MacOS - Enable Remote DESKTOP Command

[Colin31]

Has Meraki MDM implemented this command from apple

Use MDM to enable Remote Management in macOS - Apple Support

to allow apple macs to be accessed remotely using Remote Desktop tools on another computer without having to manually turn it on in system preferences for every mac.

Looking online it doesn't seem like this is a profile option that can be pushed out.

(this used to be possible via command tool using kickstart command but this has been blocked on new OS versions)

If so could you point me to where I find it as there doesn't seem to be any documentation around how to apply the command to an ADE managed Mac.

The meraki Remote desktop Beta is a little to unreliable and lacks some feature so I'd rather use apple's remote desktop tools to support the devices.

[Arthur Dent]

Meraki Systems Manager doesn't use the inbuilt Remote Desktop capability for the client devices, as this is only available to Apple's own Remote Desktop (more about that here: https://support.apple.com/en-sg/guide/remote-desktop/welcome/Mac)

So users will still (and likely always) have to enable screen sharing (which isn't Remote Desktop) before admins will be able to remote in.

[Colin31]

Thanks for the update.

The implication from other MDM providers is that using this apple command allows screen sharing to be turned on remotely with out any end user interaction. This would save hours of time when support labs of mac's in schools by allowing the use of apple remote desktop

If this is not in the road map for implementation please could it be looked into.

[Arthur Dent]

I read this through this again, and understand the utility of being able to enable / disable Remote Desktop, not just for you, but other customers too. Therefore, I've created a feature request for you.

[kreilly]

Any update on this feature request?

[lee2]

Is there any update on this?

[artmendoza]

I'm in a school setting and have been looking for an update as well. Seems other MDM's have this possible. I'll post what support tells me.

[BlakeRichardson]

@Colin311 This is only a command, you should be able to deploy it using the shell script option in systems manager.

The command I run via Jamf is

#!/bin/sh
/System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -activate -configure -allowAccessFor -specifiedUsers
/System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -configure -allowAccessFor -allUsers -privs -all

[slopezAC]

Just a bump to see if Meraki has any plans to get this command added. They are lagging behind many other MDMs who have had this implemented for years at this point.

Hopefully they can figure this out... it really shouldn't be too complicated.

[Arthur Dent]

In the meantime, don't forget that you can either enable this via Command Line or Script capabilities in Meraki Systems Manager. Script is likely to be more robust

[louisd1]

It is not possible to enable Remote Desktop via the kickstart command since macOS 12.1 (released in 2021!) and newer. The command needs to be sent through the MDM, or done manually through the GUI...

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/remote-desktop/apd8b1c65bd/mac

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/enable_remote_desktop

[BlakeRichardson]

I disagree, Jamf Pro doesn't have this ability and Jamf has a very close relationship with Apple.

[slopezAC]

Jamf Pro does in fact have those commands and I see reference to them in JAMF forums and macadmins Slack going back at least to 2022.
Computers > Management > Management Commands > Enable Remote Desktop
Computers > Management > Management Commands > Disable Remote Desktop