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Apple Remote Desktop has proven to be an invaluable tool for a wide range of users and organizations. IT departments, in particular, rely …
Overview
What is Apple Remote Desktop?
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), from Apple, is a remote administration tool for managing Apple computers running OS X across a network.
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Popular Features
- Instant message (20)9.393%
- File transfer (24)9.090%
- Screen sharing (25)8.989%
- Remote management of servers & workstations (21)8.484%
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What is Apple Remote Desktop?
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), from Apple, is a remote administration tool for managing Apple computers running OS X across a network.
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Apple Remote Desktop 3 Demo -Copy from remote to local-
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What is Apple Remote Desktop?
Apple Remote Desktop Video
Installation and the basic how-to of Remote Desktop in macOS 10.5.
Apple Remote Desktop Technical Details
| Operating Systems | Unspecified |
|---|---|
| Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), from Apple, is a remote administration tool for managing Apple computers running OS X across a network.
Reviewers rate Instant message highest, with a score of 9.3.
The most common users of Apple Remote Desktop are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!
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Apple Remote Desktop has proven to be an invaluable tool for a wide range of users and organizations. IT departments, in particular, rely on this software for remote access, support, and maintenance tasks. Users appreciate the ability to remotely view and command multiple machines at once, which improves efficiency and saves time. The software is particularly helpful for silently pushing updates or gathering information about computer usage behind the scenes. It also offers encrypted connections and compressed data traffic, ensuring secure and efficient remote support. This makes it a popular choice for organizations that prioritize data security.
Educators have also found value in Apple Remote Desktop, using it to enhance student engagement through screen sharing and remote control. It allows educators to observe multiple devices simultaneously and organize them according to grade levels. In an educational setting, the software supports content and use management, facilitating screen sharing and file sharing among students. Additionally, Apple Remote Desktop streamlines logins for young students by pushing login information for various software programs.
Developers utilize Apple Remote Desktop to remotely work on Mac devices for iOS and macOS application builds. The software enables seamless collaboration by providing remote access to Mac Mini devices, allowing developers to work on their projects without being physically present at the machine. Support teams also find great value in this tool as they can connect to end users' macOS devices for troubleshooting desktop support issues and performing software updates without needing physical access to the machines.
Overall, Apple Remote Desktop offers a wide range of features that cater to diverse user needs. Whether it's IT administrators managing a large number of computers or educators improving student engagement, this software provides the necessary tools to save time, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity in various professional settings.
User-Friendly Interface: Many users have praised the user interface of Apple Remote Desktop, noting that it is simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate. They appreciate the top navigation bar that provides quick access to all necessary tools and elements in the software, making tasks effortless to perform.
Reliable Remote Access: Several reviewers have highlighted the reliability of Apple Remote Desktop's remote access capabilities. They mention that the software can remotely access Apple computers even if they are not logged in or at the login screen. This feature has proven particularly useful for performing updates or managing machines without interrupting the user's workflow.
Comprehensive Feature Set: Users value the wide range of functionality provided by Apple Remote Desktop at a low cost. They mention features such as remote searching on devices, screen capture sharing, file copy transfer, application installation, and automator actions that automate workflow tasks and save time. This comprehensive set of features makes Apple Remote Desktop a valuable tool for various tasks.
Cross-platform limitations: Some users have expressed disappointment that Apple Remote Desktop is only compatible with Mac computers, and they would like to see more support for iOS and mobile devices.
Performance issues: Several users have mentioned that the performance of Apple Remote Desktop can be slow, especially when running operations on multiple machines simultaneously.
Outdated user interface: Many users have found the user interface of Apple Remote Desktop to be outdated and in need of improvement. They feel that the interface can be confusing and requires specific configurations on endpoints.
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Reviews
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December 09, 2022
Remote Desktop with ease with the Apple Remote Desktop
- Connectivity with ease
- No lag/time differential
- Sleek design
- Sending requests for Remote Desktop
- Availability across entire Apple ecosystem
- Availability on other operating systems
December 09, 2022
Apple Remote Desktop is a day saver.
- One off software install
- Log in as separate user
- Network discovery of remote machines
- It is pretty refined. I can't think off hand what I would want changed.
- The interface is becoming a little dated.
- The ability to skip the server setting.
December 08, 2022
Apple Remote Desktop: All you need to know
- Managing devices on Same Netwok.
- Best Screen Sharing UI
- Default Maintenance Checks and commands for MACs
- A little slower performance
- Running the same operation on multiple machine is a challenge.
