Screens 5 is a robust yet easy-to-use screen sharing client app that seamlessly connects to and controls your computers worldwide. Accessible on Mac, iPad, iPhone and Vision Pro for unrivalled convenience.
For those transitioning from previous versions of Screens, there is a transformed library with multiple sections. This guide has been created to provide clarity on what each section represents and to help you determine which sections meet your specific needs.
Sections
In Screens 5, connections are divided into four sections:
Recent Links
Connect to recent items, including connections made via Screens Assist, Quick Connect or a URL.
Nearby
Connect directly to computers on your local network. When you enable Remote Management or Screen Sharing on your Mac, macOS uses Bonjour to advertise the service, allowing Screens to detect your Mac and display it in the Nearby section.
On Windows, Screens Connect handles broadcasting its availability so that Screens can detect and list the computer accordingly.
Screens Connect
Access your Mac or Windows PC from anywhere. Create a free account and install Screens Connect for easy local and remote connections.
This is our recommended method as it provides everything you need to connect to your computers both locally and remotely.
Tailscale
If you already have a Tailscale account, you can easily access your registered devices with Screens from Screens 5.3. Unlike Screens Connect, Tailscale does not rely on port mapping and works on most networks, including those without UPnP support or those using carrier-grade NAT or a VPN. Tailscale is also compatible with Linux and Raspberry Pi, making it the ideal choice for accessing devices across multiple platforms (macOS, Windows, Linux, etc.).
You can create a free Tailscale account here. Instructions for using Tailscale with Screens 5 can be found in this article.
We also recommend Tailscale as it provides everything you need to connect to your computers locally and remotely.
Custom Screens
If you want to further customise your connections, you can create personalised connections with custom URLs or IP addresses that offer more flexibility than the default options. Ideal for special user requirements. This section represents the elements included in the Screens 4 library if you have migrated from a previous version of Screens.
Groups
You can create groups to organise your Screens Connect and custom Screens elements.
Next steps
Initiate remote access by configuring your computers. Detailed instructions can be found in our articles "Configuring ... for remote access" in the First steps section.