Apple has always been very committed to accessibility and removing barriers in technology. This is the objective that has the possibility that the fact of being able to control a Mac through the iPhone is enabled although several things must be taken into account in advance. In this article we tell you everything you need to know about it.
What is it for remotely controlling the Mac
Remotely controlling your Mac is quite important on a day-to-day basis. There are many tasks that can be carried out without having to go to the main screen of the computer to make the query. This makes the ecosystem much richer by being able to interconnect different platforms that are with the same user. Through the iPhone for example you can control the Mac, although with limitations, in a very comfortable way. In this way you will be able to navigate through the Mac with the same button configuration that you usually use to control your own iPhone, in special cases.
But the main use of this function is focused on people who have motor problems that prevent them from using a keyboard or mouse in a normal way. Apple has numerous accessibility functions and this is one of them to be able to operate the Mac from the iPhone using the usual button system used by this group of people. This makes the technology open to any type of person, even if they have motor problems. This means that there are a priori barriers that with this function are completely solved as we comment below.
Control Mac with iPhone without apps
In order to have control of your Mac through the iPhone, you must start from the idea that both devices have to be connected to the same WiFi network. In this way they can communicate with each other to send and receive the different orders you give. In addition to the WiFi connection and for security reasons, it is also required that both the iPhone and the Mac have an identical Apple ID in order to only be able to control devices that you own and not anyone that is connected to the WiFi network that can be many.
Once you have taken this into account, you can now prepare your Mac to be able to receive the instructions from the iPhone. To do this, you simply have to follow the following steps:
- Enter the System Preferences.
- Among all the options that are integrated in the panel, choose the one for ‘Accessibility’ and click on it.
- In the sidebar choose the option ‘Control by button’.
- Check the box ‘Allow platform switching to control the computer’.
Once you have all this done, you must go to the iPhone where you will have to activate the button control . This is an accessibility option designed mainly for those who want to choose the items on the screen in a more comfortable and easy way. This is really important to be able to perform remote control. You can choose between using an external button, pressing the screen as its own button, or having the camera detect the head to be used as a control button. The latter is important for those who have, for example, total body paralysis from the neck down.
To configure the new button simply follow the following steps:
- On iPhone go to Settings> Accessibility> Button control> Buttons.
- Add a new button and choose the button.
- Customize the type of control you want to give it.
Once you have completed all these steps, you are ready to start controlling your Mac remotely. This is accomplished in the following way:
- Navigate through the menu that appears in each of the iPhone applications until you find the ‘Device’ section.
- By clicking on this option with the button choose ‘Other device’ and choose your Mac.
- When you connect it, you can control the Mac from the iPhone through the button that you have linked or with the device’s own camera, as we have commented previously.
From this moment on, anyone can easily control the Mac using the iPhone itself. This, as we have said before, eliminates all the barriers that can be created in this regard.
Other ways to control your Mac on iOS
In addition to this method, which is classic, you can also use some applications whose mission is to control the Mac through the iPhone. These methods are intended for all users and not only for those who are disabled.
TeamViewer
This is undoubtedly a classic in remote control applications. It is completely free for users who do not belong to a company and will allow you to access any device. It has the advantage that it is not necessary to be connected to the same internet network, but the devices can be far apart so that the connection will be made in the same way.
Remote Mouse
Turn your mobile into a totally wireless trackpad, mouse or keyboard. In this way you can have control of your computer at your fingertips. The only problem it has is that it must always be connected to the same internet network for it to work correctly and you will also have to be in front of the computer to see where you should act.