Access Your Mac Remotely From Anywhere
Published 2026-09-26 · Updated 2026-10-11
You can access your Mac from your iPhone when you are in another room, on cellular data, or traveling — as long as you paired the phone once while the Mac was in front of you. Poket PC picks the best path automatically: a direct connection on the same local network, or the relay when you are not at home. You do not open router ports, run a VPN, or create an account.
This guide explains that path after setup. For install and pairing, start with How to Control Your Mac From Your iPhone. Install the helper from /mac/.
What “remote access” means here
With Poket PC you get:
- Live screen (H.264 at 30 fps, main display, long edge up to 1600 px)
- Trackpad and keyboard input
- Deck tiles (apps, media keys, lock, Mission Control, and more)
- Ask tasks that keep running on the Mac after you disconnect
You do not get lock-screen unlock, multi-monitor picking, file transfer, or clipboard sync in version 1.0 (those are planned or not on the roadmap yet).
Step 1: Pair while you are at the Mac
Remote access only works for phones you already trust:
- Install the Poket PC helper on the Mac and complete Accessibility and Screen Recording (see the permissions help for exact paths).
- Menu-bar icon → Pair New Device. On the iPhone, tap Pair your computer (or the QR icon at the top right), then Scan QR code, and scan the code on the Mac.
- Compare the six-digit code on both screens, then tap Codes match — Pair on the iPhone.
The code is bound into the Noise IK handshake. The window is single-use, closes after 120 seconds, and closes after three wrong codes.
Step 2: Leave the helper running
The Mac helper must be running (menu-bar icon visible). For access after restarts, turn on Open Poket PC when I log in during setup, or Launch at login in the helper’s menu. If macOS holds the login item for approval, allow Poket PC in System Settings › General › Login Items.
The Mac should stay awake and logged in. Sleep may drop the session; there is no control through the lock screen.
Step 3: Connect from the iPhone
Open Poket PC on your iPhone. It connects to your paired Mac on its own: directly when it finds the Mac on the local network, through the relay otherwise, and it switches when your network changes. The card at the top shows which path you are on, Same Wi‑Fi (direct) or Anywhere (relay). You do not choose “LAN” or “remote” manually.
How the relay fits in
Same Wi-Fi: iPhone ←——direct——→ Mac helper
Away from home: iPhone ←——E2E encrypted——→ relay ←——E2E encrypted——→ Mac helper
The relay matches two connections that present the same rendezvous token and copies bytes. It does not hold session keys, so it cannot read your screen or keystrokes. It can see metadata: the rendezvous token, timing, sizes, and IP addresses. Read more on /security/.
Revoke access instantly
Every paired device appears on the Mac. Open the helper’s menu and click Revoke next to the phone under Paired devices; its live session ends at once, not only future connections.
When the iPhone cannot find the Mac
Check that the Mac is awake, the helper is running, and networking is up. On the same Wi-Fi, the iPhone also needs Local Network access for Poket PC; the app’s Devices screen says so when it is off. Walk through iPhone can’t find Mac. Pairing problems have their own page at /help/pairing/.
Compared with VPN or port forwarding
| Approach | You configure | Poket PC |
|---|---|---|
| Port forwarding | Router, public IP risks | Not used |
| VPN to home LAN | VPN server on network | Not required |
| Poket PC relay | Pair once | Automatic when the Mac is not on your local network |
A deeper comparison is in Remote Access Without Port Forwarding.
Beta and pricing
Version 1.0 is free, with no ads and no in-app purchases. The iPhone app is in public TestFlight beta, and its App Store release is in review; see /beta/. A Pro plan is planned for version 1.1 and is not on sale yet. The Android app is free on Google Play and reaches your Mac the same way; see /android/.
For unattended setups (Mac mini, login items, sleep), see Unattended Access on Your Mac — including limits on awake, logged-in access.
Frequently asked questions
Can I access my Mac when I am not on the same Wi-Fi?
Yes, after you pair once. Poket PC connects directly on the same network and through its relay when you are away. The relay forwards encrypted data it cannot read.
Do I need to open ports on my router?
No. Poket PC does not use port forwarding or a VPN.
Is remote access encrypted?
Yes. Sessions use Noise IK with ChaCha20-Poly1305 between your iPhone and your Mac. The relay only matches connections and copies ciphertext.
Can someone remotely access my Mac without pairing?
No. Only devices you paired with QR and a matching six-digit code can connect. Revoke a device from the Mac menu bar to end its session immediately.
Does the Mac need to stay awake?
Yes for live control. The Mac must be powered on, awake, and logged in. Poket PC does not offer lock-screen access.