iPad remote desktop
Access your Mac mini from an iPad using VNC and Tailscale
Keep your Mac mini at home and use its desktop from your iPad. Start with a local VNC connection in GlanceVNC, then use Tailscale to reach the same Mac when you’re away.
What you need
- An iPad running iPadOS 18 or later, with GlanceVNC installed.
- A Mac mini you own or are authorised to access, with a compatible Screen Sharing configuration.
- Access to the Mac to configure sharing and keep it awake and connected.
- For the remote steps, Tailscale installed and connected on both devices, with access between them permitted.
GlanceVNC is the VNC viewer on your iPad. Mac Screen Sharing supplies the desktop. Tailscale provides the private network connection between them; it does not replace the VNC server or its password.
No GlanceVNC account or subscription is required. Tailscale is a separate service with its own sign-in and plan terms.
1. Enable Screen Sharing on the Mac mini
- On the Mac, open System Settings → General → Sharing.
- Turn on Screen Sharing and open its settings. If Remote Management is enabled, Apple requires it to be turned off before Screen Sharing can be enabled; check with your administrator on a managed Mac.
- Enable VNC viewers may control screen with password and set a dedicated VNC password.
- Note the Mac’s local network address for the first connection.
Use the VNC password you just configured, rather than your Mac account password. The exact controls can vary with macOS version. See Apple’s Screen Sharing instructions.
Keep VNC access on a trusted network or inside your VPN. Standard VNC does not encrypt the desktop session; do not forward port 5900 from your router to the public internet for this setup.
2. Connect from your iPad on the local network
Connect the iPad to the same trusted network as the Mac. Open GlanceVNC, allow Local Network access if prompted, then tap Add. Enter these connection settings:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Protocol | VNC |
| Name | A name you recognise, such as Mac mini — Home |
| Host or IP address | Your Mac’s local IP address |
| Port | 5900, unless your server uses a different port |
| Username | Leave blank for VNC password authentication |
| VNC password | The password configured in Screen Sharing |
| Sign In → Method | VNC password |
| Remote Machine → Profile | macOS |
Save the connection and connect. Confirm that the desktop appears and you can move the pointer and type. Resolving any local connection problem first makes remote setup easier to diagnose.
GlanceVNC offers Touch and Trackpad controls and an on-screen keyboard. See Setup & Support for gestures and supported VNC authentication methods.
3. Reach the Mac mini through Tailscale
- Follow Tailscale’s installation instructions for macOS and iPad. On the iPad, approve the VPN configuration during setup.
- Sign in on both devices to the same Tailscale network, called a tailnet, and connect both clients. If your network has custom access rules, they must allow the iPad to reach the Mac’s VNC port.
- Find the Mac mini in Tailscale and copy its Tailscale IP address. Use the address belonging to the Mac, not the iPad. Tailscale’s IPv4 device addresses are in its 100.64.0.0/10 range.
- In GlanceVNC, add another saved connection named Mac mini — Tailscale. Use the settings above, replacing the local host address with the Mac’s Tailscale IP address.
- Connect while Tailscale is active on both devices. Keep the same VNC password and port.
Use a manually saved connection for this step. Nearby discovery looks for local Bonjour services; it is not how you select your Mac’s Tailscale address.
Check access before you leave home
Put your iPad on a different network, such as a phone hotspot, while leaving your Mac online at home. Confirm Tailscale is connected, then open the Tailscale connection in GlanceVNC. Check the desktop, pointer and keyboard again.
Leave the Mac powered on and available. Do not assume a sleeping Mac or a Mac waiting for local interaction after a restart will be reachable. Check the behaviour of your own setup before relying on unattended access.
If the connection does not work
The connection times out
Check that the Mac is awake, Screen Sharing is on, and the saved address belongs to the Mac. For remote access, check both Tailscale clients are connected and their access rules and the Mac firewall permit the VNC connection. Use the Tailscale address rather than the home-network address.
The password is rejected
Select VNC password under Sign In and use the separately configured Screen Sharing password. GlanceVNC does not support newer Apple Screen Sharing authentication methods, Tight Security or VeNCrypt. Enabling a compatible VNC password configuration is essential.
It works at home but not away
Check that you selected the saved Tailscale connection. A working local connection confirms the Mac’s VNC setup, but does not establish that the remote network path is available.
Can I use another VPN?
Yes, if it provides a route from your iPad to the Mac’s VNC server. Use the address reachable through that VPN. This guide uses Tailscale as one network setup, rather than a built-in GlanceVNC integration.
For further help, see the GlanceVNC support FAQ and Tailscale documentation.