# Connect to a macOS device

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 <a href="#prerequisites" id="prerequisites"></a>

* Ensure that your remote PC and the device you want to use to access it are [linked over Meshnet](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/otYJMg7qFzDy0nWn86iM/getting-started/how-to-start-using-meshnet).
* Look up the Nord name or Meshnet IP address of the computer you're connecting to in your NordVPN app. \ <br>

  <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2F8lJparf3LXGsgIpBfEBn%2Fmac.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=a2506cee-d698-4696-945c-e31a6454c772" alt="The macOS device&#x27;s Nord name is hovered over to display the copy option in the NordVPN app" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Enable remote access on your Mac <a href="#enable-remote-access-on-your-mac" id="enable-remote-access-on-your-mac"></a>

To set up your Mac to accept remote connections, you need to enable the integrated Screen Sharing service, which uses [Virtual Network Computing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing) (VNC) technology.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**

For this procedure, macOS Big Sur 11.0 is used as an example.
{% endhint %}

Set up your remote Mac to accept connections:

1. Select the Apple menu![](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FWj71BFFMgsNmfe6ABDIW%2Fapple.svg?alt=media\&token=b9d31ae6-4141-4ca5-b9e7-99ac3cb0ef53) > **System preferences** and click **Sharing**.
2. Select the **Screen sharing** checkbox.<br>

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FT8WVXEmhKek3DA1ueeTX%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0eb04783-143e-46ab-8411-a3827940b33f" alt="" width="200"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

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

{% hint style="success" %}
**Tip**

Have ready the name and password for the account you're using on your Mac.\
You can find this information by going to the Apple![](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FWj71BFFMgsNmfe6ABDIW%2Fapple.svg?alt=media\&token=b9d31ae6-4141-4ca5-b9e7-99ac3cb0ef53) menu > **System preferences** > **Users & groups**.
{% endhint %}

## Connect to your remote PC <a href="#connect-to-your-remote-pc" id="connect-to-your-remote-pc"></a>

Because macOS relies on the VNC protocol for establishing remote connections, the following options are suggested for remote access:&#x20;

* 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.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="From Windows, macOS, and Linux" %}
Start by downloading the [NoMachine](https://www.nomachine.com/) app and installing it on both your remote and local computers.

#### Set up a remote connection <a href="#set-up-a-remote-connection" id="set-up-a-remote-connection"></a>

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.&#x20;
3. In the **Host** field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access, and then select **Add**.\ <br>

   <figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2Fql6HitUlCmOlmv7OeQz7%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e7dd2ec4-54cc-4aa0-973a-165eec35ff1c" alt="In the Host field, the Meshnet IP is entered and the Add button is highlighted"><figcaption><p><br></p></figcaption></figure>
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
     {% endtab %}

{% tab title="From iOS and Android" %}
Start by downloading the [NoMachine](https://www.nomachine.com/) app and installing it on both your remote and local devices.

#### Set up a remote connection <a href="#set-up-a-remote-connection" id="set-up-a-remote-connection"></a>

1. Launch **NoMachine** on your local device and select the Add button in the upper-left corner to create a new connection.\
   \
   ![The Add button is highlighted](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2Fffyu8GGlZoEV5B4XwfO8%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=37f10be3-6f76-4016-a225-1890bb5090e9)<br>
2. Ensure that **NX** is selected as the protocol and tap **Continue**.
3. In the **Host** field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access, and then select **Continue**.\
   \
   ![The Meshnet IP address of the remote PC is entered in the Host field, which is highlighted](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FCuO5Si4DFj3zSUwIEDf9%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=3b0d9ea9-7035-4776-ae89-216de58bc815)<br>
4. Keep the default options for **Authentication** and **Proxy**.&#x20;
5. Optionally, in the **Name** field, provide a custom name for the connection and tap **Done**.
6. On the NoMachine main screen, double-tap the newly created connection to initiate the remote connection.
7. Enter your remote desktop credentials and select **OK**.
   * **Username:** your remote PC account name
   * **Password:** the password you use to log in to your PC
     {% endtab %}
     {% endtabs %}

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**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="From Windows" %}
You can choose from a range of VNC clients, with some popular ones being [VNC® Viewer ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RealVNC)and [UltraVNC Viewer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UltraVNC), to name a few.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**

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

#### Setting up a connection  <a href="#connect-to-your-remote-computer.1" id="connect-to-your-remote-computer.1"></a>

1. Install [VNC® Viewer](https://www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/).
2. Open **VNC Viewer** and go to **File** > **New connection**.
3. Under **General**, in the **VNC server** field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access.<br>

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FEv6A3EWqHEST7voF0cTf%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f9bc5e0c-1ff9-48ff-9b82-0189f6d0b5c2" alt="Entering the Nord name of the remote Mac into the VNC Server field"><figcaption><p><br></p></figcaption></figure></div>
4. Optionally, you can give a nickname to your connection in the **Name** field.
5. Click **OK**.

#### Access your remote Mac <a href="#connect-to-your-remote-pc.1" id="connect-to-your-remote-pc.1"></a>

1. Double-click the connection that you added.<br>

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FLASbAFu78CellFQutHrt%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9f13bca6-1493-4ab6-ab2b-53f722d4ffcb" alt="Remote Mac added in the VNC Viewer application"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

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
     {% endtab %}

{% tab title="From Linux" %}
You can use Remmina to work with macOS resources, apps, and desktops remotely. Remmina is a free remote desktop client for Linux, available in the default repositories of many Linux distributions.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**

The instructions below apply primarily to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS or above, but if you use a different distribution of Linux, the procedure should remain similar.
{% endhint %}

If you don't have Remmina installed on your system, install it using one of the methods described below.

