Installing the server

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This section describes how to install the TextureMind Desktop (TMD) server on macOS systems. The installation is simple and performed via a provided install script.

Supported macOS Versions and Hardware

Minimum macOS version: macOS 11 (Big Sur)
Audio capture support: macOS 13 (Ventura) or later
Architecture: Apple Silicon (arm64) only (Intel macOS is not supported)

Important: macOS requires that a user session be logged in interactively (locally) before TMD can accept remote connections. Remote connections at the login screen are not possible on macOS.

Downloading the Server Package

Visit the TMD download page: https://www.texturemind.com/tmd/download/
Download the latest macOS server package: TMDServer2025.1.0-MacOS-arm64.zip (Replace 2025.1.0 with the current version if different.)

Extracting and Installing

Unzip the downloaded package: unzip TMDServer2025.1.0-MacOS-arm64.zip. You should see a content like this:
Change into the extracted directory:

cd TMDServer2025.1.0-MacOS-arm64
Run the installation script with elevated privileges:

sudo ./install-tmdserver.sh

This installs TMD Server components in system locations and configures them to start automatically. You should see something like this:

Verifying Server Startup

After installation, verify that the TMD agent process is running:

sudo launchctl list | grep com.tmdserver

If the agent is listed, the server is running correctly.

Configuring macOS System Permissions

macOS security requires that applications interacting with the user interface (screen capture and input injection) be granted explicit permissions. You must grant the TMD agent the required permissions manually:

1. Open System Settings

Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security.

2. Grant Accessibility Permission

Select Accessibility.
Click + and add: /Library/TMDServer/tmdagent
Ensure the switch next to it is enabled.

3. Grant Screen & System Audio Recording Permission

Select Screen & System Audio Recording.
Click + and add: /Library/TMDServer/tmdagent
Ensure the switch is enabled.

These permissions allow TMD to capture the screen and interact with user input as required for remote desktop functionality.

Handling First-Run Prompts

When TMD first runs after installation, macOS may display permission prompts (e.g., “TMD Agent would like to record the screen”).

If prompted, open System Settings as directed and manually enable the required permissions.
If a permission is denied, macOS adds a disabled entry, you must re-enable it manually.
If the agent is not started automatically, it will be relaunched by the system after a logout/login cycle.

macOS Login Requirement

TextureMind Desktop on macOS cannot create a remote session at the system login screen. A user must be physically logged in locally for remote access to function.

To minimize the need for frequent physical logins:

Disable automatic logout due to inactivity in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
Configure power settings to prevent sleep or display sleep while the system is acting as a remote desktop host.

These measures help keep the logged-in user session active and available for remote connections.

Summary

To successfully install and configure TMD Server on macOS:

Download and unzip the macOS server package.
Run the included install script with sudo.
Grant Accessibility and Screen & System Audio Recording permissions to the TMD agent.
Ensure a local user is logged in before attempting remote connections.
Adjust sleep and session settings to prevent unintended logouts.

Once completed, the TMD server is ready to accept remote client connections.