Apple Remote Desktop locks the screen on connecting (and can't unlock)

Question

Apple Remote Desktop locks the screen on connecting (and can't unlock)

Hi,

I recently upgraded a Mac Mini M1 to OS Sonoma 14.3. I was using this Mac Mini without a monitor and always connected to it using apple remote desktop. However, when I connect now (from a Macbook Pro M2, Sonoma 14.2, latest version of ARD) the mac mini immediately shows a locked screen (see screenshot attached) which I can't unlock via ARD.

(this lock fades in and out for a few seconds - after that it's just a dark grey - back screen that I can't get past)

When I hook up the Mac Mini to a monitor, when connecting via ARD, I can see the Mac Mini disconnects from the monitor (which says no signal, as if I where to unplug the HDMI cable). As soon as I break the ARD connection, the monitor receives signal again.

I've tried a couple of things such as removing remote management and turning it back on again, trying with the screen sharing setting on & off, ran a reset screensharing command on the cli, rebooting both host & client a couple of times.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

Posted on Jan 29, 2024 12:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

James Ferrero

Level 1

23 points

Mar 18, 2024 6:43 AM in response to mercurial-cormorant

I had a similar issue. I removed one of the affected machines from ARD and when I went to add them again I was presented with a dialog box that I don't recall seeing before:

I have since found that selecting High Performance will lock the remote machine when it connects.

I checked the settings of some of my other devices and found that those that had High Performance ticked all suffered the same problem. I changed the Screen Sharing Type to Standard and that sorted it.

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Answer 2

May 19, 2024 3:18 PM in response to Peter Mars

Peter, the easiest way is just to quite ARD and it will release the locked remote mac. Clearly a bug that Apple has yet to fix, but the "High Performance" setting is profoundly better than the "Standard." The M3 MBAir that I'm accessing (from my ethernetted MacStudio) sits wireLESSly on a fast wifi. It's amazing how well I can work on it to the point where I didn't even realize I was no longer on the MacStudio's desktop!

Yeah, it's buggy and Apple needs to hire more than one scraggly old vet to work on ARD development and fix these bugs, but for me, the benefits of significantly "High(er) Performance" outweigh even the bugs.

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Answer 3

May 19, 2024 10:31 AM in response to James Ferrero

I have similar issue with screen sharing... where do I find this setting? Do I need to cancel screen sharing and re-add it? Thanks. Also, here's a screen shot of the sharing window showing that the mac mini is "locked".

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Answer 4

MickGuinn

Level 1

110 points

May 4, 2024 6:47 AM in response to James Ferrero

James, you're a gem (and probably a "Jim" too). This was driving me nuts as well.

The only way I could get control of the MBAir in the other part of the house was to quit ARD on the Mac that was controlling it. I can't recall clearly, but I think even force-quitting the MBAir didn't work—or maybe it did. 🤔 Can't clearly remember as I've got a mind like a colander. But obviously, force-quitting's not something you want to have to do on a regular basis.

I was trying to use ApplePay for a purchase and gave it a shot and it worked.

The bummer is that high performance is a good thing. On the controller's end, you have much better resolution and response. It very much felt like a wireless docking over wi-fi. All the more troublesome that each time I went fulls-screen on the MacStudio's 30" monitor, I couldn't get out of the remote MBAir's desktop. There was no obvious way to get out of full screen.

I'm glad to see ARD get a little bit of love with some new features, but hope that Apple can fix these bugs before they start to call them "features." 🤣

Thanks again for the answer here. Really saved me a lot of time!

[Edited by Moderator]

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