Let another Mac see or control your screen

Why it happens

Screen Sharing stays off until you switch it on, so nobody can reach your screen by accident. Once it's on, the people you allow can see your screen and use it from another Mac. It's handy for helping family, or for using your own Mac from another room.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click General, then Sharing.

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

   General›Sharing›Screen Sharing

3. Under Allow access for, choose All users, or Only these users and add the people you want. They'll sign in with a user name and password from your Mac.

   General›Sharing›Screen Sharing›Allow access for

4. On the other Mac, open Finder, click Network in the sidebar, select your Mac, click Share Screen… and type the user name and password when asked.

Still not fixed?

1. Screen Sharing greyed out? Remote Management is on, and only one of them can be. Turn Remote Management off, then turn on Screen Sharing.

   General›Sharing›Remote Management

2. Your Mac not listed under Network? On the other Mac, open the Screen Sharing app with Spotlight and type your Mac's address, shown in the Screen Sharing panel.

3. Connecting from an iPad or a non-Apple computer needs a screen-sharing app that supports VNC. Turn on VNC viewers may control screen with password, found in the Screen Sharing settings, and set a password.

4. Keep both Macs awake and on the same network while you connect. A sleeping Mac won't answer.

5. If Screen Sharing won't turn on at all, or every connection fails on your home network, restart both Macs. If it still fails, contact Apple Support.