How can I control an iPad that is on a different WiFi network?

My Dad is a cognitively intact 99(!) years old in assisted living.

One thing that happens as you get older is that your fingers can’t trigger the capacitive touch sensor on the iPad, so a stylus makes it much easier for him to navigate.

I am trying out a tech-support app that allows me to control his iPad

so far, so good. I was able to find a movie he wanted to watch (Vertigo) and start it on his iPad.

Hope this helps!

[Edited by Moderator]

FYI, while the exact details are uncertain, Apple has formally announced a future capability in this regard w/ iPadOS 18.

“… To assist someone more directly, you can ask for permission to control their device remotely … “

See the announcement here; described under the section titled Share Play:

iPadOS 18 Preview - Apple

iOS/iPadOS has no facility for remote control or remote management of the device. 

The best that you can likely achieve is to use FaceTime (or other communication platform) - and literally “talk-though” a problem; if you have similar hardware, and the same version of iPadOS installed, you should be able to work through a problem step-by-step.

When using FaceTime - and both devices are using iOS/iPadOS 15.1 or later - you can quite literally share and see whatever is on screen:

Make and receive FaceTime calls on iPad - Apple Support

Share your screen in FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Apple needs to add remote support for devices with same Apple account. I have iPad, iPhone, Macbook Pro, Apple Watch & iPod {Also Airpod Pro, Magic Mouse & Magic Keyboard} (All item registers to same account) Some time I need a file that save on my iPad (not everything save on cloud - because no matter how many devices you owns Apple only give 5GB per account, That’s also something needs to be changed. I think Apple need to add 5 additional GB when you add a New device {only for main devices, not for accessories or peripherals} to your account), but I forgot it home, so I think it’s good to have remote access capability for my own devices.

jay@hotpathz wrote:

Apple removes the link and company information. Search for GoTo

GoTo Standard does not provide remote management on an iPad like the OP is requesting and is a service the costs $39/month that will not help.

They do provide a product called Resolve, but that will not help either. As it states on their website:

With GoTo Resolve, you are able to remote into Macs, PCs, and Androids, from any Mac, PC, Chromebook, Android or iOS device.

Note that the OP wants to remote into an iPad, which they do not support. Your suggestion is just not one that will help.

That is not possible.

Perhaps this would be useful.

Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

megaB96 wrote:

Hey, whats the software you use? I need to use something like this for my mother as well.

iOS 18 (arriving later this year) has remote support capabilities.

Jean-Luc Dinsdale wrote:

Jay, can you share the tech support app that you are trying out? We’re in a similar situation with an elderly relative in a home, and they would benefit from us being able to log in and quickly help out when they are having trouble navigating their iPad.

Apple SharePlay (remote access) is an iPadOS 18 feature, and that’ll be available rather soon.

kapilaktk wrote:

no matter how many devices you owns Apple only give 5GB per account

Apple sells more storage. I have hundreds of gb of photos and videos alone in my iCloud. It's like $3/month for 200 GB. I'm surprised you've gotten along this far without it. It makes everything so much smoother and I would consider it a "must have" personally.

There's another option available that allows you to remote to the iPad and actually see what the user sees, but doesn't allow you to control the device. The service isn't free, but it's very helpful to see exactly what's on the screen. You should look into "On-Demand Assist" from RealVNC.com. The user of the iPad needs to download the "server" app and run it, and the support person (who has paid to subscribe to be the "On-Demand" tech) can remotely connect and view the device.

-V

jay@hotpathz wrote:

My Dad is a cognitively intact 99(!) years old in assisted living.

One thing that happens as you get older is that your fingers can’t trigger the capacitive touch sensor on the iPad, so a stylus makes it much easier for him to navigate.

Knuckles also work with iPad.

Gloves, Apple Pencil assuming a Pencil-compatible iPad, and third-party styluses can all work here too, but that’s more parts.

If you really want remote control as did the original post here, an iMac is usually more easily workable.

Jay, can you share the tech support app that you are trying out? We’re in a similar situation with an elderly relative in a home, and they would benefit from us being able to log in and quickly help out when they are having trouble navigating their iPad.

Thanks!

Despite what others may have alluded to, there is currently no reliable way to control an ipad from any other device. I'd love for someone to prove me wrong.

Apple's "Switch Control" feature is an accessibility feature for people that cannot use a touch screen. I would highly recommend trying it on your own ipad first before assuming this is a possible solution.

The first barrier is that it's very annoying to actually use (being designed for people who cant use an ipad). The 2nd barrier would be the need for both ipads to be on the same wifi (this can of course be fixed if you've got a spare network engineer handy to set it all up for you. and stick around to fix any issues). The 3rd problem would be both devices need to be signed into the same icloud account. The 4th problem is that in my experience all of this is very very brittle in the best circumstances. Meaning it works very unreliably, if you can get it working at all.

Apple doesn't allow remote control of ipads. Personally I think it's a security feature (ipad is based on iOS, and it would be a gigantic security risk to allow someone to VNC into your phone). If you think about it, what's to stop someone else from getting your loved one to enable access and steal their banking data?

I know many people aren't going to like this and I'm not saying I agree with Apple (or disagree). It's a really tough situation to make secure and it looks like Apple is inching towards possible solutions that are lower risk.

That being said people need solutions NOW and forcing someone to use Android (or god forbid Windows) is certainly not a secure solution.

What Id probably recommend is

a) have a caretaker there you can facetime with. facetime will allow screen SHARING but afaik not screen control. if they aren't coherent enough for you to tell them to press a button or use any of the many many accessibility features themselves, I'm not sure how they can possibly be safe alone

b) use a Mac. this is fraught with many downsides, but if you can possibly put a keyboard protector on to prevent damage, you can set up screen sharing and do it that way. Mac is a far more mature platform with many reliable options for this. it's also very secure, and allows controlling the device via facetime or other options

c) if you're a network engineer, set up a VPN to get your ipad "on the same wifi" as the target ipad. should work, but also hacky and unreliable

d) if you're a hardware engineer, build a CNC using a capacitive stylus you can control remotely. tons of work, fraught with potential issues, but would be pretty dang cool

kapilaktk wrote:

Apple needs to add remote support for devices…

Best send your feedback directly to Apple: Product Feedback - Apple

You might be able to do this over FaceTime, it works on iPhones so hopefully will work with an iPad too. Share screens using Messages on iPhone - Apple Support (CA)