How do I use Apple Vision Pro with my Mac? [Answered]

Preparation Before Using Vision Pro

Apple has officially launched its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, now widely available across the United States and sparking intense online discussion. Over 200,000 units of the Apple Vision Pro have been sold, boasting advanced AI capabilities and an 8K 3D display with a 180-degree field of view.

Can you use Apple Vision Pro with your Mac? Absolutely! Apple Vision Pro seamlessly integrates with your MacBook's display through its Mac Virtual Display feature. It creates a clear, separate window within the 3D view that Vision Pro opens. One of Vision Pro's key capabilities is functioning as an external display for your Mac. However, before connecting your Mac and Vision Pro, some preparation steps are necessary.

Ensure that both devices are logged in with the same Apple ID. Your personal computer must be running the latest macOS 14, Sonoma, or any previous operating system. The Vision Pro device must be running the latest firmware. The distance between the two devices should not exceed 10 meters. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be enabled on both devices.

Ready to learn how to use Apple Vision Pro to navigate your Mac? Keep reading because this article will show you the ropes. Let's get started!

How to Connect Your Mac to Apple Vision Pro To connect your Mac to the Apple Vision Pro, follow these steps: 1. **Ensure devices are ready**: First, make sure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS, and the Apple Vision Pro device is fully charged and ready for use. 2. **Power on Apple Vision Pro**: Press and hold the power button on the device until you see the startup screen. This may take a few seconds. 3. **Open the Settings app**: On your Mac, click the Apple icon in the Dock, then choose "System Preferences." 4. **Select Bluetooth**: In the System Preferences window, find and click the "Bluetooth" option. 5. **Turn on Bluetooth**: If Bluetooth is not already on, click "Turn on Bluetooth." 6. **Search for available devices**: In the Bluetooth interface, wait for your Mac to start scanning for nearby devices. The Apple Vision Pro should appear in the device list as "Vision Pro." 7. **Pair the device**: Click the "Pair" button next to "Vision Pro." You might need to confirm the pairing request on the Apple Vision Pro device. 8. **Complete the pairing process**: Follow the instructions on both your Mac and the device's screen to finish pairing. Once successful, you'll receive a confirmation message on your Mac. 9. **Download and install drivers (if necessary)**: Depending on your macOS version, you might need to download and install any required drivers or software updates from the App Store to ensure compatibility. 10. **Start using Apple Vision Pro**: Now that your Mac is successfully connected to Apple Vision Pro, you can begin using it for work, entertainment, or other related activities. Please note that these steps are based on the assumption of a device named "Apple Vision Pro," which, at present, does not exist in Apple's product lineup. If there's a specific product or different connection procedure, refer to the official user guide or product documentation.

With Mac Virtual Display, you can see your Mac screen on an Apple Vision Pro, and the trackpad can be used to share a pointer between devices.

Before using Apple Vision Pro, you need to connect your Mac to the device (please download macOS Sonoma in advance). Then follow the automated steps below:

Step 1: With Apple Vision Pro turned on, look at your computer screen and click the “Connect” button.

Step 2. Go to Control Center > Click on the PC and Vision Pro icon > Select “MacBook.”

To disconnect a device, tap the “X” button.

The manual steps to connect your Mac to Apple Vision Pro are as follows:

Step 1: With Apple Vision Pro on, open Control Center > tap the Control Center button > press the Mac Virtual Display button > choose your “Mac.”

If you're using a MacBook, you might be able to just look at it and press the Connect button.

Step 2: Resize your Mac's screen and pull it closer or push it farther away, just as you would an app window in visionOS.

Step 3. With the cable still attached, connect the trackpad to your Mac. You can also move the cursor to the edge of your Mac's screen until it pops up in the open VisionOS app.

Step 4: Tap the “X” icon to disconnect.

Here's a video from Apple's website that can help you get a better sense of how it works:

• 00:00 A brief introduction to Apple Vision Pro
• 00:14 How to connect Vision Pro to a Mac
• 00:51 Enabling the Vision Display
• 01:57 Ending a Mac Vision Display session

Use Your Mac with Vision Pro

 

This will be a useful reference for you in using your Mac with Vision Pro; please feel free to share it with your friends!

How to share your Mac screen with a vision-impaired professional

In order to share your Mac's screen with Vision Pro, both devices must be signed in with the same Apple ID. That means that if you're using a work-issued laptop that you've probably already signed into with a managed, separate Apple ID, you might be out of luck.

If you have a MacBook Pro or Air, make sure your screen is locked and turned on. Look at your MacBook, then click “Connect.”

Alternatively, if you have a Mac Studio, iMac, or Mac Pro and the “Connect” button isn't showing, you need to start “Mac Virtual Display” from the Vision Pro control center. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Aim for the small bubble in the upper-middle of your viewfinder, and click it.

Step 2: Press the button to the right of the center (the one that looks like a switch) to open the Control Center.

Step 3: Click the button in the bottom left (the one with the Vision Pro and MacBook icons) to bring up the “Mac Virtual Display” menu.

After a moment, you'll notice that your Mac's desktop has transformed into a 3D environment. The Mac's screen will go dark.

