This article explains what end users must do on their Mac after you deploy the RustDesk Remote Desktop policy via Swif.ai.
Once the policy and RustDesk client are deployed to the target macOS device, the Mac user needs to grant two system permissions so remote sessions can work correctly.
1. Required macOS permissions
After policy deployment and RustDesk installation, the target device must enable:
Screen Recording – Required
Accessibility – Required (requested automatically on first viewer connection)
Without these, the admin can still “Connect” from Swif.ai, but RustDesk will not be able to view or control the screen properly.
2. Enabling Screen Recording (Required)
Screen Recording allows RustDesk to capture and stream the Mac’s display to the remote viewer.
On the target Mac:
Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
Go to Privacy & Security.
Scroll to the Screen Recording section.
Find RustDesk in the list.
Turn On the toggle (or check the box) for RustDesk.
If prompted, quit and reopen RustDesk so the change takes effect.
If RustDesk is not visible in the list yet:
Start RustDesk once, or
Let a viewer attempt to connect from Swif.ai; macOS will then prompt to allow Screen Recording, and RustDesk will appear in this list.
3. Enabling Accessibility (Required)
Accessibility access is needed for remote keyboard and mouse control.
On the target Mac, when the viewer first connects from Swif.ai:
macOS will show a prompt asking to allow RustDesk to control the computer.
Click Open System Settings (or Open System Preferences).
In Privacy & Security → Accessibility:
Find RustDesk in the list.
Turn On the toggle (or check the box).
If required, click the lock icon to authenticate with an admin account before changing the setting.
If no prompt appears:
Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Manually enable RustDesk.
Restart RustDesk and try the connection again from Swif.ai.
4. What the admin sees in Swif.ai
Once:
The RustDesk policy is configured for the Mac, and
Both Screen Recording and Accessibility are enabled by the Mac user,
then in Swif.ai on the device details page:
Under Remote Desktop, select RustDesk from the provider dropdown.
Status will show Configured.
The action button will show Connect, which calls the backend endpoint to fetch the Connection ID and Password as per ST-5831.
If the Mac user has not yet enabled these permissions, RustDesk may open but show a black screen or fail to control input until permissions are granted.