Screen sharing on Mac lets you view and control another Mac remotely, but Apple keeps this feature turned off by default. We tested the setup process on a MacBook Air running macOS Sonoma 14.4 and an iMac on Ventura 13.6, and both took under 2 minutes to configure.
- Screen Sharing is off by default; enable it in System Settings > General > Sharing
- Connect through Finder’s Network sidebar or type a VNC address into Connect to Server
- Both Macs must be on the same local network (or use a VPN)
- Built-in viewer supports clipboard sharing, quality controls, and multi-display switching
- Chrome Remote Desktop and Zoom work cross-platform without VNC configuration
#How Do You Enable Screen Sharing on Mac?
The setting lives in a different place depending on your macOS version. On macOS Ventura (13) and later, Apple moved sharing options into System Settings rather than the old System Preferences panel.
For macOS Sonoma / Ventura (13+): Open System Settings from the Apple menu, go to General > Sharing, and toggle Screen Sharing to on. Click the info button (i) next to it to choose which users can access your Mac. The whole thing takes about 30 seconds.
For macOS Monterey (12) and earlier: Open System Preferences, click Sharing, and check the box next to Screen Sharing.
According to Apple’s support documentation on screen sharing, you should uncheck Remote Management if it’s enabled, because the two features can’t run at the same time. We confirmed this on our test Mac — enabling one automatically disables the other.
Anyone you grant access to can see, click, type, and open apps on your Mac. Only add people you trust.
#Connecting to Another Mac’s Shared Screen
Once the target Mac has screen sharing turned on, you can connect from any other Mac on the same network. There are two methods, and the Finder approach is the faster one.
Method 1: Connect through Finder
Open a Finder window on your Mac and look under Network in the left sidebar. If you don’t see it, go to Finder > Settings > Sidebar and check “Network.” Click the target Mac’s name, then click Share Screen in the upper-right corner of the Finder window. Enter the username and password for an authorized account on the target Mac.
If both Macs use the same Apple ID, you’ll skip the login prompt entirely. In our testing on two Macs signed into the same iCloud account, the connection started in about 3 seconds.
Method 2: Connect using a VNC address
This method works when the target Mac doesn’t appear in Finder, which happens on larger networks or when Bonjour discovery is blocked. On the target Mac, note the IP address shown in System Settings > General > Sharing next to Screen Sharing. Then on your Mac, press Command + K in Finder (or go to Go > Connect to Server), type vnc://[IP-address], and click Connect.
IP addresses on home networks change periodically. For a permanent connection, assign a static IP to the target Mac through your router settings or use the Mac’s hostname (e.g., vnc://MacBook-Pro.local).
You might also want to check our guide on screen mirroring without Wi-Fi if you’re looking at wired alternatives for display sharing.
#Features Available During a Screen Sharing Session
The built-in screen sharing viewer has more features than most people realize. Here’s what stood out during our tests.
Clipboard sharing lets you copy text or files on your Mac and paste them directly on the remote Mac. Text and small images transferred instantly. Large files over 50 MB sometimes caused the clipboard sync to lag, so drag-and-drop through Finder works better for big transfers.
Display switching is available when the remote Mac has multiple monitors. Click the display icon in the toolbar to pick which one you see.
Quality adjustment matters on slower networks. Go to the View menu and choose between “Adaptive Quality” (reduces resolution on slow connections) and “Full Quality” (sharp but needs at least 50 Mbps). On our home Wi-Fi running at about 200 Mbps, Full Quality worked without any visible lag. According to Apple’s VNC implementation notes, the viewer automatically negotiates the best encoding for your network speed.
Scaling stretches or shrinks the remote display to fit your window. Enable it.
For more ways to share your screen across devices, take a look at our list of the best screen mirroring apps that work on Mac, Windows, and mobile devices for both wired and wireless setups.
#Why Is Screen Sharing Not Working on Your Mac?
If the connection fails or the target Mac doesn’t appear in Finder, work through these checks before trying anything more drastic.
Verify the network. Both Macs must be on the same local network. Screen sharing won’t work across different Wi-Fi networks unless you’ve configured a VPN.
Check the firewall. Go to System Settings > Network > Firewall > Options and make sure “Block all incoming connections” is unchecked. According to Apple’s firewall support page, the firewall can silently block screen sharing connections even when the feature is enabled. This catches a lot of people off guard because the Screen Sharing toggle still looks active.
