macformat.com @macformatRemote access via VNC APPLE SKILLS
SEPTEMBER 2019 | MACFORMAT | 47
HOW TO Set up Screen Sharing via VNC
1
Enable Screen Sharing
Go to System Prefs > Sharing. Untick Remote
Management if selected. Next tick Screen
Sharing. Select the All Users radio button.
Click Computer Settings then tick ‘Anyone
may request permission to control screen’.2
Start VNC Server
In the Computer Settings pane, tick ‘VNC
viewers may control screen with password’.
Enter a stong password in the field to the right
and note it down in a safe place. Click OK to
return to screen sharing preferences.3
Find VNC addresses
Your Mac will now display your computer
name & local network address e.g. ‘vnc://
macbook1234/’. Make a note of this. Next, open
System Preferences > Network and note down
your Mac’s local IP address e.g. ‘192.168.43.121’.4
Connect a Mac via VNC
If you want to share the screen of your
Mac to another on your local network, log in
to the other Mac and launch Safari. Click the
address bar and enter the VNC address you
noted down earlier e.g. ‘vnc://macbook1234/’.5
Connect a mobile device
Mobile devices like iPhones don’t natively
support VNC. However, you can install a free
VNC client such as VNC Viewer. Setup differs
for each app but usually you only need enter
your Mac’s local network address to connect.6
Connect remotely via VNC
If you want to access your Mac’s screen
from outside the local network, you’ll need its
external IP. Open Google and type ‘IP’ to view
this. If your VNC client needs a port number
enter ‘:5900’ after the IP address.Genius tip!
To end screen sharing
from your end, click the
icon at the top right of
the macOS desktop and
choose ‘Disconnect’.Jargon buster
IP address An Internet
Protocol address is a
unique identifier that’s
given to each and every
device on a network –
rather like the postal
address for your home.
To see the IP address of
your Mac, go to System
Preferences > Network,
and select your active
network connection.
The address will be
displayed in the
right-hand pane.