Enable remote management

To manage a client computer, you must enable remote management for it. You can do so by going to each computer and using System Preferences, or (if the client allows remote login) using the command line.

For each client computer, you can also set preferences that restrict remote access to specific users or actions, or change other settings such as showing remote management status in the menu bar or requiring a password to control the screen.

Enabling remote management doesn’t give you access to the computer, but it does let you define who has access. After enabling remote management, define Remote Desktop administrators for the computer. For information, see Set access privileges.

You can also create a custom client installer that enables remote management and sets preferences and access privileges.

Enable or disable remote management using System Preferences

On the client computer, choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
Click Sharing.
If you see a lock icon, click it and enter the name and password of a user with administrator privileges on the computer.
Select or deselect the Remote Management checkbox.

Enable or disable remote management using the command line

You need administrator privileges on the client computer to complete this task.

Enter the following command to enable remote management:
sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -activate -configure -access -on -restart -agent -privs -all

This command lets any administrator user using Remote Desktop log in to the client computer with full access privileges.
Enter the following command to disable remote management and deny previously available logins:
sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -deactivate