← Remote Support Setup

RustDesk Remote Support: macOS Permissions

Purpose

Remote support for this Mac is moving from AnyDesk to RustDesk, which connects through a privately operated server. Once RustDesk is installed, macOS requires a person at the Mac to grant three permissions before remote support can see the screen or use the keyboard and mouse. Apple does not allow these permissions to be granted remotely, so this short procedure is needed once per Mac.

The procedure takes about five minutes and needs an administrator password for the Mac.

Before you start

RustDesk will already be installed in the Applications folder, either by your support contact or by you from the support site. If a RustDesk window is open, leave it open. If macOS displays a prompt asking whether RustDesk may control the computer or record the screen, choose Open System Settings and continue from the matching step below.

Steps

The menu names below are those used by macOS Sequoia (15) and macOS Tahoe (26). Earlier versions use the same locations with minor wording differences.

  1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu, then choose Privacy & Security in the sidebar.

  2. Choose Accessibility. Turn on the switch beside RustDesk. If RustDesk is not listed, select the + button, enter the administrator password, and choose RustDesk from the Applications folder.

  3. Return to Privacy & Security and choose Screen & System Audio Recording. Turn on the switch beside RustDesk, adding it with + if it is not listed. If macOS asks to quit and reopen RustDesk, choose Quit & Reopen.

  4. Return to Privacy & Security and choose Input Monitoring. Turn on the switch beside RustDesk, adding it with + if it is not listed.

  5. Restart the Mac. Some macOS versions do not apply these permissions to a running application until it restarts.

Confirming it works

After the restart, let your support contact know the Mac is ready, and give them the RustDesk ID shown in the RustDesk window if they do not already have it. They will connect and confirm that they can see the screen and use the keyboard and mouse. If RustDesk asks you to accept the session, choose Accept.

If something does not work

If the support session shows a black screen, the Screen & System Audio Recording permission has not taken effect. If the screen is visible but the keyboard and mouse do not respond, the Accessibility or Input Monitoring permission has not taken effect. In either case, turn the relevant switch off and on again, then restart the Mac.

Security notes

These permissions apply only to RustDesk. RustDesk connects only through the private support server it was configured with, and while a support session is active RustDesk shows a window on this Mac from which the session can be ended. The permissions can be withdrawn at any time by turning off the same switches.