Use This IOS App to Control Your Mac
iOS / Mac: Whenever I plug my MacBook into a TV to share, say, a video with friends, I find myself on the floor squatting in front of my laptop while everyone else is sitting and having fun. Since I occasionally use my Mac to control streaming media in my home and often find myself connecting it to a large screen via an HDMI port or something like Chromecast, a remote would be a lifesaver. However, instead of carrying the real remote with me, I downloaded the Remote Control for Mac app. This iOS app is pretty utilitarian, but allows me to control almost every aspect of my Mac from my iPhone or iPad. I can launch apps, change system settings, type, and even control media streaming from my phone.
You will need two applications first
To set up Remote Control for Mac, you need both a Mac and an iOS device on hand. On your Mac, download the Remote for Mac companion application from developer Evgeniy Cherpake, which will run in the menu bar. After installing the Mac app, a QR code is displayed on the screen.
Open the Remote Control for Mac app on your iOS device, swipe left and select Scan QR Code to link your iOS app to a specific Mac. For Remote Control for Mac to work, your iOS and Mac must be on the same network.
Replace your Media Center keyboard
If you’re using your Mac as a media center powered by something like Plex or Kodi, you probably have a keyboard or mouse tucked away under your TV or couch. With Remote Control for Mac, you can control your media center from your iOS device using the trackpad and keyboard available in the Input section.
Tap the input icon to open the remote keyboard, which makes it easy to add symbols and use arrows and keyboard shortcuts (such as the Command key) from your iOS device. Since the remote supports Airplay, you can stream your Mac’s screen content to your Apple TV, perfect for mirroring everything on your office computer for viewing in your living room. You can even set your iPhone to stay powered on by toggling the “Prevent iPhone Sleep” option in the app’s settings.
Run applications remotely
In the Mac Applications tab of Remote Control, you can open and modify Mac applications from your iOS device. You can also remotely restart your apps, force quit apps that aren’t working (like your iTunes app or video streaming service), and even rearrange them on your display.
Plan boring tasks
You can also use Remote Control for Mac to schedule specific system-level tasks to run. Do you need to restart your computer to install the update? Go to the System tab in Remote Control for Mac, hold the Restart icon and select Schedule, where you can set a timer and wait for certain actions to take place. The scheduled action, whether it’s a reboot or a screensaver, will happen regardless of whether you’re connected to your local network, which means you can be sure that your Mac shuts down at the scheduled time.
Great for touchpad haters
Remote Control for Mac also will be a great addition to the keyboard, if you have a MacBook Pro with a touch panel . With this touchpad that complicates simple tasks a bit like adjusting volume or brightness, Remote Control gives you access to all of these controls in the application’s System tab. If you’re new to Mac or unfamiliar with keyboard shortcuts, you can use the System section to adjust settings like brightness and volume, and even lock your Mac if you step away and forget to close the laptop lid.