GuideMac · With the app

Set up Naytto on a Mac

For a Mac you’re sitting at. You download Naytto, add the Mac to your account, allow two macOS permissions, then connect from a browser on another device. It takes about 10 minutes.

Before you start

A Mac with Apple silicon running macOS 15 or later, and its login password. System Settings asks for it when you allow Naytto’s permissions.
An email address. If you don’t have a Naytto account yet, your first sign-in creates one and starts your free 14-day trial.
A passkey or an authenticator app for your account. If you have neither, your browser offers to save a passkey when you approve the Mac.
Another device with a browser, such as a laptop, tablet or phone, to connect from.

The app is on the download page. Setting up over SSH, or a Mac with no display? Follow Set up Naytto on a Mac from Terminal instead.

Install Naytto

On the Mac you want to reach, download Naytto and put it in Applications.

01Download Naytto

Open naytto.com/download in Safari and click Download for Mac. The first time, Safari asks whether to allow downloads on “naytto.com”. Click Allow.

On your first visit, a banner asks whether naytto.com may measure visits with Google Analytics. Choose Accept or Reject.

Safari on the Mac at naytto.com/download, with the Mac card marked For this computer and its Download for Mac button.

02Show Naytto in Finder

Safari unzips the download for you, so its Downloads list shows Naytto, the app itself. Click the magnifying glass next to it. Finder opens your Downloads folder with Naytto selected.

Downloaded with another browser? Double-click Naytto.zip in Downloads first.

Safari’s Downloads list showing Naytto, 15.1 MB, with a magnifying glass button beside it and Naytto’s icon on the Dock.

03Drag Naytto into Applications

In the Finder window, drag Naytto from Downloads onto Applications in the sidebar. Finder moves it there.

A Finder window on Downloads with one item selected, Naytto, 33.9 MB, Application, and Applications in the sidebar.

The Applications folder in Finder with the Naytto app selected among the other apps.

04Open Naytto

Double-click Naytto in Applications. The first time, macOS says it’s an app downloaded from the Internet and that Apple checked it for malicious software. Click Open.

A macOS prompt saying “Naytto” is an app downloaded from the Internet and asking whether to open it, with Cancel and Open.

Add it to your account

You start on the Mac, approve a code in a browser, then allow your account back on the Mac.

05Choose Add to my account

The Naytto window opens, and Naytto’s icon appears in the menu bar. The name field shows your Mac’s name, which is how your account will list it. Change it if you like, then click Add to my account.

The window now reads Waiting for approval and shows a code, and your browser opens app.naytto.com. If you close the browser, click Open browser again.

The Naytto window on first open: Not added to an account, the Add this Mac to your account card with a scam warning, the name Sam’s Mac mini and the Add to my account button.

The Naytto window reading Waiting for approval, with Approve in your browser, the code J9QZ-D7CZ, Open browser again and Cancel.

06Sign in with your email

In the browser, type your email address and choose Email me a code. The button reads Checking this browser… for a moment first; if a Verify you are human box appears, tick it. New to Naytto? The same code creates your account and starts your free 14-day trial.

The Sign in or create an account page on app.naytto.com, with sam.rivera@example.com in the Email field above the Email me a code button.

07Enter the code from the email

Naytto emails you a six-digit code; the subject line starts with it. Type it in Sign-in code and choose Sign in. The code expires in 10 minutes. If you don’t see the email, check your spam folder.

The Enter your code page for sam.rivera@example.com, with a six-digit code typed into Sign-in code above the Sign in button.

08Check the code and add the Mac

The page asks Add this computer? and names the Mac, here Sam’s Mac mini. Check that its code matches the one in the Naytto window, then choose Add computer. Only approve a code you started yourself.

The Add this computer? page naming Sam’s Mac mini, a Mac, with the code J9QZ-D7CZ and the Add computer and Don’t add buttons.