#### Method 1: Install Remmina from the terminal <a href="#method-1-install-remmina-from-the-terminal.1" id="method-1-install-remmina-from-the-terminal.1"></a>

1. Open the terminal.

2. Update the package manager's list of available packages by running the following command:<br>

   ```bash
   sudo apt update
   ```

3. Install Remmina by entering this command:<br>

   ```bash
   sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-vnc
   ```

#### Method 2: Install Remmina from Ubuntu Software <a href="#method-2-install-remmina-from-ubuntu-software.1" id="method-2-install-remmina-from-ubuntu-software.1"></a>

1. Open the Ubuntu Software app.

2. In the search bar, enter `remmina` and select the matching result.<br>

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FFVw7rbwiAtiAJZL7WSAO%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fb97fbaf-ae33-4573-bb85-30032e1a208b" alt="Typing Remmina in the search bar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

3. Click **Install**.

#### Set up a remote connection <a href="#set-up-a-remote-connection.2" id="set-up-a-remote-connection.2"></a>

1. Open the Remmina app by going to **Show applications** and searching for *remmina*.

2. Click the **New connection profile**<img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FAdhJ1axy1PhelEiN0OYa%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=bdf3cf71-1a73-4303-a984-8e19be5969a4" alt="" data-size="line"> button in the upper-left corner of the application window.

3. Select **Remmina VNC plugin** from the **Protocol** dropdown list.<br>

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2F8GCyk0hA9X9oXrb4wKKq%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4def3575-2fb7-4aed-bda8-641a97cdbad2" alt="Selecting Remmina VNC plugin from the Protocol dropdown list."><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

4. Under **Basic**, enter the information to create a reusable connection.
   * **Server:** the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.
   * **Username:** your remote PC account name.
   * **User password:** the password for the specified username.

     &#x20;

     <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FUTR2oehmSavD6Joyy9DV%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=38629908-b48f-471e-a1ba-1d767583faf0" alt="Filling in the Server, Username, and User password boxes"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

5. Click **Save**.

The new connection will appear in the Remmina window. You can double-click it whenever you want to initiate a remote desktop session.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="From iOS" %}
You can start by downloading the [VNC® Viewer iOS app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548), available for free from the App Store.&#x20;

### Set up a remote connection <a href="#set-up-a-remote-connection" id="set-up-a-remote-connection"></a>

1. Open **VNC Viewer**.
2. Tap the hamburger menu (the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner) and select **Address book**.
3. Tap the plus (+) button.
4. &#x20;In the **Address** field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access.\
   \
   ![The Nord name of the remote computer is entered in the Address](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FHudcVuBwXVg2egaS1mdf%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=96948646-d2cf-4eb7-a407-89bc3b9db8d6)<br>
5. Optionally, provide a name for your connection in the **Name** field.
6. Tap **Save**.

### Access your remote Mac

1. From the main screen, select the saved connection that you added.
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, disable the **Warn me every time** toggle.
4. Enter your remote desktop credentials and tap **Continue**.
   * **Username:** your remote Mac account name
   * **Password:** the password you use to log in to your Mac

You should now be able to access and control your Mac remotely.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="From Android" %}
You may choose from a range of VNC viewer applications, such as [VNC® Viewer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RealVNC) and [MultiVNC](https://github.com/bk138/multivnc), depending on your preference or device version.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**

For the purposes of this tutorial, MultiVNC is used as an example.
{% endhint %}

Start by downloading the[ MultiVNC app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.coboltforge.dontmind.multivnc), available for free from Google Play.

#### Set up a remote connection <a href="#set-up-a-remote-connection" id="set-up-a-remote-connection"></a>

1. Open **MultiVNC**.
2. &#x20;In the **Address** field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access.\
   \
   ![The Nord name of the remote computer is entered in the Address](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2Fp3iZjkFlEcHIlNY7BHwn%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=14849752-b0a9-473c-9c94-d8573864030c)<br>
3. Enter your remote desktop credentials.
   * **Username:** your remote Mac account name
   * **Password:** the password you use to log in to your Mac
4. Tap **Connect**.

You should now be able to access and control your Mac remotely.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### 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![](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FaxI7HcWakCm2ceuV3ay2%2Fmac-finder.svg?alt=media\&token=36eb4e56-0fd2-4c36-b61e-5e27dce1ad99).

2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click **Go** and select **Connect to server**.\
   \
   ![The Connect to server menu item is selected](https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2FZsI2qz221m8USFFBpnEa%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=d22894c7-b32e-42d3-858f-8b132f44f8a1)

   &#x20;

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`<br>

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3559400189-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0cTezbT2vN0lurEio8Z5%2Fuploads%2F4dY3UKZBcv7fjNCv2CMe%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fe721660-32ac-4f95-a3a4-acc3b6fbe9d4" alt="Entering the Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

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

* [Connect to a Windows device](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/otYJMg7qFzDy0nWn86iM/how-to/remote-access/log-in-to-pc-remotely/connect-to-windows)
* [Connect to a Linux device](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/otYJMg7qFzDy0nWn86iM/how-to/remote-access/log-in-to-pc-remotely/connect-to-linux)