December 08, 2022
Using Apple Remote Desktop to access headless build machines
- Detection of computers on remote network
- Authentication
- File manager integration
- Connection quality
- Keyboard mapping
December 08, 2022
Apple Remote Desktop... Great for onsite Apple remote access!
- It is very reliable.
- It can access Apple computers remotely even if they are not logged in or even at the login screen in the case of an update.
- It's basic remote management features work well.
- It's onsite only without setting up a VPN or some other form of remote network access.
- It can be a little slow sometimes when compared to local access.
- It seems to be a neglected product by Apple and not continually developed.
December 08, 2022
Nondisruptive Access
- Ease of connection
- Security
- User interface
- Recent update crashes often after long periods of inactivity
- New MacOS disallows connection unless File Vault has been unlocked
December 08, 2022
Apple Remote Desktop - Great for Mac Administration
- Remote Desktop Connection ability
- Device status
- Device monitoring via a console.
- It would be nice for it to see devices across multiple subnets
- the User Interface could use a facelift.
March 12, 2020
It's free, it's Apple-native, and it just works
- Remote support of headless systems.
- IP addresses are easily seen.
- Latency never seemed to be an issue.
- UI seems dated.
- Specific configurations are needed on endpoints.
- It would be nice to get a notification when an endpoint comes back online after rebooting.
April 10, 2019
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD)
- Remote searching on devices
- Screen capture/sharing
- File copy/transfer
- Application installation
- I just use what ARD offers and it works fine for my organization.
February 04, 2019
Powerful and Sophisticated Remote Administration for Mac Computers
- Automator Actions: This is a very cool feature and cost saving as it reduces human effort by automating the workflow of tasks.
- Curtain Mode: This lets you block your local user's view of the desktop while performing administrative tasks.
- Spotlight Search: It can perform lightning fast searches on machines using the spotlight search feature of OS X and thus saves a lot of time.
- As apple usually does, this is only for Mac computers. This is not a cross-platform utility.
- There is no mobile device interface to this software, it is only available on Mac App Store.
November 09, 2018
OK for small players, but don't even think about it if you're not.
- Providing a one-stop shop for doing a variety of troubleshooting tasks
- Presenting its functions and tools in a clear and useful manner
- Offering reporting capabilities
- Supporting macOS in small deployments
- Randomization of local administrator passwords
- Lack of auditing capability
- Lack of abilities to manage access to computers
- Cannot install DMGs
June 05, 2018
Apple Remote Desktop - The Time Saver
- Remote commands for doing things to a large number of devices
- Allows us to see what the user is seeing
- Allows us to repair things without leaving the office.
- Can be slow at times
- Network scanners don't always pull up all devices
- Agent running on client machines has to be restarted occasionally
April 02, 2018
ARD, Essential for Apple Environments
- Allows us to execute UNIX scripts without alerting a user or interrupting their workflow.
- Allows us to observe, control, and share control of a user's machine flawlessly.
- Enables us to collect usage statistics from endpoints to determine machine usage and this, in turn, helps drive business decisions.
- The software has some bugs. When I have tried to create detailed lists and scanners I have had the program crash entirely, this is extremely frustrating.
- Software does not scan as fast as I would like, though it does scan rather fast I wish it could scan faster.
January 19, 2018
Apple Remote Desktop, a must have for your Mac Network toolbox.
- Very easy to use, and robust. Apple Remote Desktop provides a wide range of functionality at very low cost
- It does network to network very well ( once setup)
- Working on your LAN (Local area network) ARD is probably the best tool out there for managing Mac networks, with a full array of features, screen sharing, and reporting
- The biggest flaw with ARD is its inability to map to multiple machines behind a router. Without the proper VPN router setup, you can only specify one machine on the other side of a router ( again without VPN'ing into the whole network)
November 21, 2017
Take a bite out of this Apple Remote Desktop
- Fast, this is great because usually remote desktops are rather slow.
- Group demos, helps me when I am needing to show multiple people things.
- Ease of use, freedom. Since it is so easy to use it makes it easier to not have to be stuck in front of your office computer.
- Initial login, I had to look up how to do it.
- Since everything is driven with mouse/touchpad. I have lost the remote desktop before and this has caused it to log out.
- More shortcuts.
November 14, 2017
MR.Power ON ARD
- Apple Remote Desktop has a very simple and easy to navigate user interface. The top navigation bar allows for easy and quick access to all necessary tools and elements in ARD.
- Apple Remote Desktop connects to all the computers on the network allowing for ease of use. This is a strength because it always works on the first attempt.
- Apple Remote Desktop drops files directly onto the desktop for all students without needing to use google drive.
- Apple Remote Desktop allows for sharing one screen to the rest of the class to allow to show student work to all students at once.
