Filed under: Accessories, Apple TV, Mac 101
Mac 101: Pairing/Unpairing Apple remotes
If you're like me, then you have multiple Macs with IR sensors in the same room. What happens when you push the menu button on your Apple remote? Chances are it will launch Front Row on every Mac in the room. I had this problem until I discovered Apple remote pairing. To pair your remote with a specific Mac or Apple TV, just hold down the menu and the next (fast forward) buttons for 5 seconds making sure you're within 5 inches of the IR sensor on the device.
You can unpair a remote by going into System Preferences (Apple menu > System Preferences) and click security. From the Security System Preference pane, select the "Unpair" button at the bottom the preference pane.
Lastly, you can disable the use of remotes all together. To do this, head back to the Security System Preference pane and click the check box labeled "Disable remote control infrared receiver." This will keep rogue remotes away from your Mac.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xoviet chiK said 8:40AM on 7-24-2008
Also of note: Pairing only works when you are signed in to your admin account.
Reply
Ed said 8:47AM on 7-24-2008
Has anybody had any success pairing a Universal Remote instead of the Apple one? I have a Logitech Harmony remote controlling the Mini attached to the TV, and it always triggers the Universal Dock with the iPod in it.
I can't seem to get the Logitech to just pair with the Mini, even though it's replicating the Apple remote functions.
Reply
Sebastian said 9:28AM on 7-24-2008
Nope, doesn't work for me either, must me something inside the Apple one that the Harmony doesn't have.
Nice how to, still. I hated taking my iPod out of the dock everytime I wanted to use FrontRow, now I don't have to anymore :)
d said 9:07AM on 7-24-2008
I keep my remote paired and always have. My problem is that my iPod is in my universal dock (1st gen with circle IR receiver [not the current slit style]) plugged in next to my macbook. It's not too much of an issue because the iPod charging and battery (at least for the iPod, but the macbook is usually plugged in as well) and the dock is not connected to any speakers in this set up (it tends to travel). Whenever I use the remote to play some tunes, it also plays a random song on my iPod. I'm working on getting an iPhone (i. e. getting out of current contract) and plan on investing in the $30 dock but is someone can tell me how to turn off the IR when connected to the computer, I could save $25 and just get the 3G adapter.
Reply
Gwion Daniel said 12:13PM on 7-24-2008
I managed to pair my remote to my dock the same way as it's done to the computer a while ago, so I now have a remote each for my macbook and dock.
d said 12:47PM on 7-24-2008
Thanks!
Maxintech said 10:11AM on 7-24-2008
Excellent trick!
Reply
TheIcemanCometh said 12:22PM on 7-24-2008
I agee - I was wondering how I could do that. With an iMac and a MacBook, it was a pain when the kids wanted to watch videos or a movie with my MacBook within range. Nice!
tim said 2:03PM on 7-24-2008
Not to be "that guy," but a quick Google shows http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/18/tuaw-tip-pair-your-apple-remote-to-your-mac/ from 2006.
Perhaps TUAW needs a "Digg-like" feature that checks against reposts? And I'm glad this gives you all who didn't see it last time a chance to see it, but that doesn't mean we need a new post about it, perhaps a re-post?
Just saying...
Reply
Dave said 4:06PM on 7-24-2008
There is some difference between Scott's original post and Cory's post today. Scott references Apple articles, Cory talks about disabling the IR sensor all together.
Notwithstanding that the original post was two years. How many people will search through the archives? I think it's safe to re-post little tips like this for the new visitors to TUAW.
tim said 4:11PM on 7-24-2008
@Dave -
I'm not trying to argue with you on this, but there has also been a post about disabling the IR sensor in the past. And I'm not saying that readers should look through the past articles, I'm saying that the writers should look through them, and if they find one that covers what they are talking about, they could just "re-instate" that post, I suppose.
Perhaps a "TUAW Blast From the Past?"
David G. said 2:13PM on 7-24-2008
Lets say you thought you lost your remote and you went out and bought a new one. Now you found your old one and still have the new one too. That happened to me and I'm just wondering if there is there a way to have TWO remotes locked to one machine?
Reply
Dave said 4:08PM on 7-24-2008
I haven't tried it, but I think the pairing actually occurs on the machine side of things. So I don't think you could have two remotes for one machine, but I think you could have one remote paired to two machines.
Again, I'm not 100% certain of this.
Zimmie said 5:08PM on 7-24-2008
Remote Buddy can recognize multiple remotes independently and use them to do different things. You may want to look into that. The difficulty then would be remembering which is which.
Alex said 6:40PM on 7-24-2008
Hey everybody.... listen to this. I had bought an a iMac. It came with a remote. Then I bought and a Black iMac. It came with a remote. Then i bought an AppleTV, it of course had a remote. I had 3-remotes, and I had paired them to their respective device. This is the weird part... I then purchased a White iMac. I soon discovered that the remote for the White iMac worked the AppleTV too. This was odd, since the AppleTV was paired with the other remote. These two remotes some how had the same "IR-coding". Which I liked, because I wanted two dedicated AppleTV remotes. The other day I was playing with one of the remotes, holding down different key combos. The AppleTV flashed a pairing icon on the screen. After that, the two remotes were independent. I tried various key combos... which I think was MENU & "-". I don't remember what I did. Can anyone find out how to change the "IR-coding" for the remotes. I really want two or more remotes that are paired to my AppleTV.
Thanx,
Alex
Reply
Q-Kid-Kyle said 1:50PM on 7-28-2008
wheres the IR sensor on the new chrome iMacs? is it in the apple logo or near the iSight or where?
Reply
slightlyevolved said 1:14PM on 8-17-2008
I just put it next to the Apple logo and had the remote slightly tilted upwards. The remote is more than strong enough to hit the IR sensor no matter where it is.
In reality, you actually don't need to even have it within the five inches. I know this as the first time, even though I had it close, it still hit the Mac Mini sitting on the other desk and ended up pairing to both of them. *headdesk*