Disable Apple Remote Control
Written on August 18, 2008 by Jenny Kortina and 15 people have commented
I have two computers in the same room, about five feet from one another. One is an iMac acting as a media center for playing music, videos, etc. and the other is a MacBook Pro that I use to work on. After I got the iMac hooked up and bumping my tunes, I very quickly realized that I was going to need the remote to control the volume, pause, and play. The only problem was the remote was controlling both my iMac and MacBook Pro, so I had to disable the remote on the MacBook Pro.
To disable the remote control:
- Open “System Prefences”
- Click “Security”
- Check the box “Disable remote control infrared receiver”
#1 Kap says:Actually you can “pair” your remote with a specific mac. This will allow you to use the current remote with the mac you want to control, but still allow the other mac to be controlled by other remotes. There is an apple support article here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1619
#2 Nerd says:Why not use the iPhone Remote to control as many Apples as you would like?
#3 Jenny Kortina says:@Kap: I paired it with the iMac and it was still controlling my MacBook Pro.
#4 DJFelix says:I agree with Kap. I have an Apple TV, Macbook, Macbook Pro, and an iMac at home. Each one has it’s own paired remote, and I can operate them independently.
It was the AppleTV that got me the first time. I got annoyed with FrontRow popping up on my laptop.
Having the remote paired also prevents “rogue” remotes from playing tricks on you in public. Next time you are at a starbucks, point your remote at a few unsuspecting laptops and watch the fun.
#5 David Chadderton says:Jenny, pairing stops another remote controlling a paired Mac. It doesn’t stop the remote it is paired with from controlling another Mac. To do this, pair your MacBook Pro with it’s own remote, then no other remote can operate it.
#6 Jenny Kortina says:@David: Thanks, yeah I don’t need a remote with my MacBook Pro. That’s why I did it the way I did. I just wanted to control the iMac with a remote.
#7 MacRat says:Why do you run a “Apple Blog” when you know little about how to even use a Mac?
#8 Josh Pigford says:@MacRat: This is your one and only warning…don’t come here and troll. It’s simply not welcome.
#9 dave says:With new MacBook Pro’s and the Air the remote is an option, so having the ability to turn off the IR function is quite handy if you don’t want people turning on Front Row for you.
But I’m sure the likes of MacRat are more than aware of that…
#10 Ashley Cleavin says:I need to confess. I use my remote to mess around with Macs which I see out and about. There! I said it.
#11 wes says:josh lighten up… I think macrat was simply pointing out that there is a better way to do it… and anyone of us who consider’s ourselves ‘nerds’ all had the same thought initially… limiting a function to one machine is less efficient than enabling a function on 2 machines…. what if the world is 10 seconds away from blowing up, you’re strapped to your couch with rope, and the only way to stop the bomb is to start the latest family guy through front row??
#12 wes says:on your MBP, of course…
#13 Jason Terhorst says:Even if you don’t “need” the remote for the MBP, just pair it anyway, and then stash the remote in a file cabinet - at least that way, you can still use the remote, but the remote will only control the correct computer.
Of course, that’s not to say it won’t control yet another Mac that you might have show up at some point.
David was right - that’s the better way to go. The remote function is handy to have, even if you don’t use it often; it just needs to be “paired” for security.
#14 macguru says:Disabling the infrared thing will probably save you some battery life because it no longer needs power
#15 Anonymous says:Great article. Worked perfectly for me