- Apple Remote Desktop could improve by allowing you to drop files into specific folders rather than on to a messy desktop where some files may get lost or not seen quickly.
- Apple Remote Desktop sometimes has a small lag. When I click my mouse I often need to wait another second or check the student machines to make sure that what they are seeing is what I am doing. It seems as if it does not live stream perfectly.
- Apple Remote Desktop pictures do not show up as clean and clear as they do on the screen I am sharing with. My teacher iMac shows quality images, however, when screen shared the ARD screen share shows a lower quality imagine with less colors shown.
April 17, 2017
ARD: Apple screenshare.app on steroids
- Screen sharing with Macs
- Remote Control of Macs
- I would like to see more included Unix scrips that can be pushed to clients.
- Inclusion of a way to remote control or screen share with Windows machines would be useful, as I manage a handful of Windows machines. While this would be possible using VNC on the Windows machines, including the ability to connect using Windows terminal connections would be awesome, for me.
April 05, 2017
Got stress?? Apple Remote Desktop does the Tech good...
- Provides a way to log the lab and classroom computers on to allow teachers to teach instead of one by one logging on the younger students.
- Provides a way to update the computers all at once, which is particularly handy for the numerous Adobe Flash updates that come out regularly.
- Provides a way to push scripts to maintain the computers and set power settings.
- Allows me to remote into a trouble computer across the building to help when a problem arises.
- Sometimes Apple Remote Desktop is finicky when it comes to wireless connection. If a lab computer drops the ethernet, Apple Remote Desktop can't always find the computer.
- Setting of power settings can be messed up when certain scripts are ran and I haven't found a way to "reset" back to default. It has that option but it does not work to reset to default. I have 25 computers that no longer turn them selves on in the morning, even though the setting in the power settings has it scheduled to do so.
- Depending on the day, Apple Remote Desktop does not search or scan as well as other days.
- Pushing software.
- Easily restart or shutdown of systems.
- Being able to work on a user's computer with the curtains closed for uninterrupted maintenance.
- Unable to remote into Windows Machines.
- Need to connect to VPN to support users out of the local network.
December 15, 2016
Great tool!
- District softwares remotely/silently.
- Can be used to observe (specifically for the students).
- Used to organize (name and tag) devices in the organization.
- To set up some of the control features on the macs, like the system preferences settings, which can allow me to give controlled access to my students.
May 06, 2016
Apple Remote Desktop will save you time & money
- Software deployments via PKG file installs remotely.
- Multiple observation of more then one computer at a time on screen.
- Remote terminal command line interface.
- It is resource intensive, sometimes it becomes locked up or unstable.
- The UI is dated and could be improved on.
- Would be nice if it offered abilities to clone or remotely install OS X upgrades.
- Remote System Control. Quickly resolve a problem while continuing to work on multiple tasks from your own PC. This allows for less downtime/frustration on the end user and more efficient productivity from the technician.
- Hardware and Software Reports. This allows the technician to quickly spot a hardware deficiency (perhaps not enough RAM) or software incompatibility (not running the latest version) without having to bother the end user for this diagnostic information.
- Software Distribution. Used in tandem with the Software Reports, if an issue is found in a report, the Software Distribution will allow the technician to push the necessary software to the users PC.
- Speed. Apple Remote Desktop still appears to be slower when compared to Windows Remote Desktop
- Cost. The $79.99 price tag seems rather high. Windows Remote Desktop, although not as feature rich, is included with the operating system.
- Drag and Drop. While functioning, it can be clunky and difficult to use.
May 03, 2016
ARD reviewed by a teacher
- Great for monitoring users on your network.
- Easy tech support.
- Good for sharing screens to a projector.
- Screen refresh rate can be a bit slow, but this depends largely on your network
October 30, 2015
Apple Remote Desktop Used In K-12 World
- Push and manage updates.
- Provide remote management and support.
- One easy tool to gather information regarding machines in the field.
- User friendly.
- More support for iOS and mobile devices.
- More support with pushing updates to mobile devices
- Remote lock a device or wipe a device that has been stolen.
October 27, 2015
ARD is a solid application.
- Apple has done a really good job at limiting the resources ARD uses in recent updates.
- Unix commands are a very easy to use and very efficient when trying to run group updates.
- The reports is a great option that makes quick work if you need to get serial numbers or computer specs on 1 or 100 computers
- When using the control feature. the screen will become black and you will have to move the mouse around to erase the black screen away or disconnect and reconnect to the end user device.
- When searching for specific IP address more times then not it wont find it.
- Copy/Paste does not work too well when going back and forth between your local machine and remote user
- Cant install printers.