How to Open Remote Desktop on Mac

Are you looking for a way to remotely access your Ubuntu desktop from your macOS desktop? With the right steps, you can easily connect to your device and work seamlessly across platforms. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of opening remote desktop on your Mac.

Step 1: Accessing Spotlight

To start, open the Spotlight field by pressing `CMD` + `Space-bar`. This will bring up a search bar where you can type in `vnc://your_server_ip:5900`, replacing `your_server_ip` with the IP address of your Ubuntu device.

Step 2: Enabling Screen Sharing

Next, access the `Settings` app on your macOS desktop and navigate to the `Sharing` tab. Here, make sure that `Screen Sharing` is enabled and set to allow connections to control the screen. You may also want to require a password for added security.

Step 3: Finding Your Device's Local IP Address

To connect to your Ubuntu device, you'll need to find its local IP address. This can be done by running the command `ifconfig -a` in the terminal. The local IP address will be listed under the `inet addr:` field.

Step 4: Configuring Vino on Your Ubuntu Device

On your Ubuntu device, run the command `sudo apt-get install vino` to download and install the Vino application. Once installed, open the Vino preferences window and ensure that the options 'Allow other users to view your desktop' and 'Allow other users to control your desktop' are selected beneath the `Sharing` field. It's also recommended to set up additional security measures, such as requiring a system password or confirmation before each access.

Step 5: Logging In Remotely

With Vino configured on your Ubuntu device, you can now log in remotely from your macOS desktop using the IP address and VNC protocol. Simply enter `vnc://your_ubuntu_device_ip:5900` into the Spotlight field, replacing `your_ubuntu_device_ip` with the local IP address of your Ubuntu device.

In my case, I successfully logged in remotely from my iMac running macOS Mojave to my hackintosh, a retrofitted 2012 Apple MacBook Pro running Ubuntu 16.04. With these steps, you should be able to do the same and enjoy seamless remote access to your devices.

How to open remote desktop on mac