First login with AnyDesk

We ship every Mac mini with AnyDesk preinstalled — you can access it right away, no VPN configuration, no port forwarding, no SSH setup. Here’s what you get after ordering and how the first login works.

What we send you

2–4 hours after your order, an email arrives with:

• AnyDesk ID (9 digits, e.g. 123 456 789)
• AnyDesk password (randomly generated, transmitted securely)
• macOS user password (for logging in on the desktop)
• Public IPv4 (for SSH/VNC, in case you want that later)
• macOS version (typically the current macOS)

Plus a short note: everything is set up, AnyDesk runs as a service, the Mac is ready.

Why AnyDesk as the default

We chose AnyDesk as the shipping default because:

• Works with zero config: no firewall rule, no port forwarding, no VPN
• Cross-platform: clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
• Fast enough for interactive work (even on halfway decent DSL)
• Secure: TLS-encrypted, optional 2FA
• Free for non-commercial use, commercial license inexpensive

If you’d rather use something else: no problem, you can switch everything after the first login.

Installing the AnyDesk client

On your own computer (the one you’ll access the Mac from):

• macOS: anydesk.com/en/downloads/mac-os — DMG installer
• Windows: anydesk.com/en/downloads/windows — EXE installer
• Linux: DEB / RPM / AppImage via the download page
• iOS / iPadOS: App Store → “AnyDesk”
• Android: Google Play / F-Droid → “AnyDesk”

Installation runs through with the defaults.

Making the first connection

1. Open the AnyDesk client
2. In the input field, type the Mac’s AnyDesk ID (e.g. 123456789, no spaces)
3. Click Connect
4. Short connection setup (1–3 seconds)
5. AnyDesk asks for the password → enter the one from our email
6. You land on the Mac desktop

At first login, macOS may show the lock screen — enter the macOS user password from the email to unlock the desktop.

What you should do at first login

1. Change the macOS user password

On the Mac: System Settings → Users & Groups → Change password.

We ship with a random password that you should swap for your own right away.

2. Sign in with an Apple ID (if needed for CI/CD)

If you use the Mac for app development: System Settings → Apple ID → Sign in.

The Apple ID can be your own or one created separately for this build Mac.

3. Check for macOS updates

System Settings → General → Software Update. We ship with the current version, but something may have come out in the meantime.

For major updates (from macOS X to X+1): see Planning macOS updates.

4. Change the AnyDesk password

On the Mac, in the AnyDesk app: Settings → Security → Unattended access → Set password.

Choose your own strong password. More in Configuring AnyDesk in depth.

5. Plan a backup strategy

A Mac mini without a backup is a risk. Options:

• USB SSD directly on the Mac for Time Machine — see Time Machine on a USB SSD
• A Synology in our rack as an additional backup — see Backups to Synology

Both available to order as add-ons.

What performance to expect

AnyDesk performance depends on:

• Your internet connection (upload to us, download from us)
• The resolution of your Mac screen (the higher, the more data)
• How much is moving (still image vs. video editing)

Typical experience:

• Office / code editing: smooth even on 16 Mbit/s DSL
• Video / animation: 50+ Mbit/s needed for stutter-free display
• Latency: ~30–50 ms from within Germany — negligible for non-real-time workflows

If performance is poor: AnyDesk settings → reduce image quality, or switch to an SSH/headless workflow.

If AnyDesk doesn’t work

Plan B: via Apple Screen Sharing (VNC).

• On your Mac: Finder → Go → Connect to Server → vnc://<your-mac-ip>
• Log in with the macOS user password

Prerequisite: Apple Screen Sharing is enabled on the Mac. With us, it’s on by default for emergencies. More in Enabling Apple Screen Sharing.

Plan C: SSH for text-based tasks.

• On your Mac/Linux/Windows: ssh user@<your-mac-ip>
• Log in with the macOS user password (or with an SSH key once set up)

More in SSH and headless workflows.

Frequently asked questions

I can’t change the AnyDesk ID, right? Correct. The ID is tied to the hardware/installation. If the hardware is replaced (Mac defect), the ID changes and we send you the new one.

Can I uninstall AnyDesk? Yes, once you’ve set up another remote access (Apple Screen Sharing, Jump Desktop, etc.). We recommend keeping AnyDesk as emergency backup access, though.

Several people on the Mac at the same time? AnyDesk default: only one active connection. In the AnyDesk settings → allow multiple connections for multi-user. Handy for pair programming, but performance suffers.

What if I forget the AnyDesk password? Open a ticket with us — we’ll reset it. The safer route: use a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden).

Can I use AnyDesk on Linux without a GUI? AnyDesk on Linux needs an X server. For pure headless work: SSH is the standard.

How secure is AnyDesk? TLS-encrypted, RSA-2048 key exchange. 2FA available. No plain-text traffic. For high security requirements: prefer SSH with public-key auth.

Licensing: do I need AnyDesk Pro? For private/hobby use: Free is enough. For commercial use: AnyDesk Solo (from ~€15/month) or Standard. The license is between you and AnyDesk — we only provide the installation.

The screen resolution doesn’t match my monitor? In the AnyDesk settings → Display → adjust resolution, you can control the Mac’s resolution remotely. Or set a custom resolution on the Mac under System Settings → Displays.

What’s next

• Configuring AnyDesk in depth
• Enabling Apple Screen Sharing
• SSH and headless workflows