Screens Connect is a free utility that allows you to reach your Mac remotely so you can connect to Screens for iOS, Mac and Vision Pro.
The utility is launched at boot time to ensure that your Mac is accessible at all times, even after a restart.
Instructions
Download Screens Connect here.
Unpack the archive file.
Double-click to start.
When macOS prompts you to open the app file, click Open:
You will then be prompted to move Screens Connect to the /Applications folder:
Respond to the request to move Screens Connect to the /Applications folder. Due to the security restrictions introduced with macOS Sierra, this is mandatory for automatic application updates. We recommend this location to all users, regardless.
Screens Connect also prompts you to install a helper tool that is required for the utility to work:
Then follow the welcome instructions on the screen to complete the setup:
If you are installing Screens Connect on macOS 10.14 or higher, you will need to manually enable the Remote Management service:
- click this link to open System Preferences > General > Sharing.
- activate the Remote Management service.
- click on the button (i) next to the switch and make sure that Allow access for is set to All users or that your user is listed if Only these users is selected.
- click on Options...
- activate both "Watch" and "Control"
- if you want to allow incoming screen sharing requests from guest users, enable Anyone can request screen control authorisation.
Establishing and testing a connection
Once Screens Connect has been installed and set up, you can start Screens 5 and establish a connection to your computer. Before relying on remote access, we strongly recommend that you test your connection to make sure everything is working as expected before leaving your Mac unattended.
To test your remote connection
- switch off WLAN on your iPhone.
- if you are using a Mac, iPad or other device without mobile connectivity, connect it to your iPhone's personal hotspot to simulate a remote connection.
- open Screens 5.
- go to the Screens Connect section.
- if you are not yet logged in, please log in.
- select your Mac to establish a connection.
If the connection is successful, your remote setup is ready to use! Further details on establishing a connection can be found in this article.
Stopping or uninstalling Screens Connect
Click on the Screens Connect icon to display the menu:
Click on Stop Screens Connect.
This process will make your Mac remotely unavailable. Make sure that you start Screens Connect in future if you need to establish a remote connection to your Mac.
Note: Older versions may not include this feature. In this case, download our uninstall tool.