Disable Apple Remote: Turn Off IR Receiver on Mac

To disable the Apple Remote on a Mac, you turn off the built-in infrared (IR) receiver in System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). This stops the remote from waking the Mac, adjusting volume, or controlling Front Row and other media apps. The setting is straightforward, but the exact steps and what you lose depend on your macOS version and Mac model.

Why You Might Want to Disable It

The Apple Remote (the small white or aluminum remote) communicates with your Mac via an infrared signal. It was designed for Front Row, iTunes, and later for controlling media playback. Many users disable the receiver because:

• The remote is lost or no longer used, and they don’t want stray signals (from a TV remote, for example) to trigger actions.
• The Mac is in a shared space, and someone else’s Apple Remote controls it.
• They use a different remote or a keyboard shortcut and find the IR receiver unnecessary.
• They want to prevent the Mac from waking from sleep when a remote button is pressed.

Disabling the receiver does not affect Bluetooth remotes, the Apple TV Remote app, or the keyboard’s media keys. It only disables the physical IR port.

How to Disable the Apple Remote (macOS Ventura and Later)

On macOS Ventura (13) and newer, the setting is in System Settings:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu (or Spotlight).
2. Click General in the sidebar.
3. Click Sharing (or scroll down to find it).
4. Look for Media Sharing — it’s a separate row, not a toggle.
5. Click the i button next to Media Sharing.
6. Uncheck Allow remote control (or set it to “Off�).

That’s it. The IR receiver is now disabled. You can re-enable it by checking the box again.

How to Disable on Older macOS (Monterey and Earlier)

On macOS Monterey (12) and earlier, the path is slightly different:

1. Open System Preferences from the Apple menu.
2. Click Security & Privacy.
3. Click the Privacy tab.
4. Scroll down and select Accessibility (or sometimes “Remote Control� appears directly).
5. Uncheck Enable remote control (or “Allow remote control�).

Note: In some versions, the setting is under Security & Privacy → General tab → Allow remote control. If you don’t see it, search for “remoteâ€� in System Preferences search bar.

What Happens When You Disable It

Disabling the IR receiver has these effects:

• The Apple Remote will not wake the Mac from sleep.
• Remote buttons (play/pause, volume, menu) will not control Front Row, iTunes, or other media apps.
• The remote will not be able to pair or unpair with the Mac.
• You can still use the remote with an Apple TV or other IR devices — the Mac is simply ignoring it.

It’s important to know that the setting is global: you can’t disable only certain buttons. It’s all or nothing.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

“My Mac still responds to the remote after disabling.� This usually happens because the setting was not applied correctly, or the Mac has a Bluetooth remote (Apple Remote is IR only). Also, some third-party apps (like Remote Buddy) can override the system setting. Check if you have any remote-control apps running.

“Disabling the receiver saves battery.â€� The IR receiver draws negligible power. You won’t notice any battery life change. The main benefit is preventing accidental actions.

“I can’t find the setting at all.â€� Some Mac models (especially newer ones) may not have an IR receiver at all. Apple removed the IR port from most Macs starting around 2012–2013. If you have a MacBook Pro from 2012 or later, it likely doesn’t have the hardware, so the setting is absent. Check your Mac’s specs if unsure.

How to Re-enable It

To turn the receiver back on, simply follow the same steps and check the box again. No restart is required. The change takes effect immediately.

If you disabled it to stop a lost remote from controlling your Mac, but you later find the remote, you can re-enable and re-pair it (hold the Menu and Next buttons together for 5 seconds to pair).

Alternatives to Disabling

If you don’t want to fully disable the remote, consider these options:

• Unpair the remote: Hold the remote near the Mac, press and hold Menu and Next for 5 seconds to pair, then immediately hold Menu and Previous for 5 seconds to unpair. This stops the remote from controlling the Mac but leaves the receiver on.
• Use a different remote app: The Apple TV Remote app on iPhone/iPad works over Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and is not affected by this setting.
• Set the Mac to not wake on remote: In Energy Saver settings, you can disable “Wake for network accessâ€� but that doesn’t affect IR. The only way to stop IR wake is to disable the receiver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will disabling the Apple Remote affect my Apple TV Remote app?
No. The Apple TV Remote app uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, not IR. It will still work.

Q: My Mac doesn’t have the “Allow remote controlâ€� option. Why?
Your Mac likely doesn’t have an IR receiver. Apple stopped including IR receivers in most Macs around 2012. You can check by looking for a small dark oval window on the front edge (older Macs) or by checking System Information under “Hardwareâ€� → “Apple Remoteâ€�.

Q: Can I disable the remote on a Mac mini or iMac?
Yes, if the model has an IR receiver (most 2011 and earlier models do). The steps are the same.

Q: Does disabling the remote stop the Mac from waking from sleep via the remote?
Yes, that’s one of the main effects. The remote will not wake the Mac.

Q: I have a third-party remote that uses IR. Will it be blocked too?
Yes, any IR signal sent to the Mac’s receiver will be ignored when the receiver is disabled. If you need to use a third-party IR remote, keep the receiver enabled.

Q: Is there a terminal command to disable the remote?
Yes, you can use sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.RemoteDisk.plist DisableRemoteDisk -bool true but that’s for Remote Disk, not the IR receiver. There is no official terminal command for the IR receiver setting; the GUI method is the reliable way.

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