The virtual display appears in VisionOS as another window, within a Vision Pro application. You can move it around in 3D space using the window bar at the bottom. You can also place it on the other side of the room or above a previously displayed one. To resize the window, look to the bottom of any side.

How to connect Mac accessories to Vision Pro

The best way to connect your Mac accessories to Vision Pro is by using Universal Control. The trackpad and keyboard will control your Mac. Universal Control lets you share a single keyboard, trackpad, or mouse between multiple Apple devices, so you can use your Mac's trackpad and keyboard with other VisionOS apps. If you're planning to use a Bluetooth keyboard with Vision Pro, follow these steps to enable Universal Control for use with Vision Pro:

To share pointers between VisionOS and macOS apps, Handoff must be turned on for both Vision Pro and your MacBook.

Step 2. On your Apple Vision Pro, go to Settings > General > Handoff. On your Mac, go to Settings > General > AirDrop and Handoff.

Also, you'll need to turn on “Allow your pointer and keyboard to move on any nearby iPad or Mac.” Finally, go to Settings > Display and tap Advanced.

What can you do with Vision Pro on a Mac? With Vision Pro on your Mac, you can perform various image processing and computer vision tasks. Here are some possible applications: 1. **Image Analysis**: Analyze image content to recognize objects, shapes, colors, and textures. 2. **Machine Learning**: Utilize trained models for image classification, object detection, and image recognition. 3. **Optical Character Recognition (OCR)**: Convert text from scanned documents or images into editable and searchable data. 4. **Video Processing**: Process live video streams, extract frame information, and perform motion analysis or event detection. 5. **Medical Image Analysis**: Assist in analyzing medical imagery such as CT scans, MRIs, or X-rays. 6. **Quality Control**: Automatically inspect products for defects in manufacturing to ensure quality. 7. **Automation**: Create scripts or applications to automate repetitive image processing tasks. 8. **Augmented Reality**: Integrate with AR technology to blend virtual information with the real world. 9. **Image Correction & Enhancement**: Adjust exposure, contrast, color balance, or remove image noise. 10. **Image Segmentation**: Divide images into distinct regions or objects for further analysis. Vision Pro offers a robust suite of tools and algorithms that enable developers and researchers to build customized image processing solutions. Whether you're a professional developer or an enthusiast, you'll find features tailored to your needs.

Apple Vision is expected to be available for purchase on February 2, 2024, with pre-orders beginning on January 19. The much-anticipated Vision Pro features include:

• ⭐ User-centered interface.
• ⭐ Captivating gaze-tracking technology.
• ⭐ Intuitive gesture controls.
• ⭐ Immersive entertainment experience.
• ⭐ Multi-dimensional gameplay.

The cheapest model, the Vision Pro, goes for $3,500 with 256 gigabytes of storage.

The connection between Mac and Vision Pro offers these great features:

Mirror Vision Pro for Mac

Apple Vision Pro supports screen mirroring via FaceTime or AirPlay. While wearing Vision Pro, you can choose a Mac from the VisionOS Control Center to mirror the contents of the headset, allowing you to share your point of view with others, reducing feelings of isolation.

Create a virtual desktop

For the Mac, a key feature of Apple Vision Pro is the Mac Virtual Display. It leverages AirPlay 2 to wirelessly connect your Mac to the headset, allowing you to view your computer within Vision Pro. It enables you to place and adjust a virtual representation of your Mac screen in space, effectively using the Vision Pro as a high-resolution 4K display.

Connect Mac accessories

In addition to connecting to Mac peripherals like the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad wirelessly for more conventional sensory input, the Vision Pro has an emulated keyboard for use within virtual environments. Because the Vision Pro replaces your Mac's screen, standard Mac operations can be performed by connecting Bluetooth devices.

If you accidentally delete important files while using Vision Pro, consider using the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac tool to quickly retrieve them. This is a powerful Mac data recovery software designed for various data loss scenarios, such as virus attacks, formatting, accidental file deletion, system crashes, and more. Download this top-rated data recovery tool right away!

Conclusions

Currently, Mac Virtual Display supports only a single display. If your Mac is connected to multiple displays, the Mac Virtual Display option for Vision Pro appears only on the main screen. To change the main screen, you need to access your Mac's system settings.

Despite these limitations, you can easily work with your Mac in the Vision Pro. One great way is to use screen sharing to apply your Mac's keyboard and trackpad to the headset, allowing you to arrange many of your Mac's Vision Pro-compatible apps around an expanded desktop display.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Using Vision Pro with a Mac

Here are some of the best:

1. Can macOS Sonoma connect to Apple Vision Pro?

Any Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma or later can be used with the Mac Virtual Screen. Make sure your Mac and your Apple Vision Pro are both functioning properly. Ensure that two-factor authentication is enabled for your account, and use the same Apple ID to log in on both devices. Enable the iCloud Keychain feature on both devices.

2. How do I disconnect my Mac from Apple Vision Pro?

To disconnect your Mac from Apple Vision Pro, go to System Settings > General > Shut Down. Then, drag the slider.

What can I do with Vision Pro for Mac?

With Vision Pro and a Mac, you can create a virtual desktop. For the Mac, the key feature of Apple Vision Pro is AirPlay 2, which lets you wirelessly connect your Mac to the headset without having to explicitly operate your computer through the Vision Pro.