09Confirm it’s you

Unless you signed in with your passkey or authenticator app in the last 10 minutes, the page then asks you to confirm it’s you. Choose Add a passkey to confirm: your browser asks to save a passkey, then to use it, for example with Touch ID. Accept both, and the page says Computer added.

Already have a passkey? The button reads Confirm with your passkey, and your browser only asks you to use it. With an authenticator app, you can choose Sign in again with your authenticator app instead.

The Add this computer? page with a red notice, Confirm it’s you first, and the button now reading Add a passkey to confirm.

The Computer added page saying Sam’s Mac mini is on your account now, with a Go to your computers button.

10Allow your account on the Mac

The Naytto window comes to the front and asks Allow this account to control this Mac? with your email address. For a new account, Allow counts down for a few seconds first. Check that the email address is yours and click Allow.

The Naytto window asking Allow this account to control this Mac? for sam.rivera@example.com, with a scam warning and the Don't allow and Allow buttons.

Only add your own Mac. If the email address isn’t yours, or someone called, texted or messaged you and asked you to install Naytto, it’s a scam: click Don't allow, or Report this account to have Naytto review the account.

Allow the two permissions

Browsers can’t connect until macOS lets Naytto show the screen (Screen Recording) and use the mouse and keyboard (Accessibility). Only someone at the Mac can switch them on.

11Open the Screen Recording settings

The window now shows your Mac’s name, Needs permission and Allow 2 permissions. Under Let Naytto show this screen, click Open System Settings. System Settings opens at Screen & System Audio Recording, with Naytto listed and its switch off.

If macOS also shows a Screen Recording alert, click Open System Settings, not Deny.

The Naytto window titled Sam’s Mac mini, Needs permission, asking to Allow 2 permissions, with an Open System Settings button under Let Naytto show this screen and another under Let Naytto control this computer.

System Settings at Screen & System Audio Recording, with Naytto listed and its switch off.

12Allow Screen Recording

Click the switch next to Naytto so it’s on. macOS asks for your Mac’s password (or Touch ID). Enter it and click Modify Settings.

A macOS password prompt over System Settings: Privacy & Security is trying to modify your system settings, with the user Sam Rivera, a Password field and Modify Settings.

13Choose Quit & Reopen

macOS then says Naytto may not be able to record the contents of your screen until it is quit. Click Quit & Reopen. Naytto closes and opens again by itself.

A macOS alert over System Settings saying “Naytto” may not be able to record the contents of your screen until it is quit, with Quit & Reopen and Later.

14Allow Accessibility

Naytto reopens with a check next to Let Naytto show this screen and asks you to Allow 1 more permission. Under Let Naytto control this computer, click Open System Settings, then click the switch next to Naytto in Accessibility so it’s on. This one needs no restart.

If macOS asks for your password again, enter it and click Modify Settings.

The Naytto window asking to Allow 1 more permission, with a green check beside Let Naytto show this screen and an Open System Settings button under Let Naytto control this computer.

System Settings at Accessibility, Allow the applications below to control your computer, with Naytto listed and its switch off.

15Quit System Settings

With both switches on, quit System Settings. The Naytto window now reads Ready and Ready to connect from another browser, linked to your email address.

Browsers can reach the Mac only while Naytto is running. To have it open whenever you log in, click Turn on beside Open at login in the window. The same switch is in Settings, behind the gear.

System Settings at Accessibility with Naytto’s switch turned on.

The Naytto window reading Ready, with Ready to connect from another browser, Linked to sam.rivera@example.com, and the Keep this computer reachable and Open at login cards, each with a Turn on button.

16If macOS asks again, choose Open System Settings

A Screen Recording or Accessibility Access alert can still appear later, from behind the Naytto window or after you quit System Settings, even though both switches are on. Click Open System Settings rather than Deny, check that the switch next to Naytto is still on, and quit System Settings again.

