Can't connect to another Mac with Screen Sharing

Why it happens

The Mac you want to see has to switch Screen Sharing on and say who may connect. If it's off, asleep, or set to allow only certain users who don't include you, the connection fails or your password is turned down. A firewall or a different network can also keep the two Macs from finding each other.

How to fix it

1. On the Mac you want to connect to, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General, then Sharing.

2. Click the info button next to Screen Sharing and turn Screen Sharing on.

   General›Sharing›Screen Sharing

3. In the same panel, look at Allow access for. Choose All users, or keep Only these users and click the add button to add the account you'll sign in with. Click Done.

   General›Sharing›Screen Sharing›ⓘ

4. Make sure that Mac is awake, not asleep with the lid shut, and on the same network as yours.

5. On your own Mac, open Finder, choose Go > Network, open the other Mac and click the Share Screen… button at the top. Sign in with a user name and password from the other Mac.

   Finder›Go›Network

Still not fixed?

1. Screen Sharing greyed out? Remote Management is probably on, and the two can't run together. Turn Remote Management off in the same Sharing list, then turn on Screen Sharing.

   General›Sharing›Remote Management

2. If the other Mac goes to sleep, let the network wake it. On a MacBook, open Battery, click Options… and choose a setting for Wake for network access. On a desktop Mac, turn on Wake for network access in Energy.

   Battery›Options…

3. Check the firewall on the other Mac. In Network, open Firewall, click Options… and make sure Block all incoming connections is off.

   Network›Firewall›Options…

4. If the other Mac doesn't appear under Network, check both are on the same Wi-Fi or wired network, then restart both Macs and the router.

5. If both Macs are set up right and on the same network but still won't connect, contact Apple Support.