Choose how to control and observe

If you authenticate to a client computer using a different user account from the user who’s currently logged in, you can choose whose desktop you see when you control or observe the computer. These settings are computer-specific.

Share the display: You see exactly what the currently logged-in user sees.
Connect to a virtual display: You see only the desktop of the user account you used to authenticate to the computer with Remote Desktop. This lets you administer the computer or open apps on it without interrupting the logged-in user.
Ask me what to do: You can select one of the two options above when you authenticate to the computer.

Choose whose desktop you see when you observe and control

By default, when you control or observe a client computer, you see exactly what the remote user sees.

If you want to administer a computer without observing what the current user is doing, you can view the desktop of the user account used to authenticate with Remote Desktop. If another user is logged in when you control or observe the computer, you see the desktop of the authenticated user and the other user can continue using the computer uninterrupted. If no one is logged in or the authenticated user is logged in, you see the same screen as the person at the computer.

If you use this option, consider creating an administrator account on each client computer that’s used only for administering, controlling, and observing with Remote Desktop.

In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list, then select the computer.
Choose File > Get Info.
Click Attributes, then click Edit.
Enter the user name and password.
This is the user whose desktop you see when you control or observe the computer.
Click Control & Observe.
- To control or observe one computer, use the options under “When viewing this computer individually and another login is using the display.”
- To observe multiple computers at once, use the options under “When viewing this computer as part of a multi-observe and another login is using the display.”

Ask permission before observing or controlling

You can see exactly what the user at the client computer sees, but permission must first be granted. When you try to connect, a dialog appears on the computer asking the user whether to allow it. You can continue only after the user answers yes.

On the client computer, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sharing.
Select Remote Management, then click the Computer Settings button.
Select the “Anyone may request permission to control screen” checkbox.