Why do I sometimes have to log in twice when connecting to my Mac?

Apple has implemented several security enhancements in macOS over the past few years. As a result, when connecting to a remote Mac, the login window may appear even if you've already logged in via Screens:

This feature enhances security when remotely controlling a computer, ensuring the computer doesn't remain unlocked after screen sharing, especially in shared environments.

Fortunately, there are some workarounds:

1. Use Type Mac User Password

We understand this can be inconvenient, particularly with long and complex Mac user passwords. To address this, we've introduced a feature called Type Mac User Password.

2. Set your Mac to automatically log in during startup

If you prefer an alternative approach, you can set your Mac to automatically log in during startup. Apple provides detailed instructions in this article: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201476.

3. Disable the Functionality

For those who wish to disable this functionality, carefully follow these steps:

1. Open Terminal on your remote Mac.
2. Type the following command:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.RemoteManagement.plist RestoreMachineState -bool no

To restore the functionality, replace "no" with "yes" in the command.

Use Carefully

Please exercise caution and only disable this functionality if you are confident that no unauthorized individuals can physically access your Mac in your absence.