#CONTROL MAC FROM IPAD REMOTELY MAC OS X#
#CONTROL MAC FROM IPAD REMOTELY MAC OS#
#CONTROL MAC FROM IPAD REMOTELY SOFTWARE#

When I'm not home and need files from my Mac Desktop, it's very handy to be able to move a file from my Mac Desktop to Dropbox so I can access it quickly from my iPad, iPhone, or laptop. Move Files To And From Your Dropbox Folder I love Dropbox, but I'm always running up against my free storage limit.

#CONTROL MAC FROM IPAD REMOTELY SOFTWARE#

The beauty of this solution is that you're only using the FaceTime software to show a live image of your home on your desktop. Be sure to adjust the angle of your home computer's camera before you leave. Use FaceTime To Check On Your Pet Yeah that's me in the picture as proof that FaceTime will work over the VNC protocol, it just has a very slow refresh rate.

#CONTROL MAC FROM IPAD REMOTELY MAC OS#

(Lion will start to unify these actions so they will be more consistent between the iOS devices, and Mac OS X.) This is the opposite of what you would do if you used a scrollbar on the Mac Desktop. For example, to scroll down, you touch with two fingers and drag up. It's very different from what you may be used to.

Screens has a great Getting Started Guide built into their app. Take some time to familiarize yourself with using your computer from your iPad. If you setup the port forwarding correctly you'll be prompted for your password and then you can connect. When you are at your favorite Wi-Fi enabled coffee house, use the WAN address to connect to your Mac Desktop. Make sure you check the port forwarding setting, and go with the default inbound and private port 5900. Take the private IP address (192.x.x.x) and enter that into the Private IP address field. (You noted that from step 1 before you closed the System Preferences, right? It will usually start with a 192. You'll need two IP addresses - 1) the IP address of your WAN - click here to find out what that is, and 2) the private IP address of your Mac Desktop. You will need to log into your router and enable something called 'Port Forwarding' or 'Virtual Servers' depending on the make and model of your router. Screens can also save the password, but be sure to lock your iPad with a PIN if you go this route. If Screens doesn't automatically detect your Mac Desktop, manually fill in the IP address you noted in step 1. I use this feature a lot when I'm in my bedroom, and want to check the status of a backup that might take days on my MacBook sitting in the living room. (This could be different from your user login password.) Leave the port as 5900 and tell Screens you're using Mac OS so you get the enhanced keyboard with Mac specific actions on it. You'll be prompted to enter the password you setup. If your iPad and Mac Desktop are on the same network, you can tap Nearby Computers to search for your Mac and it should automatically find it. Open Screens, and tap the New Screen button on the upper left. Note the IP address before you close the Sharing dialog box as you'll need that for the next step. On Your Computer Turn On Screen Sharing Go to your System Preferences, turn on Screen Sharing by checking the Screen Sharing checkbox and be sure to set a good password.

Using a VNC client on your iPad such as Screens ($19.95) or VNC Viewer ($9.95) will allow you to control your Mac Desktop from anywhere in the world. It's very simple to enable from the System Preferences.

#CONTROL MAC FROM IPAD REMOTELY MAC OS X#

Many folks aren't aware that Mac OS X has built in screen sharing.

Control mac from ipad remotely