Kengilroy
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Can I control my Mac with iPad using Bluetooth & not WiFi?

I would like to control a Mac Min by Bluetooth in a den in our house, when it is not connected to our WiFi. Sometimes we have power outages, or when I restart the WiFi router, the Mac Mini doesn't automatically connect to our WiFi on start.

 

I'm in a wheelchair and the door to the den is too narrow for me to get in, but I can see the screen. I just want to control it so I can connect it to our WiFi and type remotely our WiFi password.

 

I know I could use my Magic Mouse and my Magic Keyboard with the Mac Mini that I use on my iMac, but I would need to access the Mac Mini's Bluetooth Preferences to pair them.


I'm looking to set up a backup to Screen Sharing on the Mac Mini when it is not connected to our WiFi. I've seen some iPhone/iPad apps that use Bluetooth to connect to a Mac, but many need WiFi, or to change the WiFi setting to the iPhone's tethered Bluetooth, but I can't do that. I know I will need help to set up the backup to Screen Sharing, but I just want a plan B when the Mac Mini is not connected to our WiFi.

 

 

Any suggestions?


Thanks!

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), I need Bluetooth and not WiFi

Posted on Apr 5, 2016 4:45 PM

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Kengilroy

Q: Can I control my Mac with iPad using Bluetooth & not WiFi?

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  • by Alex-Turner,

    Alex-Turner Alex-Turner Apr 6, 2016 10:26 PM in response to Kengilroy
    Level 2 (151 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2016 10:26 PM in response to Kengilroy

    I don't know of a general purpose Bluetooth only control that exists on the App store (but that store is really hard to search these days for a needle in the haystack of apps), but one of the more common remote control software packages does say it will work without WiFi on the Mac.

     

     

     

    Once you've installed the free Mac software and tested that you are OK tethering the Mac to the phone (which can use prodigious amounts of cellular data) you can download the free and ad supported iOS app.

     

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/air-keyboard-free-wireless/id541873446?mt=8

     

    There is IAP to remove the ads if you really like it over time. I prefer to use the computer's create network and tether over USB if needed for control in situations where I don't have a pre-existing WiFi network. The apps I prefer for that are:

     

     

    Touchpad by Martian Craft - about $7 on the app store

    Rowmote Pro by Evan Schoenberg - about $5 on the app store

     

    Touchpad is truly standalone, just turn on screen sharing on your Mac and run the app. Rowmote Pro is more integrated with various apps such as spottily, hulu, etc... Both function fabulously as a keyboard and mouse/trackpad for OS X from iOS and I find I use both for different tasks at different times.

  • by Kengilroy,

    Kengilroy Kengilroy Apr 7, 2016 2:02 PM in response to Alex-Turner
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 7, 2016 2:02 PM in response to Alex-Turner

    Thanks Alex, I have tried AirKeyboard, but it needs WiFi, or it needs me to switch the current WiFi network on the Mac Mini to my tethered iPhone Bluetooth hotspot. Since I can't get in the den where the Mac Mini is, to do that I would need to use a mouse connected to the Mac Mini, or plug in a USB cable, which I can't.

     

    I have Parallels Access on my iPhone/iPad, and have Screen Sharing set up on the Mac Mini so I can control if from my iMac, but both need the Mac Mini to be connected to our WiFi, or me to change the WiFi settings. I also looked at TouchPad and Rowmote Pro, and they both look great, but from what I read, they both need WiFi, or they would need me to change our WiFi to my tethered iPhone.

     

    I'm looking for an iPhone/iPad app that I set up before, so when the Mac Mini doesn't connect to our WiFi, I can select Settings on my iOS device, select Bluetooth, and select the Mac Mini so I can connect to it and control it, just like when I select my Jaybird X2 earbuds and I'm connected.

     

     

    But I'm also guessing that is not available, maybe for good reasons….