Screen Sharing and File Sharing via the same Apple ID not working

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Level 1

33 points

Screen Sharing and File Sharing via the same Apple ID not working

I have a Mac Mini with File Sharing and Screen Sharing set up, in order to share with my two laptops. Both Screen and File Sharing work perfectly with one laptop, but neither form of sharing work with the other laptop.

Apple's instructions say "If both computers are logged in using the same Apple ID, the screen sharing session starts" — which is indeed what happens when using the first laptop. On the second laptop, I instead get a dialogue asking me to sign in as a registered user. Why doesn't it connect automatically, like it does on laptop 1?

I've tried everything in the support documentation.

All three devices are running Ventura.
All three devices use the same AppleID.
All three devices are on the same WiFi network.
Both Screen Sharing and File Sharing are set to All Users on the Mac Mini.
I have already tried signing out completely from my Apple ID on the problem laptop and then signing back in again, but still it won't connect.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 13.6

Posted on Oct 7, 2023 5:52 PM

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Answer 1

chuckbl

Community Specialist

Oct 9, 2023 10:12 AM in response to Paul_C_G

Hello Paul_C_G,

Let's use the applicable set of steps below to boot your MacBook into safe mode to see if that behavior persists from there:

If you're using a Mac with Apple silicon

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Press and hold the power button on your Mac. As you continue to hold the power button, your Mac turns on and loads startup options. When you see Options, release the power button.

3. Select your startup disk. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name.

4. Press and hold the Shift key, then click the “Continue in Safe Mode” button below your startup disk.

5. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

If you're using an Intel-based Mac

If you're not using a Mac with Apple silicon, you're using an Intel-based Mac.

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.

2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac.

3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window. If you can't start up in safe mode, make sure that your Mac isn't using a firmware password.

You can also find those steps in this resource: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

It can take a few extra minutes to boot into safe mode. Your screen may flash or flicker while in safe mode. Those behaviors are expected. Testing in safe mode runs a check on your disk, removes some cached files, and can help isolate conflicts with startup items. Once you've tested that behavior in safe mode, you can restart to leave safe mode.

Should that still persist, does this also occur with a newly created user account on your MacBook? Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

That should help to further isolate this to a system-wide or user-specific conflict.

Let us know your results, and we'll keep moving forward from there.

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Answer 2

mikeg28806

Community Specialist

Oct 9, 2023 8:26 PM in response to Paul_C_G

We appreciate you keeping the thread up to speed Paul_C_G,

With the behavior persisting in both safe mode, as well as a new user account, we recommend contacting Apple Support as the next step, since they'll have the tools and resources necessary to investigate and assist further.

Get Support

Cheers!

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Answer 3

Paul_C_G Author

Level 1

33 points

Oct 9, 2023 8:11 PM in response to chuckbl

Thanks for the reply chuckbl.

I've done as you advised. It doesn't auto-connect in Safe Mode, still comes up with a dialogue box asking me to connect as a registered user. In a separate user account (also registered to my Apple ID) on the same device, same result — connection requires me to connect as a registered user.

I've also tried having my problematic laptop 'forget' the current wifi connection, and used the other laptop to have the router 'forget' the problematic laptop. Then joined the wifi network again afresh. Still the same result, no automatic connection via Apple ID.

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Screen Sharing and File Sharing via the same Apple ID not working

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