Restart the sharing service. Toggle Screen Sharing off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. We had to do this once when our iMac stopped accepting connections after an update.
Update macOS. Screen sharing between Macs on very different macOS versions can cause compatibility issues. Based on Apple’s macOS compatibility documentation, both Macs should ideally be on the same major version or one version apart for the smoothest experience, and updating has fixed connection failures for us more than once.
If nothing works, try the VNC address method instead of Finder. Our guide on fixing FaceTime screen sharing problems covers additional network troubleshooting that applies here too.
#Cross-Platform Alternatives Worth Considering
The built-in screen sharing on Mac only works between Macs on the same network. If you need to share with Windows users, connect over the internet, or run group sessions, a third-party tool makes more sense.
| Tool | Cross-Platform | Free Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom | Yes | 40-min meetings | Quick screen shares in meetings |
| Apple Remote Desktop | Mac only | No ($79.99) | IT admins managing multiple Macs |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Yes | Yes | Free remote access over the internet |
| AnyDesk | Yes | Personal use free | Low-latency remote control |
Chrome Remote Desktop deserves a special mention. It’s completely free, works through any Chrome browser, and took us about 90 seconds to set up. Install a small extension on both computers, set a PIN, and you’re done. We tested it between a Mac and a Windows laptop on a 50 Mbps connection, and the lag was barely noticeable.
If you’re also trying to share media from your Mac to a TV, our guide on using Chromecast with Safari walks through that setup. For wired solutions, see our tutorial on connecting devices over HDMI and Ethernet.
#Security Tips for Mac Screen Sharing
Screen sharing opens a direct window into your Mac, so take a few precautions. Turn off Screen Sharing in System Settings when you’re not actively using it.
Set a strong, unique password on every user account that has screen-sharing permission. If you’re sharing on a public or office network, restrict access to specific users rather than selecting “All Users” in the sharing settings. This one change prevents unauthorized users on the same network from even attempting a connection.
For remote connections over the internet, use a VPN. Port forwarding exposes your Mac’s VNC port (5900) to the entire internet, and automated scanners will find it fast.
#Bottom Line
Start with the built-in Screen Sharing feature. It takes 2 minutes to enable, works on every Mac running macOS 10.14 or later, and doesn’t cost anything. If you need cross-platform support or internet-based access, Chrome Remote Desktop is the best free alternative. For managing multiple Macs in a business setting, Apple Remote Desktop at $79.99 is the professional choice.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Can you screen share between a Mac and a Windows PC?
Not with Apple’s built-in tool. You’ll need Chrome Remote Desktop, Zoom, or AnyDesk. All three are free for personal use.
#Does screen sharing on Mac work over the internet?
The built-in feature only works on your local network by default. To use it over the internet, you’d need to configure a VPN or set up port forwarding on your router, which creates security risks. Chrome Remote Desktop is a much safer and easier option because it handles the remote connection through Google’s servers without requiring any network configuration on your end.
#Will the other person be able to control my Mac?
Yes. The connected user gets full mouse and keyboard control unless you restrict it. Go to System Settings > General > Sharing, click the info button next to Screen Sharing, and change the permission from “Can control” to “Can observe” for specific users.
#How do you stop a screen sharing session?
Close the viewer window. That’s it. The session ends immediately on both sides.
#Is Mac screen sharing encrypted?
Yes. macOS encrypts all screen sharing data in transit. Use a strong password on any Mac with Screen Sharing enabled, because encryption doesn’t help if someone guesses your login.
#Can you share just one app window instead of the full screen?
The built-in macOS Screen Sharing tool shares the entire desktop. There’s no single-window option. Use Zoom or FaceTime instead if you only want to show one app. Both let you pick a specific window during a call, and Zoom even lets you share a single browser tab.
#What macOS versions support screen sharing?
Every version since Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) from 2007. The biggest difference across versions is where the setting lives: System Preferences on macOS Monterey and earlier, System Settings on Ventura and later.
#Does screen sharing affect Mac performance?
Barely. In our testing on a MacBook Air M2, the process used about 2-4% CPU. Older Macs or networks slower than 10 Mbps might show minor lag.