Starting with macOS Mojave, Back to My Mac is no longer available. Learn how to use Cloud Drive, screen sharing, and Apple Remote Desktop instead.
Check your settings and connections
On all of your computers, choose Apple () menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud and check the following settings:
- Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud with your current Apple ID. If you changed your password but didn't update it in iCloud preferences on either computer, Back to My Mac won’t connect.
- Make sure that the checkbox for Back to My Mac is selected, and review any status messages that may be shown. If Back to My Mac is selected, deselect it and select it again.
On the Mac that you're trying to connect to:
- In Energy Saver preferences, make sure that your Mac isn't set to go to sleep. Set it to either wake for network access or never go to sleep.
- If you're trying to share the screen, make sure that you set up screen sharing correctly.
- If you're trying to share files, make sure that you set up file sharing correctly.
On your AirPort Base Station or router:
- Update your base station fimware.
- Make sure that your base station is set up to use Back to My Mac.
- Turn on NAT-PMP or UPnP. If you're not using an Apple router, see the documentation that came with your router for instructions for turning on NAT-PMP or UPnP.
- Find out if your network has a multiple-NAT configuration, and update it if you need to.
- Make sure that the TCP or UDP ports used by Back to My Mac are open on your firewall. Contact your ISP if you need help confirming that these ports are open.
Update your Back to My Mac keys
- Open Keychain Access, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
- From the list of Keychains on the left, choose System.
- Click the Kind column header to sort the list by kind.
- Select all keys of the kind "Back to My Mac key.”
- Delete the selected keys. Enter your administrator password when prompted.
- Quit Keychain Access.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud. Deselect Back to My Mac.
- Restart your Mac, then
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud. Select Back to My Mac.
Contact iCloud Support
If you still can't use Back to My Mac, contact iCloud Support. Here's the information you'll need:
- Troubleshooting steps you’ve already done.
- Network setup for each computer, including the makes and models of your routers and modems.
- Any status messages that you see in iCloud preferences for Back to My Mac. If you can, take a screenshot of each message.
- Results of the traceroute you performed on each computer when you checked for a multiple-NAT configuration.
- Computer name and local hostname of each computer.