Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a graphical desktop-sharing system that uses the Remote Frame Buffer protocol (RFB) to remotely control another computer. This can be particularly useful for IT support, remote work, and collaborative tasks. In the Apple environment, macOS has built-in support for VNC, making it relatively straightforward to set up and use.

This article will guide you through the process of setting up VNC on a macOS system and using VNC viewers to access it remotely. We will cover enabling the VNC server on macOS, configuring it, and connecting to it using a VNC viewer.

Examples:

1. Enabling the VNC Server on macOS:

   macOS includes a built-in VNC server known as "Screen Sharing." To enable it, follow these steps:

   • Open System Preferences.
   • Go to Sharing.
   • Check the box next to Screen Sharing.
   • Click on Computer Settings and enable VNC viewers may control screen with password. Set a secure password.

   # To enable Screen Sharing via Terminal
   sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -activate -configure -access -on -restart -agent -privs -all

2. Configuring the VNC Server:

   To configure the VNC server settings, you can use the following command in Terminal:

   sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.RemoteManagement VNCAlwaysStartOnConsole -bool true
   sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -restart -agent

3. Connecting with a VNC Viewer:

   You can use any VNC viewer to connect to your macOS system. Popular VNC viewers include RealVNC, TightVNC, and TigerVNC. Here’s how to connect using RealVNC:

   • Download and install RealVNC Viewer from the official website.
   • Open RealVNC Viewer.
   • Enter the IP address of your macOS system followed by :5900 (the default VNC port).
   • Enter the password you set earlier.

   # Example command to connect using RealVNC Viewer
   open vnc://<your-mac-ip>:5900

4. Using macOS’s Built-in VNC Viewer:

   macOS also includes a built-in VNC viewer. You can use it by following these steps:

   • Open Finder.
   • Press Cmd + K to open the "Connect to Server" dialog.
   • Enter vnc://<your-mac-ip> and click Connect.
   • Enter the VNC password when prompted.

   # Example command to connect using macOS’s built-in VNC viewer
   open vnc://<your-mac-ip>