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Apple Remote Desktop

Apple Remote Desktop

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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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Apple Remote Desktop has proven to be an invaluable tool for a wide range of users and organizations. IT departments, in particular, rely …
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Nondisruptive Access

10 out of 10
December 08, 2022
Incentivized
We use Apple Remote Desktop to connect to our MacOS end users on a regular basis to troubleshoot desktop support issues. The application …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Popular Features

View all 14 features
  • Instant message (20)
    9.3
    93%
  • File transfer (24)
    9.0
    90%
  • Screen sharing (25)
    8.9
    89%
  • Remote management of servers & workstations (21)
    8.4
    84%
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Pricing

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N/A
Unavailable

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.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Demos

Apple Remote Desktop 3 Demo -Copy from remote to local-

YouTube
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Features

Remote Administration

Remote administration software is used to control a computer from a remote location.

8
Avg 8.2
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Product Details

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 SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

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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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(104)

Community Insights

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!

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.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-3 of 3)
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Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use it to control Mac remotely. It allows me much more control over Zoom Remote or Microsoft Remote Desktop in automation. We have over 200 Mac laptops and the other remote software falls short. It would be nice to have an all-in-one solution but I do not believe it exists.
  • 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.
Administering Apple products it is a must. It will work on Windows machines too using VLC protocol but it is not optimum. There is a time and place for a Mac-specific product. There just is not an all-in-one solution. If there was I would definitely try it.
Remote Administration (14)
50%
5.0
Screen sharing
100%
10.0
File transfer
100%
10.0
Instant message
100%
10.0
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication
N/A
N/A
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers
50%
5.0
Over-the-Internet remote session
N/A
N/A
Initiate remote control from mobile
N/A
N/A
Remote management of servers & workstations
100%
10.0
Remote Active Directory® management
N/A
N/A
Centralized management dashboard
100%
10.0
Session record
N/A
N/A
Annotations
N/A
N/A
Monitoring and Alerts
100%
10.0
Multi-platform remote control
50%
5.0
  • Makes remote doable if a simple Zoom screen share is not enough.
  • Easy to install a quick needed package.
  • Easy to trigger updates if needed.
Apple Remote Desktop is Apple specific. There is no other software suite that controls the Mac like ARD. Apple built it specifically for Apple products and it has abilities that are definitely MacOS ONLY. If you administer Macs it is a must-have over the other solutions offered on the current market.
2
Both IT admins
2
Basic IT skills.
  • Remote control when a Zoom share won't work
  • Pushing software in the background
  • Beyond remote control of the machines not much, we use an MDM for most software.
I need it to control the Mac in house.
Yes
Microsoft Remote Desktop because it does not directly support all functions of the MacOS.
  • Product Usability
  • Prior Experience with the Product
I would not.
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was minimal
  • There were none
Apple support is great.
It is included with the software subscription.
No
If you understand MacOS you will understand this software.
  • The network scanning
  • The actual connection to control the machine. It requires more than just a double click.
No
Brian Sossamon | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use ARD for remote desktop for our Macbooks/iMac computers. We also use it for managing profiles and sending files between machines.
  • 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.
I use the capabilities as they are built into the software and I have no need for any other functions.
Remote Administration (14)
71.42857142857143%
7.1
Screen sharing
100%
10.0
File transfer
100%
10.0
Instant message
100%
10.0
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication
N/A
N/A
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers
100%
10.0
Over-the-Internet remote session
100%
10.0
Initiate remote control from mobile
N/A
N/A
Remote management of servers & workstations
100%
10.0
Remote Active Directory® management
100%
10.0
Centralized management dashboard
100%
10.0
Session record
N/A
N/A
Annotations
N/A
N/A
Monitoring and Alerts
100%
10.0
Multi-platform remote control
100%
10.0
  • The product definitely has increased our support response times and capabilities to access remote devices.
ARD does not have competition when it comes to working with Apple Devices in a 1:1 scenario.
2
To work with our Apple iMac/iPad/Macbook deployment.
2
Technology Support professionals with basic Technology troubleshooting skills and software experience.
  • Device management
  • Remote access
  • Application deployment
  • Screen Capture/Sharing
  • None that the product does not openly offer and feature.
  • None that the product does not openly offer and feature.
We use it on a daily basis and works well in our environment and could see how other Apple owned organizations would benefit.
No
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
We needed something that could help us management multiple aspects of the devices.
None
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was minimal
  • None
None, very easy to setup and install.
No
not needed.
No
Not needed.
When i have needed support it was for Hardware not the software itself.
  • Remote Desktop
  • File Transfer with Drag and Drop
  • App Installation
  • None
It just works.
Kevin B. Richardson II | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Apple Remote Desktop across the board in IT to manage, update and provide remote support for our end users on the Mac platform.
  • 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.
Many people ask why we don't use a all in one program to mange Macs and PCs in one place. I explain Apple Remote Desktop is one of a kind software.
Remote Administration (14)
92.85714285714286%
9.3
Screen sharing
100%
10.0
File transfer
100%
10.0
Instant message
100%
10.0
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication
N/A
N/A
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers
100%
10.0
Over-the-Internet remote session
100%
10.0
Initiate remote control from mobile
100%
10.0
Remote management of servers & workstations
100%
10.0
Remote Active Directory® management
100%
10.0
Centralized management dashboard
100%
10.0
Session record
100%
10.0
Annotations
100%
10.0
Monitoring and Alerts
100%
10.0
Multi-platform remote control
100%
10.0
  • We have had 110% success with Apple Remove Desktop.
  • We can provide much better customer service.
  • End users are very happy with results.
Apple Remote Desktop provides a different level of support than programs listed above. Its a nice support tool built in the OS.
60
All IT Support and IT Field Service.
60
Provide Remote Break Fix For Apple Users
  • Remote Support
  • System Updates
  • Security Patches
  • Quick Response To Service Orders
  • After Hours Acesss
  • Less Downtime For Users
  • iOS Devices
  • Security Lock Down
  • Remote Wiping Devices
Great software easy to use.
Yes
Microsoft Remote Desktop For Mac.
  • Price
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
  • Prior Experience with the Product
  • Vendor Reputation
  • Existing Relationship with the Vendor
  • Positive Sales Experience with the Vendor
  • Analyst Reports
Ease of use.
Would have not changed a thing.
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was a big part of the implementation and was well-handled
  • None
Very quick and easy install with no real issues.
Yes
More help is always nice.
Very easy to use not very buggy
No
When I was pushing a OS update to a lab of machines and running into issues Apple support stayed on the phone until the lab was fully updated and back up and running.
  • Remote Support
  • Screen Sharing
  • Pushing Updates and Patches
  • Remotely Setting Up A Machine.
  • OS upgrades Have been a issue
  • Ensuring The End Users Machine was running latest version.
  • Having user restart machine when i couldn't remotely
No
Great software! Enjoy using in my workplace.
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