be able to access and control your PC remotely using NoMachine.

Using a VNC client for remote connections

You can choose from a range of VNC clients, with some popular ones being VNC® Viewer and UltraVNC Viewer, to name a few.

Note

For the purposes of this tutorial, VNC® Viewer is used as an example.

Setting up a connection

  1. Open VNC Viewer and go to File > New connection.

  2. Under General, in the VNC server field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access.

    Entering the Nord name of the remote Mac into the VNC Server field
  3. Optionally, you can give a nickname to your connection in the Name field.

  4. Click OK.

Access your remote Mac

  1. Double-click the connection that you added.

    Remote Mac added in the VNC Viewer application

  2. You may receive a security warning caused by connecting to the Apple Screen Sharing service. Proceed with the connection by tapping Connect.

  3. If you don't want to see this dialog in the future, select the Don't warn me about this again checkbox.

  4. Enter your remote desktop credentials and click OK.

    • Username: your remote Mac account name

    • Password: the password you use to log in to your Mac

Using the Connect to Server functionality

If you are looking to establish a remote connection between two Mac devices, then you can use the Connect to Server functionality.

  1. On the Mac you are connecting from, open Finder.

  2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Go and select Connect to server.

  3. Type vnc:// followed by the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access, as shown: vnc://100.94.97.211 or vnc://secret.raccoon-atlas.nord

    Entering the Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access

  4. When prompted, enter the name and password of your account on the Mac you're trying to access.

  5. Click Connect.

You should now be able to access and control your macOS device remotely.

See also

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