Ever since I switched to macOS, AnyDesk has been my go-to app for controlling other computers. It is free for personal use, and on macOS and Linux it shows no ads at all (the Windows version does). However, you need to be careful with the permissions you give AnyDesk on your Mac, so your data stays safe when someone else controls it. In this article, I will show you how to download AnyDesk, give it the right permissions, and use it on Mac.
Download AnyDesk for Mac
Go to AnyDesk’s homepage and click “Download Now” to get the installer for Mac. Open the installer and drag AnyDesk into the Applications folder. Then open AnyDesk and select “Open” when macOS asks you to confirm.
Give AnyDesk permissions on Mac
I split AnyDesk permissions on Mac into two parts. Each part plays a different role, so please read them carefully.
macOS permissions for AnyDesk
These macOS permissions let AnyDesk work properly.
- Screen Recording: Lets the person controlling your Mac see your screen.
- Accessibility: Lets them use the mouse and keyboard on your Mac.
- Full Disk Access: Lets them transfer files between your Mac and theirs.
Screen Recording and Accessibility are the two most important and safest permissions. Give both of them to AnyDesk.
Full Disk Access depends on whether you plan to transfer files. Don’t worry too much about granting it: you can turn the “Use File Manager” feature off whenever you let someone connect, if you don’t want them to access files on your Mac.
Step 1: Click each button in AnyDesk to open the matching permission setting. If you don’t see the permission status window, open System Settings and go to Privacy & Security.
Step 2: In Privacy & Security, open each permission AnyDesk needs and turn it on for AnyDesk. When you are done, quit AnyDesk and reopen it so the permissions take effect.
If the AnyDesk permission status window is still open, you will see each status change to “Granted”.
Permissions for the remote user
In this part, you decide which features the person controlling your Mac is allowed to use.
Step 1: Open Permission Profiles in AnyDesk settings. Click AnyDesk in the menu bar, select Preferences, go to Permissions, then Permission Profiles.
Step 2: Customize the permissions in the Default profile. There are three key permissions to pay attention to.
| Permission | Description | On / Off |
|---|---|---|
| Control my device | Lets them control the mouse and keyboard on your Mac. | Turn it on. |
| Access my device’s clipboard | Lets them copy and paste on your Mac. | Turn it on to make it easier for others to assist you. |
| Use File Manager | Lets them browse your folders to download and upload files. | Turn it off if you don’t intend to share files. |
The remaining permissions are only extras. Turning them all off won’t affect anything important.
Step 3: Customize the permissions in the Unattended Access profile. Unlike Default, this profile lets someone control your Mac by entering a password. If you don’t plan to use this, skip this step.
You can give the Unattended Access profile the same permissions as Default. The only extra step is to check Enable unattended access and set a password.
Use AnyDesk on Mac
Let someone control your Mac
When someone sends a connection request to AnyDesk on your Mac, an approval window pops up. Besides the Accept and Dismiss buttons, you can also pick a profile and adjust which features they can use. Double-check the Use File Manager permission before you accept.
In the next section, I will show you how risky the Use File Manager permission can be for your data.
Control other computers
Now let’s switch to the role of the person controlling your Mac and see what they can do. To connect, they type your AnyDesk address into the search bar and press Enter.
Once you accept, they can control your Mac with their mouse and keyboard. So far, so good.
But if Use File Manager is on, they can download any file on your Mac, which is a serious data security risk. So always turn off Use File Manager unless you actually want to share files.
Connect after a restart, before login
Suppose you are traveling and left your Mac at home, but you still want to control Mac with iPhone and Android without anyone’s help. You can install AnyDesk Service, which lets you connect even when the Mac has just restarted and nobody has logged in yet. Remember to enable the Unattended Access profile (covered above).
Click AnyDesk in the menu bar, select Install AnyDesk Service, enter your Mac password, and click Install Helper.
Open System Settings, go to General, and turn on Allow in the Background for AnyDesk. If you no longer want AnyDesk Service, you can turn it off here as well.
I have been using AnyDesk on Mac and Linux for more than 5 years with nothing to complain about. Meanwhile, Teamviewer for Mac limits each session to 5 minutes to push personal users into buying a license. That’s why I always ask people who need my help to install AnyDesk, so we can work without interruptions.