A macOS Screen Recording alert saying “Naytto” would like to record this computer’s screen and audio, with Open System Settings and Deny.

A macOS Accessibility Access alert saying “Naytto” would like to control this computer using accessibility features, with Open System Settings and Deny.

Connect from your browser

From here on, all you need is a browser. The first session brings up one more macOS prompt, which you can answer from the session.

17Choose Connect

On another device, sign in at app.naytto.com. Your computers lists the Mac as Available: Naytto is open on it and answering. Choose Connect.

Your computers on app.naytto.com listing Sam’s Mac mini, Mac, added Sep 29, Available, with a Connect button in its row and the selected Mac’s panel with Connect and Test connection.

18Allow the prompt on the Mac

When the first session starts, macOS on the Mac asks whether Naytto may bypass the system private window picker and directly access your screen and audio. Click Allow, at the Mac or in the session from your browser.

A macOS prompt on the Mac saying “Naytto” is requesting to bypass the system private window picker and directly access your screen and audio, with Allow and Open System Settings.

19Use its desktop

The Mac’s desktop fills the browser tab, and you use it as if you were in front of it. Hold Esc to take the keyboard and pointer back from the Mac. On the Mac, the Naytto window reads In session with your email address, and macOS shows its screen-sharing indicator in the menu bar. The pill at the top of the tab shows the round trip in milliseconds.

The Mac’s desktop filling the browser tab during a session, with the Naytto window reading In session and a round trip of 40 ms in a pill at the top.

20Disconnect when you’re done

Click the pill at the top to open the session toolbar, which also holds the clipboard, file transfer and full screen. Choose Disconnect. You’re back at your computers, and the Mac keeps running.

The session toolbar at the top of the browser tab, with Sam’s Mac mini, the time and round trip, Controlling, Match window, Mac screen, Auto and a Disconnect button at the right.

21Test the connection

In your computers, select the Mac and choose Test connection, then Start test. A short session checks sign-in, the private relay, the screen and the keyboard and mouse, then ends; nothing is typed or clicked. The Clipboard and File transfer checks are optional. After a few seconds it says Ready to connect from another browser, with a check beside each of its five lines.

The selected Mac in the side panel, Available, with Connect and the test result, Ready to connect from another browser, with checks for Signed in, Your computer answered, Private relay connected, Screen showing and Keyboard and mouse ready.

22Connect from your phone

The same page works on a phone or tablet: sign in at app.naytto.com and choose Connect.

Your computers on a phone, with Sam’s Mac mini Available and its Connect and Test connection buttons.

Every day

Naytto keeps an icon in the Mac’s menu bar. Its menu shows the Mac’s status and account, and opens the Naytto window and its Settings.

23Pause remote access

Click the Naytto icon in the menu bar and choose Pause Remote Access. The menu reads Paused: new sessions are blocked until you resume. In your computers, the Mac shows Remote access paused with no Connect button.

Choose Resume Remote Access, or Resume in the Naytto window, to allow connections again. Only someone at the Mac can pause or resume.

The Naytto menu open under its icon in the menu bar, showing Sam’s Mac mini, Ready, with Pause Remote Access, Open Naytto, Open in Browser, Settings… and Quit Naytto.

The Naytto menu reading Paused, New sessions are blocked until you resume, with Resume Remote Access at the top of the list.

24End a session from the Mac

During a session, click the Naytto icon in the menu bar and choose Disconnect. The menu says which Naytto user is viewing and controlling this Mac, and the Naytto window has the same button.

If you don’t recognize them, choose Don't recognize them? Disconnect and report under it instead. It ends the session, removes the Mac from that account and asks Naytto to review it.

The Mac’s desktop in a session with the Naytto menu open, saying Naytto user sam.rivera@example.com is viewing and controlling this Mac, with a red Disconnect button. — Seen here through the session in a browser. At the Mac, the menu looks the same.

