Table of Contents
The AnyDesk remote desktop for macOS brings you seamless connectivity and a simple setup. Using custom clients, it can be individually tailored to your specific operations.
System Requirements
AnyDesk for macOS is supported on macOS 10.11 and newer.
MacOS 11.0 Big Sur and newer as well as Apple Silicon devices are only supported on AnyDesk for macOS 6.1.0 and later.
Legacy clients for macOS 10.10 can be found here but are no longer supported.
Installation & Uninstallation
Installation
See Installation – Operating-System-Specific Instructions – macOS.
To set up the required security permissions to receive incoming sessions, please see Security Permissions on macOS.
Uninstallation
To uninstall the portable version of AnyDesk for macOS:
- Move AnyDesk from the “Applications” folder to Trash
- Delete the ~/.anydesk/ and /etc/anydesk/ folders for standard AnyDesk clients
- Delete the ~/.anydesk-ad_<prefix>/ and /etc/anydesk-ad_<prefix>/ folders for custom AnyDesk clients
To uninstall the installed version of AnyDesk for macOS:
- Go to Menu > About AnyDesk
- Hold the option/ALT key
- Click "Uninstall" on the top right corner of the window
- Delete the ~/.anydesk/ and /etc/anydesk/ folders for standard AnyDesk clients
- Delete the ~/.anydesk-ad_<prefix>/ and /etc/anydesk-ad_<prefix>/ folders for custom AnyDesk clients
Warning: Please note that deleting the above folders will permanently delete the AnyDesk-ID and Alias registered to that AnyDesk client and cannot be restored unless a backup has been made. Please see AnyDesk-ID and Alias.
Security Permissions
Please see Security Permissions for macOS.
Notarization
By default, custom clients are not signed by Apple. This means that users starting up the custom client may get a warning prompt and stop them from starting the AnyDesk client. One workaround for this is to simply right-click the custom AnyDesk application and select "Run".
Alternatively, if you do not wish to see the warning prompt, you can enable "Notarize Client" in the custom client configurator. This would send your macOS custom client to Apple servers to be notarized after it has been saved.
Note:
The time required to notarize the macOS custom client is highly dependent on the current load on Apple notarization servers. This means the time required for notarization can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 6 hours.
If the notarization of the client takes more than 6 hours, we would highly recommend making a copy of the custom client configuration and notarizing that instead.
Please note that saving any changes to the custom client configuration or a new AnyDesk version for macOS will restart the notarization process.
Accept Window
The Accept Window is displayed when a connection request is made to the AnyDesk client unless “Always show incoming session requests” has been disabled in Settings > Security > Interactive Access.
This window is always shown when there is an active session.
From this window, the user can:
- Accept or reject the connection request or disconnect the currently connected session
- See the AnyDesk-ID/Alias that is requesting the connection or is connected
- See the encryption and connection type
- Access files copied from the connecting client if “Synchronize clipboard” is active
- Access chat with the connecting client
- Set the permissions of the connecting client
- Disabling all options in Settings or in the Accept Window results in a view-only session.
File Manager
To start a session in File Manager-only mode, enter the AnyDesk-ID/Alias of the remote device and click “Browse files”.
While in a session, the File Manager can also be accessed using the Files icon in the AnyDesk toolbar.
Note: Network drives and UNC paths are currently not supported.
File Transfer
See File Manager and File Transfer.
Cross-platform Shortcuts
Due to the difference in functionality between macOS, Windows, and Linux Super Keys, it is not possible to directly translate operating-system-specific keyboard shortcuts.
When using a macOS device to control a Windows/Linux device or vice versa, please use the shortcuts of the device being controlled:
| macOS | Windows/Linux |
|---|---|
| command (CMD) | WIN / SUP |
| option | ALT |
| control | CTRL |
Examples
Copy & paste from Windows/Linux to macOS:
- copy with CTRL+C on the local Windows/Linux device,
- paste with WIN/SUP+V
Copy & paste from macOS to Windows/Linux:
- copy with CMD+C,
- paste with control+V
Accessing macOS Spotlight from Windows/Linux
- CMD+Space (use WIN/SUP in place of the command key)
Settings
Other than the standard settings found across all AnyDesk platforms, macOS users have the following unique options in the “User Interface” tab:
Transmit keyboard shortcuts: Enabling this option will allow the user of the macOS client to transmit keyboard shortcuts to the remote client.
Accept all remote keyboard shortcuts: Enabling this option will enable access to the additional keyboard shortcuts defined in the macOS “System Preferences” > “Keyboard” > “Shortcuts” settings. Please note that additional permissions will need to be accepted on the macOS device once this option has been enabled.
Use Right Command as a Host Key: With this option enabled, only the left Command key is transmitted to the remote device. The right Command key will then be available for controlling the local macOS device.
Audio
Audio transmission is available on remote macOS devices running macOS 13 (Ventura) and newer, as well as AnyDesk 7.2.0 and newer for macOS.
Address Book
Please see Address Book.