86 year old dad, remote connect to his MacBook Air

[mtbdudex]

My father is 86 years old, he still uses his MacBook Air daily, however he’s aging, and it’s me his 60 year old son as his IT tech support person.
I’m about an hour and a half away so it really is inconvenient for me to drive there, so I need a remote access solution to real time help him, doing it over FaceTime is tough!

There are times I need to do stuff, help him access time machine remotely and retrieve a file that he threw away or over wrote etc. I have a 2015 27" iMac, my dad his MacBook Air.

There are a lot of remote desktop connection apps, which one should I choose in use for this task. Thank you for your help.

Mike Rosinski

As shown a search in the App Store shows these, however I am open to your suggestions of course.

 

[MBAir2010]

try the sharing in system preferences, there is something option wise about remote sharing.
i personally never did this but there hast to a source from  how to perform remote sharing on their site.
i would avoid 3rd party apps unless you can figure this out,

 

[VineRider]

I use Splashtop. Works great.

Splashtop: Secure Remote Access & Remote Support Software

Fast and secure solutions for remote work, remote support, remote learning & more at the best value. Splashtop remote access is #1 in user satisfaction.

www.splashtop.com

 

[BrianBaughn]

I'm thinking a solution that allows you to share his screen without any action on his part would be best for avoiding frustration. I'm not sure how to do that securely without any third-party software.

Personally, I have a VPN server running on my router so I can access my home network without any action needed on that end.

 

[Bodhitree]

Many professional mac support houses use microsoft remote desktop.

 

[an-other]

I have a similar business case, and use Apple Remote Desktop. It's ok and under-supported, however it works just enough I'm not seeking a more robust solution.

I've been using it so long I still have a disk. It should be available in the Mac Store for download. You do have some configuration to do in settings and port forwarding. You may also need to teach your father to google "whatsmyip" from time to time depending on his internet service provider.

 

[chikorita157]

Personally, I use Jump Desktop, which allows me to remotely connect to my M1 Mac mini when I am not in my home office or away from home. If you use the Jump Desktop Connect, you can access the computer remotely without configuring the router, doing any port forwarding, etc. They have apps on macOS and iOS. Jump Desktop is the remote control software, you just need to install the Jump Desktop Connect software on the computer you want to connect to and use Jump Desktop to connect to it.

Microsoft Remote Desktop is only meant to connect to Windows desktops, which isn't going to work for your use case.

 

[pacmania1982]

None of the options that I can see in your photo will do what I think it is you're needing to do.

As much as Team Viewer sucks, it is easy. You don't even need to install it on the host machine, you can just run it. It's easy enough to talk through the initial instructions for getting it downloaded and up and running. I've used the free version for various friends/families over the years.

 

[Rustyfan]

As pacmania1982 stated, Teamview is not the best program out there, but it is very easy for beginners to use. Install on both machines, have the person you want to connect to open the program, give you the client code, you try to connect and once successful, it asks for the password and have the person give it to you and you are in. Very simple to use.

 

[michalm]

You can also configure TeamViewer client for transparent use (signing with your account) - that way you can just remotely connect to the mac whenever it is powered up and the user will just get a popup notification you have connected. TV also works on iOS, so easy to give support remotely too...

 

[Hat Tric]

Just try the built in screen sharing app. Use spotlight to search for screen sharing, enter your dad's apple id and you're good to go. You can even control the mouse and keyboard, if the other side permits that

Here's a quick rundown of how it works:

Use the Mac’s Built-In Screen Sharing to Provide Remote Help

Are you the person your friends and family members turn to for questions about the Mac? In normal times, those questions might come over dinner or at...

mbsdirect.com

Also I think it's using a simultaneous audio connection, so no need to have a Facetime session open.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Just try the built in screen sharing app. Use spotlight to search for screen sharing, enter your dad's apple id and you're good to go. You can even control the mouse and keyboard, if the other side permits that

Here's a quick rundown of how it works:

Use the Mac’s Built-In Screen Sharing to Provide Remote Help

Are you the person your friends and family members turn to for questions about the Mac? In normal times, those questions might come over dinner or at...

mbsdirect.com

Also I think it's using a simultaneous audio connection, so no need to have a Facetime session open.

What's this like in practice? The target Mac's user has to accept the connection. Does that step have any potential obstacles such as the target Mac's user accidentally clicking on another window and hiding the connection acception dialog? That's the kind of thing with which I've had issues in the past with some folks (usually older folks).

 

[TF512]

I picked TeamViewer to manage my in-laws' computer. It was a bit tricky to install and configure over Facetime (I did this before vaccines were available and did it remotely), but once it is setup you can easily take control of the other computer like a tech support person. I set it up so they they launch the app and give me a code and I can connect. I think you can also set it up to auto connect.

Teamviewer is free for this kind of non-commercial use.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

The functionality you're looking for is built into the Messages app for macOS (do you both have Macs?).
When you have Message open, open your conversation with your dad, click the Conversation menu in the menu bar, then click "ask to share screen"
When your dad replies to the prompt, you will be able to control his Mac in the same way you would your own.
I hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[code-m]

I have used this several times for many family and friends, short answer it works great. Is it perfect that depends on several factors such as both parties internet connection speed, network congestion, etc.