25Keep the Mac reachable

A Mac that’s asleep can’t be reached. In the Naytto window, Keep this computer reachable reads Off. Click Turn on beside it. System Settings opens at Login Items & Extensions, with Naytto’s switch off under App Background Activity, and a notification asks whether “Naytto” can run in the background for all users.

System Settings at Login Items & Extensions with Naytto’s switch off under App Background Activity, and a notification asking whether “Naytto” can run in the background for all users.

26Allow Naytto in the background

Click the switch next to Naytto so it’s on. macOS asks for your password (or Touch ID). Enter it and click Modify Settings.

The notification stays on screen. Close it; the switch is already on.

A macOS password prompt over System Settings: Login Items is trying to modify your system settings, with the user Sam Rivera, a Password field and Modify Settings, and the notification still at the top right.

27Choose when it stays reachable

The window now reads Keep reachable: only while plugged in. The Mac stays reachable even with the lid closed, and the display still sleeps. To keep a MacBook reachable on battery too, click the gear to open Settings and choose Always under Keep this computer reachable. Choosing Off undoes every change it made.

The Naytto window reading Keep reachable: only while plugged in, kept reachable even with the lid closed while the display still sleeps.

Naytto’s Settings with the Keep this computer reachable menu open, offering Off, Only while plugged in, which is checked, and Always.

28Let Naytto update itself

Naytto downloads updates on its own. When one is ready, its icon in the menu bar shows a dot. Click the icon and choose Restart to Update to install it now. Otherwise Naytto installs it by itself when no one is connected and no one is using the Mac.

Settings shows which version you have, with Check for Updates. It also has Open at login and Sign-in screen access, which lets your browser show and control the Mac while it’s locked.

Naytto’s Settings showing the name, account and status, the Open at login and Sign-in screen access switches, Naytto 0.1.0 (472) with Check for Updates, and Keep this computer reachable.

29Remove the Mac from your account

In your computers, in any browser, choose … next to the Mac, then Remove from account. The browser asks Remove “Sam’s Mac mini” from your account?: any session on it ends now, and it can’t connect again until you add it back from that Mac. Choose OK.

Your computers with the More actions menu open next to Sam’s Mac mini, offering Rename and Remove from account.

30Add it back later

If it was your only computer, Your computers now says No computers yet. Within seconds, Naytto on the Mac reads Not added to an account and says the Mac was removed. To use the Mac again, click Add to my account and approve it as before.

To stop using Naytto on this Mac instead, set Keep this computer reachable to Off in Settings, click the Naytto icon in the menu bar and choose Quit Naytto, then move Naytto from Applications to the Trash.

The Naytto window reading Not added to an account, with Add to my account and a notice: This Mac was removed from your account. Add it again to use it remotely.

If something isn’t right

Permission needed. One of the two permissions is off. On the Mac, open Naytto and click Open System Settings under the one without a check. If Screen Recording is on and Naytto still asks for it, click Restart Naytto. Then choose Check again in your computers.
The code ran out. It works for 10 minutes. Then the Naytto window says The code expired. Start again. Click Add to my account for a new code. For a sign-in code that expired, choose Use a different email or send a new code.
Asleep, Not responding or Can’t reach. The Mac is asleep, off or offline, or Naytto isn’t open. Naytto can’t wake a sleeping Mac yet. Wake it and open Naytto, then set up Keep this computer reachable and Open at login so it stays available.
Offline, in the Naytto window. The Mac isn’t connected to Naytto, so browsers can’t reach it. Check the Mac’s network, then click Reconnect.
It says lid-closed mode needs approval. macOS hasn’t allowed Keep this computer reachable yet. On the Mac, click Allow… beside Keep reachable in the Naytto window, or allow Naytto under App Background Activity in System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions.
Remote access paused or Update needed. On the Mac, click the Naytto icon in the menu bar and choose Resume Remote Access or Restart to Update. No update waiting? Choose Check for Updates in Settings, then connect.

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