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I would like to know, is there a way to control your iPad with your Mac remotely (be able to see and manipulate iPad's desktop on your Mac)? I know that with the TeamViewer or other programs you can control your Mac with your iPad but not vice versa.

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It is not possible to remotely control the screen of an iPad unless you jailbreak and install a VNC server as MattDMo suggested. This is because the security model in iOS does not allow an app to reach outside of its sandbox to control other apps or the springboard home screen. Apple does not provide any remote control functionality at the iOS level either. There is no way to do what you are asking for without jailbreaking.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions do not allow remote control of the screen on iOS either. MDM can push configuration profiles to control settings on an iPad, or prompt the user to install an app from the app store, but they can't control the screen. Airwatch offers a screen control option, but this only works on platforms that support it (not iOS). I work with several MDM vendors, including Airwatch, and this is not possible because Apple does not make this functionality available in iOS.

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  • 3
    Great summary; to potentially save others a trip to acronymfinder.com: MDM = Mobile Device Management.
    – mklement0
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 18:58
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    "..and this is not possible because Apple does not make this functionality.."
    – voices
    Commented Apr 11, 2016 at 13:54
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    And Apple has less APIs than products
    – Manchineel
    Commented Apr 11, 2016 at 14:50
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    If it's not possible then how does SeeTest do it: youtu.be/K3eAxRGYYlU ?
    – Aleksandr Levchuk
    Commented Aug 31, 2017 at 13:09
  • @AleksandrLevchuk It wasn't possible at the time of writing. Some of the newer answers might explain...
    – ReinstateMonica3167040
    Commented Mar 9, 2020 at 16:51
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There's a tool (made for testing purposes) with the ability to do that, first released on July 18, 2014: iOS Gateway

iOS Gateway Network Architecture

Enjoy!

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  • Have you used it a quick view of their docs on that screen seem to imply it runs scripts on the IOS device not remotely controls it
    – mmmmmm
    Commented Apr 11, 2016 at 16:14
  • The tool is kind of VNC. They have an IDE to write scripts that tell the IOSGateway tap to specific location. I have been using it for 3 years to remote ipad plugin to my mac at home from my office.
    – hoangpx
    Commented Apr 11, 2016 at 21:26
  • So does it all you to "be able to see and manipulate iPad's desktop on your Mac" as the question asks?
    – mmmmmm
    Commented Apr 11, 2016 at 21:46
  • Yes, it absolutely can do that.
    – hoangpx
    Commented Apr 12, 2016 at 16:38
  • @user151019 Please see my edit.
    – ReinstateMonica3167040
    Commented Mar 9, 2020 at 16:49
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There are a couple of options. iKeyboardRemote is an app that claims to do just what you want, and is free. However, after installing it, it seems like it's limited to pressing the home button, looking at Pictures, and playing music.

A second option is to jailbreak the iPad and install the VNC server Veency through Cydia. You can then use a VNC viewer like the one from RealVNC to connect.

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You can remotely control your iOS device's screen using one of many Mobile Device Management solutions, such as AirWatch for example. However, these are enterprise-level tools that are typically used in the workplace. There is no easy way to do this as a home user, unless you enroll in such a program.

You can also jailbreak your iPad and install a VNC server.

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  • Thank you, but I would be more interested in legal solutions for home users.
    – Arthur
    Commented Mar 8, 2013 at 15:32
  • Jailbreaking is legal under the DMCA in the United States. However, if you do not want to jailbreak, then the answer is "no".
    – bispymusic
    Commented Mar 8, 2013 at 15:40
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    Since your location is listed as UK, I thought I would also add that it is considered legal under the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 law.
    – bispymusic
    Commented Mar 8, 2013 at 15:43
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Here's one (extremely limited) way that I can think of:

  1. You can mirror the iPhone screen using QuickTime, which will allow you to see the screen.
  2. Then, for a $9.99 fee, you can control the keyboard of your device using 1Keyboard.
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  • Welcome to Ask Different! Please don't give link-only answers. We're looking for answers that provide explanations as to why it answers the question as well as why it's the best answer. Links can change over time and then we'll lose the question-answer context. See How to Answer for info on what makes up a good answer. - From Review -
    – fsb
    Commented Jul 23, 2016 at 17:05
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You can try Reflector to mirror iOS devices on Mac.

According to this tutorial, you can use their 7-day free trial to wirelessly mirror (but not control) it, assuming the devices are on the same WiFi network.

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    Answers on Ask Different need to be more than just a link. It's okay to include a link, but please summarize or excerpt it in the answer. The idea is to make the answer stand alone.
    – nohillside ♦
    Commented Aug 5, 2016 at 20:58
  • Unfortunately, OP would also like to be able to control the device.
    – ReinstateMonica3167040
    Commented Mar 9, 2020 at 16:53

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