Give it a try it’s worth it, the window to accept control pops-up front and center on the screen and cannot be missed.

What's this like in practice? The target Mac's user has to accept the connection. Does that step have any potential obstacles such as the target Mac's user accidentally clicking on another window and hiding the connection acception dialog? That's the kind of thing with which I've had issues in the past with some folks (usually older folks).

 

[ericthered926]

Chrome Remote Desktop is pretty easy to setup, you could walk him through it pretty quickly

 

[an-other]

Apple Remote Desktop creates a virtual machine on your desktop. You're able to do anything available on the machine including access remote disks, restore time machine files, and silly stuff like configure the network's router.

I emphasize I am not championing this as the best choice. Just clarifying functionality.

 

[iObama]

If the iMessage option presented by a couple users doesn't work, TeamViewer/TeamViewer QuickSupport would be my choice. It's not in the App Store, but you can head here to grab the downloads. You'll need the regular TeamViewer, and your dad will need TeamViewer QuickSupport, which he can download from https://download.teamviewer.com/QS, or you can download it and send it to him via an email attachment.

You may have to walk him through enabling a couple screen sharing permissions over FaceTime, but that will only take a couple minutes and only needs to be done once. Once he opens QuickSupport, it'll give him a code that he'll share with you. Enter that into your TeamViewer app and voila!

If he'd like you to have access anytime, you can install the TeamViewer Host app on his computer, which skips the whole code process.

Feel free to DM me if you need help.

Apple and Microsoft Remote Desktop are meant for devices that are on the same network only. Ignore people telling you to use those. (Source: I'm a MacAdmin of 10+ years.)

 

[rocketbuc]

The functionality you're looking for is built into the Messages app for macOS (do you both have Macs?).
When you have Message open, open your conversation with your dad, click the Conversation menu in the menu bar, then click "ask to share screen"
When your dad replies to the prompt, you will be able to control his Mac in the same way you would your own.
I hope this helps! Good luck!

I fully share your view. With iMessage I am doing all the remote support on the parents + parents-in-law computers.
Just send them an iMessage and ask them to respond from the Macbook. Then you can request a connection with "ask to share". Works great + has an audio stream running so you can stop calling each other simultaneously via Facetime once the connection is established.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I have a blind brother in his 60's that uses a Macbook Air and Splashtop Business works great when I need to help him when he gets stuck on a problem. Use to use it to connect to my Office machine but work from home. I can connect to my home machines using my iPhone or iPad and that comes in handle on the go.

 

[Robert.Walter]

My father is 86 years old, he still uses his MacBook Air daily, however he’s aging, and it’s me his 60 year old son as his IT tech support person.
I’m about an hour and a half away so it really is inconvenient for me to drive there, so I need a remote access solution to real time help him, doing it over FaceTime is tough!

There are times I need to do stuff, help him access time machine remotely and retrieve a file that he threw away or over wrote etc.

There are a lot of remote desktop connection apps, which one should I choose in use for this task. Thank you for your help.

Mike Rosinski

As shown a search in the App Store shows these, however I am open to your suggestions of course.

Used to use Apple’s own late great back to my Mac. But even it had its limits so I’ve used Team Viewer for years.

TV it’s what the IT jocks my multi billion dollar global company employer use. Don’t think it’s in the Mac App Store but it’s easy to get on web. Updates are easy too.

What I like is that I can use a remote login to to reach my 89yo moms Mac even if she’s not there (as long as it’s in sleep mode).

Ps my commute to mom is further than yours as we are on two different continents. LoL.

 

[LoveTo]

Sorry, I don’t have anything to add to the discussion. But you guys are an inspiration. I’d love to age like you guys and being this tech savvy at 80+. More power to you!

 

[BrianBaughn]

The one thing I'll say about Teamviewer…and it probably doesn't apply in this case…is that it has a version compatibility issue. People on old versions of macOS and therefore old versions of Teamviewer can't connect with newer versions.

 

[MauiPa]

Many professional mac support houses use microsoft remote desktop.

I’m not a professional support house, and I used that for triggering software, copying files, stc. Mac to windows pc, It worked and was easy enough

 

[an-other]

If the iMessage option presented by a couple users doesn't work, TeamViewer/TeamViewer QuickSupport would be my choice. It's not in the App Store, but you can head here to grab the downloads. You'll need the regular TeamViewer, and your dad will need TeamViewer QuickSupport, which he can download from https://download.teamviewer.com/QS, or you can download it and send it to him via an email attachment.

You may have to walk him through enabling a couple screen sharing permissions over FaceTime, but that will only take a couple minutes and only needs to be done once. Once he opens QuickSupport, it'll give him a code that he'll share with you. Enter that into your TeamViewer app and voila!

If he'd like you to have access anytime, you can install the TeamViewer Host app on his computer, which skips the whole code process.

Feel free to DM me if you need help.

Apple and Microsoft Remote Desktop are meant for devices that are on the same network only. Ignore people telling you to use those. (Source: I'm a MacAdmin of 10+ years.)

I use Apple Remote Desktop across networks. All you need is an ip address of the machine. You cannot manage multiple computers behind a router, but you can do one.