Apple Eliminating Back to My Mac Service in All Versions of macOS in July

Apple today announced in an updated support document that the Back to My Mac service is being eliminated from all versions of macOS on July 1, 2019.

Apple previously warned that Back to My Mac support would be eliminated in macOS Mojave, but the updated wording seems to suggest the feature will be removed from all versions of macOS rather than just macOS Mojave.

backtomymacending

As of July 1, 2019, Back to My Mac service is not available in any other version of macOS. You can use these alternatives for file access, screen sharing, and remote desktop access.

macOS Mojave has not had the Back to My Mac feature since the first developer beta launched, and Apple confirmed plans to end support for the feature in August 2018.

Back to My Mac is designed to let Mac owners connect to one Mac from another Mac for file transfers and screen sharing purposes. It lets users create a network of Mac computers with two or more Macs, but it can be complicated to set up and use, which is perhaps why Apple has decided to discontinue it.

In the support document, Apple suggests customers can access their files across all of their devices - including new machines - from iCloud Drive. Other Macs can be operated through screen sharing functionality, and Macs can be managed remotely with Apple Remote Desktop, software available from the Mac App Store for $80.

Some Back to My Mac users are sure to be unhappy with Apple's decision to sunset the feature entirely and the suggestion that users transition to Apple Remote Desktop for remote management purposes given its high price tag, but there are third-party options like TeamViewer and LogMeIn.

Popular Stories

iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:12 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...

Top Rated Comments

autrefois Avatar
88 months ago
So instead of actually fixing it, they just discontinue it. That’s the courage I like to see!
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TwoBytes Avatar
88 months ago
The news article doesn't mention Apple Remote Desktop hasn't been updated in 2 years so it's really a no go app..
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RogerWilco Avatar
88 months ago
Free storage and traffic on Apple servers? LOL -- that was so Steve Jobs. Step right up and have those credit cards ready, Eddie's Magic Services Machine needs subscription revenue!
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
atxknepp Avatar
88 months ago
I have used Back to My Mac since it was released 12 years ago. It was a technology that was ahead of it's time considering it was for the "normal" Mac user. There was not another major OS that had this technology built in that was super easy for anyone to use.

As for the people that are complaining that it never worked for them, I have nothing to say to that. Maybe it was because I always used Airport routers and all Apple devices but it has never given me problems. I use this feature daily and it will be sorely missed when it's gone.

It was the ultimate tool that allowed me to keep my server upstairs while working on it through my other devices downstairs ... or even when I wasn't even in the house. On top of all that it was free and baked right into the OS! I remember one trip when I was in Europe, had a great internet connection, and worked on my MacPro for hours doing computations that my laptop couldn't.

For all of those people who never used Back to My Mac, I feel sad that you will never know how awesome this feature was. Almost as awesome as the vaporwear that would have allowed iDevices to transfer desktops between computers and keep them synchronized and no I don't mean in a doesn't-work-like-it-should iCloud Drive sort of way.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
88 months ago
Turn off support for a free feature and tell users to go buy an out of date $80 replacement

Another hard earned bonus for Tim
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
88 months ago
Free storage and traffic on Apple servers? LOL -- that was so Steve Jobs. Step right up and have those credit cards ready, Eddie's Magic Services Machine needs subscription revenue!
You mean the same Steve Jobs that stopped offering a free email service and online storage when Apple discontinued iTools in favor of a $99/year subscription, which only came back when iCloud was launched 10 years later?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)