Pairing your Apple Remote with your computer
Summary
If you have several MacBook Pro, iMac G5 (iSight), or Intel-based Apple computers that support the Apple remote, or other devices with integrated infrared ("IR") receivers in one room, you can "pair" your Apple Remote with a specific Apple computer so it doesn't interfere with other Apple computers or IR devices nearby. (For example, maybe you have one or more iMac G5 (iSight) computers and a remote-controlled TV in the same room.)
Pairing allows you to set the receiving computer so that it can only be controlled by one remote. Here's how to pair your Apple Remote:
Products Affected
Portable Computers, Desktop Computers
Pairing your remote with your Mac
- Log in as an Admin user.
- Get extra close to your Mac (about 3 or 4 inches away).
- Point the remote at the infrared sensor on the front of your Mac. See your User Manual for details on specific locations.
- Press and hold the Menu and Next/Fast-forward buttons simultaneously on the remote for 5 seconds.
Your Apple Remote is now paired with your computer. You should see a chain-link style lock appear in the center of your screen for a moment.
To delete a pairing between the remote and your Mac, open System Preferences, click Security, and then click Unpair in the Security pane. (You may have to enter your Administrator password to make changes in the Security pane.)
Turning off infrared reception
You can use the Security pane in System Preferences to turn the infrared ("IR") reception on your Mac off (or back on). To do this:
- From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
- Click Security to display the pane.
- Select the "Disable remote control infrared receiver" checkbox.