Is it possible to have reliable remote CLI access to macOS (e.g., from iPad)? If so, how?

Question

Level 1

9 points

Is it possible to have reliable remote CLI access to macOS (e.g., from iPad)? If so, how?

In general, how do I avoid pop-ups when remotely running CLI commands on macOS? I am trying out use of an iPad Pro 13 with Magic Keyboard, and running Terminus to a mac mini M4 pro with macOS 26.1. This doesn’t work reliably for me because CLI tools on macOS randomly pop-up GUI confirmation and other UI that breaks remote access (examples: chromedriver updates, command-line tools updates, codex updates). I’ve never had this experience on Linux.

Is it possible to use macOS remotely, reliably, from a CLI?

Mac mini, macOS 26.0

Posted on Nov 23, 2025 11:49 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 23, 2025 12:01 PM in response to JPRT

If you stay with shell commands, and aren’t trying to access the GUI realm, yes, this works.

macOS security puts a wall between background and shell activity, and the GUI.

If you want to access into the GUI realm, you’ll want to install a VNC/RDP client for the iPad, and enable screen sharing on the Mac.

If you are seeking remote management for app updates and such, there are ways to do that, too.

Reply

Answer 2

etresoft

Level 9

56,212 points

Nov 23, 2025 12:47 PM in response to JPRT

JPRT wrote:

I’ve never had this experience on Linux.

macOS is not Linux.

Is it possible to use macOS remotely, reliably, from a CLI?

Sure. But then you can't use any UI features. So if you want to update the command line tools, you have to run "softwareupdate" from the command line. For 3rd party apps like chromedriver, you'll have to contact the developer. I'm not sure what you mean by "codex". That's a generic term.

Reply

Answer 3

BobHarris

Level 9

56,783 points

Nov 23, 2025 1:12 PM in response to JPRT

I live in a terminal emulator on my Mac. I almost NEVER have GUI pop-ups. So I am assuming you are using commands and utilities that are more GUI than command line oriented.

You would have to talk to your 3rd party command provider.

Chromedriver sounds like a Google offering. Codex might be a coding AI, which would be very young and going through growing pains.

Anyway, talk to your command provider(s) about the GUI prompts.

Do you use these commands with Linux?

And as has been mentioned, macOS is not a Linux derivative. Its origins are Carnegie Mellon MACH kernel and FreeBSD api’s and utilities, or at least that is how it started back in 2000. Also the Free Software Foundation prohibits Apple from distributing their command line tools and utilities, so many of the commands you may like on Linux, are from a totally different set of code sources, with differences, or are not available from Apple. You can use Homebrew to add these commands and utilities if you want the Linux flavor.

Reply