Have you bought a new Mac mini to serve as a network appliance of some sort? Perhaps it's to serve files to your network and provide rendering capabilities with Compressor or maybe it's going to run a Plex media server and share printers. You'll not want to waste resources on the device such as connecting a permanent monitor or keyboard/mouse combo. Whatever your purpose for the new Mac mini, we'll show you the basics of what you'll want to set up to run your new Mac mini without a monitor.
There's no way I know of in software to control powering ON a Mac mini because the system has no residual power and thus no CPU activity is possible when the power is off. Some (somewhat) older Macs had a remote power up feature which was controlled from a power switch on the keyboard, but that hasn't been the case with any of the later generation G5, G5 and Intel systems. As to why that feature was dropped, it's hard to give a definitive answer.
That isn't to say there are no alternatives. Somewhat inelegant, but of course in the options tab of the energy saver preference pane the mini can be set to automatically restart when there has been a power failure. In practical terms that may allow you to power up the mini by switching on a power strip it is connected to for example. Alternatively, you could avoid powering it down completely and simply set it to sleep. In sleep mode it can be woken from mouse, keyboard or remote. Make certain the new Mac mini is properly configured
In order to set up the new Mac mini for use without a monitor and keyboard/mouse, you'll actually need to have it connected to, you guessed it, a monitor and keyboard/mouse. You can follow our new Mac mini setup guide if you need help with getting things started. In short, have your new Mac mini set up like a regular desktop, ready to go so that we can configure somethings locally before disconnecting peripherals like the monitor and keyboard.
Screen Sharing vs Remote Management
If you use a Mac Mini with a paired Apple Remote, you may experience issues with your remote’s buttons not working at random times.There is a known issue with Google Chrome using the Mac Mini IR receiver while Google Chrome is open. This appears to cause confusion with the Apple IR receiver understanding which device or application to process commands from.
Remote Control Apps For Android
Apple offers two methods of remotely connecting to your new Mac mini. Screen Sharing and Remote Management. Screen Sharing offers a remote user to connect to the Mac mini and start up a session whereby a view of the Mac mini's desktop becomes visible and accessible as if the user were sitting right in front of a locally connected display. The connection is established via virtual network computing (VNC) and as such you'll have a direct albeit slightly sluggish connection to your new Mac mini's desktop. Here you'll be able to install software, reboot, run updates just like you normally would from a directly connected monitor setup.
Remote Management offers the same accessibility as Screen Sharing does but it also provides finer tuned accessibility to the remote Mac. It offers methods to install reboot and update remotely connected Macs without direct desktop access when it isn't called for and it provides remotely accessible system alerts. Remote Management is typically used by system administrators in larger companies that want to administer a multitude of hardware from a single location.
We'll be focusing on home use and as such we will enable Screen Sharing.
Turn on Screen Sharing
The first step is to turn on Screen Sharing. Once we've set up this service, you'll be able to remotely connect and install or configure whatever you like without the need of a monitor connected to the Mac mini.
Your Mac mini is now ready to have the monitor and keyboard/mouse detached. Optionally, you can test your connection from a remote Mac before you do so.
Connect to your new Mac mini remotely
On a separate Mac, you'll be able to access Screen Sharing through the Finder.
Mac Mini Remote Control AppContinue to remotely install and configure your headless (sans monitor) Mac mini
You can now use the Mac mini's Screen Sharing capabilities to continue to make changes and install software. Apple's built-in services like File Sharing, Printer Sharing, and Content Caching are easily enabled with simply checking the appropriate box under the Share preference panel in System Preferences. Once you're done, simply exit the Screen Sharing application.
Final comments
Keep in mind that Screen Sharing and Remote Management are an either/or option. If you feel the need to be able to remotely manage your Mac mini with the more advanced toolset under Remote Management, simple un-check Screen Sharing and check Remote Management under the Share panel in System Preferences. Ensure that you set the VNC password if you have non-macOS machines to connect to your new Mac mini. Let us know what you plan on using your Mac mini for in the comments!
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