Comments on: Disable Apple Remote Control

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:43:25 +0000

Great article. Worked perfectly for me

By: macguru

macguru — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:06:09 +0000

Disabling the infrared thing will probably save you some battery life because it no longer needs power

By: Jason Terhorst

Jason Terhorst — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:07:05 +0000

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.

By: wes

wes — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:31:23 +0000

on your MBP, of course…

By: wes

wes — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:30:24 +0000

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??

By: Ashley Cleavin

Ashley Cleavin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:13:03 +0000

I need to confess. I use my remote to mess around with Macs which I see out and about. There! I said it.

By: dave

dave — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:03:15 +0000

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…

By: Josh Pigford

Josh Pigford — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:44:57 +0000

@MacRat: This is your one and only warning…don’t come here and troll. It’s simply not welcome.

By: MacRat

MacRat — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:09:10 +0000

Why do you run a “Apple Blog” when you know little about how to even use a Mac?

By: Jenny Kortina

Jenny Kortina — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:53:49 +0000

@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.

By: David Chadderton

David Chadderton — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:18:58 +0000

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.

By: DJFelix

DJFelix — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:14:32 +0000

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.

By: Jenny Kortina

Jenny Kortina — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:14:28 +0000

@Kap: I paired it with the iMac and it was still controlling my MacBook Pro.

By: Nerd

Nerd — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:43:48 +0000

Why not use the iPhone Remote to control as many Apples as you would like?

By: Kap

Kap — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:30:09 +0000

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