AnyDesk for Mac

Safe, free remote desktop software

AnyDesk for Mac lets you connect to another computer remotely, whether it's from the other end of the office or from halfway across the world. Using banking-standard security technology, AnyDesk is a secure and reliable remote desktop application that's useful for both IT professionals and individuals who need remote access and control on their own or other's computers.

How do I download AnyDesk?

It's easy to download AnyDesk onto your Mac. You just need to download the .dmg file and install the application as you would usually. Once AnyDesk is installed as an application, you'll need to follow the on-screen instructions available via the main window to install AnyDesk directly onto your computer. At just 3MB, the AnyDesk download is light in comparison to other similar software programs.

You will need to adjust your computer's system preferences to let AnyDesk take control of your device, including 'accessibility' and 'screen recording' permissions. You will then need to follow the links on the prompts in the main window for guidance on how to do this. AnyDesk offers lots of help and guidance on how to get set up and started, including extensive documentation in their online Help Center.

To be able to connect to and control a remote desktop, the AnyDesk application must be installed on the target computer. A computer without AnyDesk fully installed can, however, connect to another computer, so long as the target computer has AnyDesk installed and the right permissions granted.

As well as for Mac, AnyDesk is available for Windows, Android and iPhone. It can run on different platforms, including Linux (Raspberry Pi), Windows, Mac OS, FreeBSD, iOS, or Android. AnyDesk supports international keyboards and is available in more than 28 languages, making it suitable for teams and individuals around the world.

Is AnyDesk safe?

AnyDesk is secure for remote connections as it uses banking-level security (TLS 1.2) and encryption protocols. The software uses RSA 2048 asymmetric key exchange encryption to verify every connection, while users can also control who gains access to their computer by whitelisting trusted desktops.

However, as a user, you must ensure you keep your AnyDesk access codes and passwords safe and avoid giving them to anyone you don't know and trust.

AnyDesk is particularly useful for anyone who wants to work flexibly away from their office, accessing their own computer. The program's remote desktop technology means that working from home is almost like sitting in front of your computer at the office.

You can connect from anywhere using the program's Unattended Access setting. Accessing your work computer's File Manager allows easy management of your files locally, while the clipboard means you can exchange text and screenshots between your remote and your local devices.

Is AnyDesk free for personal use?

AnyDesk is free of charge for personal use, although paid-for upgrades are available. Additional paid-for features include logs and registers for monitoring and review, as well as installation for an unlimited number of devices.

AnyDesk shares your desktop by using an AnyDesk ID, displayed in the ID label in the program's main window. The ID can be a series of digits (numbers) or alias that you can set yourself.

Just as you would provide a third party with a telephone number to call you, it's the same with your AnyDesk ID. You just forward your ID to a session partner or log on using your own computer's ID to begin a remote connection. The party entering the ID requests control from the other side. As the receiving party, you have three options for incoming requests: 'Allow always', 'Allow only if the AnyDesk window is open', or 'Disable'.

When a session partner attempts to connect to your computer, you can choose whether to accept their request or not. On connection request, the ID and account image from the remote client is displayed. You can specify what the remote user is allowed to do, including taking control of your computer's keyboard and mouse, access its clipboard, use the file manager, enable privacy mode, lock your computer's keyboard and mouse, and lock the desktop at the end of a session.

Which is faster AnyDesk or TeamViewer?

Whenever you log in to a remote computer with AnyDesk, the view of its desktop and access to its File Manager is sent back to you in real-time as a video.

AnyDesk uses DeskRT, a video codec specialized for encoding the video of computer interfaces. This means that it runs smoothly and is a very close representation of what you'd see on the computer itself. DeskRT compresses and transfers image data between computers to ensure that tasks perform smoothly and users experience efficient streaming, even at low bandwidths.

The speed of AnyDesk's visuals means that collaborating and communicating with colleagues remotely is easy, whether through online meetings and presentations or working on the same document from the other side of the world.

Similarly, TeamViewer enjoys fast performance and supports a huge number of operating systems. Other alternatives to AnyDesk include Remote Desktop Client, Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection, Chrome Remote Desktop, LogMeIn, and VNC Connect.

What is the AnyDesk app?

In addition to a desktop version, AnyDesk is also available as an app for iPhone and Android, giving users a mobile solution to remote desktop connectivity. The app versions of AnyDesk allow you to connect to your phone from your computer and vice versa.

The app will also be useful to IT professionals looking to offer customers remote support through mobile device-based technicians.

Fast, reliable remote desktop access

AnyDesk has a focus on fast speeds and ease of use. Virtually no latency existed when using the screen-sharing function and accessing the remote computer's File Manager was quick and simple. The program has a minimal interface that guides you efficiently through the process of set-up and connecting.

AnyDesk is great for both IT professionals needing remote access to clients' computers and individuals who want to be able to access files and information across multiple locations.