Fix discovery and connection problems
Check Local Network access, Screen Sharing, the Mac address and account, then recover a connection that cannot reconnect.
Otherdesk connects directly to your Mac’s built-in Screen Sharing. Discovery, network access and the Mac account each need to be available before a session can open.
Check the Mac setup
iPhone
Start with Screen Sharing
Otherdesk includes the Mac setup steps inside the app.
The Mac does not appear nearby
Keep both devices on the same local network. Guest Wi-Fi can separate devices even when their network names look related.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Local Network, and allow Otherdesk. Return to Add Mac and try again.
On the Mac, open System Settings, General, Sharing and check Screen Sharing. If nearby discovery still cannot find it, add the Mac manually using its .local name or LAN address.
The address does not connect
Use the Mac’s current local address, not 127.0.0.1 or localhost: those names refer to the iPhone or iPad itself. Leave the port at 5900 unless Screen Sharing is configured differently.
Wake the Mac and check that it has not moved to another network. If you saved a numeric address, it may have changed. A reachable .local name can be easier to keep using.
Otherdesk’s documented setup is local-network Screen Sharing. It does not provide an internet relay or an Otherdesk account that makes an unreachable Mac available.
The account is rejected
Use the Mac account’s user name and password, not your Apple Account password. In Screen Sharing settings, check that this account is allowed access.
If you changed the Mac password, update the saved connection. Saving a password requires a device passcode; you can still connect without keeping the password.
A session stops updating
Check that both devices remain connected and the Mac is awake. Otherdesk keeps the last screen visible while trying to reconnect. A visible old frame does not mean the connection has recovered.
If it cannot reconnect, choose Disconnect, directly on the session toolbar or under More on a compact screen. Open the saved Mac again after checking the network. For a slow connection, start with Automatic quality in display settings.
Ask for help
Contact us with the Otherdesk version, iPhone or iPad model, macOS version and the exact error. Say whether the Mac appears nearby and whether a manual address works. Keep passwords and screenshots of private Mac content out of the message.