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I have for many years been using a program called TeamViewer to offer my clients the convenience of having me be able to control their computers remotely. It was nice that they didn’t always have to wait for a time when we could meet physically in person, and it is especially prescient now that we can still use this system to help you during this time.

You should see a window appear asking you to allow downloads from TeamViewer.

Please Allow the download.

Click this link to download TeamViewer.

(On an older version of the Mac like Mac OS X 10.12 Sierra or earlier? Click here)

Step-by-step guide to installing TeamViewer for Mac

1. First allow your web browser to download from the TeamViewer.com website. It may take 1-3 minutes for the download to begin as a customized version of TeamViewer is being built for your specific version of the Mac. It is pre-programmed with my logo and password.

Please allow downloads from TeamViewer.com

2. Click on the Finder icon in your Dock

A picture of a Mac desktop with Finder highlighted

3. Go to the Go menu and choose Downloads ⌘⌥ L

Select Downloads from the Go menu at the top of the screen

4. Double click on TeamViewerQS.zip to expand the archive. (there might even by multiple copies if you have tried before).

Double click on the TeamViewerQS.zip file in order to expand it

5. Single click on the TeamViewer QuickSupport.app icon in your Finder window to select the app.

Single click on the TeamViewereQuickSupport.app file to select it

6. I bet you’ve never noticed the Gear icon, but it will be useful in this situation. The TeamViewer QuickSupport app can’t be scanned by the Finder and so normally you can’t open it. Use the Gear to select Open and then you can tell the Mac it is okay to open the app.

The Gear icon includes a very special Open command

7. The Finder might complain that it cannot scan the file for malicious software, but that is okay. This is the official TeamViewer download, so please click Open. You migh be asked to enter your computer’s administrative password, which is the one for your computer (and not the one for your AppleID/iTunes account). If you have problems, contact me.

The special open menu from the Gear icon

8. Now you should have TeamViewer open. You should see my logo and then you should see an ID number that is unique to your computer. Call me and tell me your unique TeamViewer ID number. I will save it on my computer and then try to connect to your computer.

Congratulations! You should now have TeamViewer open and ready to go

9. Recent versions of macOS will ask you a few questions. The first one is that macOS will ask for permission to show notifications. Say Yes. These are important as you want it to be very clear if anyone remotely connects to your computer.

Please allow TeamViewer to show notifications

10. Recent versions of macOS will then ask for permission to broadcast your screen and allow recording. Say Yes. I cannot see anything on your screen until you do so.

I won't be able to see anything until you grant permission for “Screen Recording” privileges — I won’t be able to see anything until you grant permission for “Screen Recording” privileges

11) You will be taken to the Privacy & Security panel of System Preferences. Here you will need to click on the orange lock in the lower left corner of your screen to make changes to your system. Use the same password you used in step 7. Once the lock is open, click on the checkbox next to TeamViewer QuickSupport.

Click on the orange lock in the lower left corner of the screen in order to unlock the System Preferences and then place a checkmark next to TeamViewer QuickSupport

12. If all goes well, you will see a warning saying that your partner will not be able to record the screen until you quit and restart TeamViewer. Don’t worry. I should now be able to see your computer’s screen and you can just click the Later button.

You will see a warning saying that TV cannot record the contents of the screen until quit and restart the program. At this point I will be able to see your screen, so just click Later

13. Last step: The moment I try to move the mouse on your screen or click on anything, recent versions of macOS will ask for permission to allow another person to control your screen. Say Yes. That way I can drive the mouse and keyboard to fix your problems with you over the phone together.

A similar dialog box will ask you for permission to let another person control your screen. Click open system preferences

14. Just like before, you will need to click on the checkmark next to TeamViewer (but this time we are in the Accessibility tab.)