Control Mac Volume From Your iPhone
Published 2026-09-26 · Updated 2026-10-01
You can control your Mac’s volume from your iPhone when music is playing on the computer across the room or you want to mute before a call starts on the Mac side. Poket PC does this with media-key tiles on the Deck — not by sliding a fake menu bar on the mirrored screen.
Tiles send volume up, volume down, mute, play/pause, next, and previous as the same system key events a Mac keyboard’s media keys produce. They work on the same encrypted connection as Screen and Trackpad.
Set up
Pair your iPhone with the Mac helper first (How to Control Your Mac From Your iPhone). The helper needs Accessibility so key events reach macOS. Screen Recording is only required for the live screen view.
Install the helper from /mac/. Join the public TestFlight beta for the iPhone app via /beta/.
Default media tiles
The default Deck in 1.0 includes:
| Tile | Action |
|---|---|
| Play/Pause | Toggle playback |
| Previous | Previous track or item |
| Next | Next track or item |
| Vol − | Volume down |
| Vol + | Volume up |
| Mute | Mute or unmute output |
Brightness + and Brightness − are tiles you can add when you edit the deck. System tiles such as Lock and Mission Control sit alongside the media tiles, and Sleep is one you can add.
How to change volume from the iPhone
- Open Poket PC. It connects to your paired Mac on its own.
- Tap Deck in the switcher.
- Tap Vol + or Vol − as needed, or Mute to silence output.
If nothing changes, make sure audio is playing on the Mac (or the system volume is not already at a limit) and that the session is still connected: the tiles dim while the app is not connected. The helper also needs Accessibility to send key events.
Music apps and honesty
- The tiles post the same key events as the media keys on a Mac keyboard. An app that answers those keys on your Mac answers the tiles, and an app that ignores them ignores the tiles too.
- Vol +, Vol − and Mute change the Mac’s system output level, not one app’s own volume.
- Per-app volume, such as a slider inside a browser tab or a music app, needs a tap on Screen.
For app-specific work beyond media keys, tap the app on Screen, or describe the task to Ask and let the assistant do it on the Mac.
What volume tiles are not
- They are not a remote for AirPlay speakers attached to the iPhone.
- They do not stream Mac audio to the phone (host audio is planned for a later milestone).
- They do not replace modifier-key shortcuts in pro audio tools (arrow keys and Command shortcuts are not sent from the keyboard in 1.0).
Away from home
Volume tiles use the same LAN-or-relay path as other controls. No port forwarding is required; see Remote Access Without Port Forwarding.
To secure the Mac when you leave, use the Lock tile — Lock Your Mac From Your iPhone.
Customize the Deck for music
Tap Edit at the top of the Deck. The + button adds tiles from a short list: Brightness +, Brightness −, Sleep, Screensaver, Show Desktop, and a Notes launcher. In Edit mode, the minus badge removes a tile you don’t use, so the media tiles you keep are easier to hit, and Reset brings back the default deck. Tap Done to go back to running tiles; tiles never fire while you edit.
In 1.0 the editor adds tiles only from that list and does not reorder them, and it has no tile for other apps or for macOS Shortcuts. The default deck already has a Music tile beside the media tiles.
If a game or pro audio app ignores media keys, fall back to Screen for its on-screen sliders.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control MacBook volume from my iPhone?
Yes. Use the Vol +, Vol −, and Mute tiles on the Deck. They send the same volume keys as a Mac keyboard.
Do the volume keys control Spotify or Apple Music?
Vol +, Vol − and Mute change the Mac's system volume. Play/Pause, Next and Previous go wherever a Mac keyboard's media keys would. For anything else inside an app, tap it on Screen or use Ask.
Can I play and pause from the Deck?
Yes. Default tiles include Play/Pause, Previous, and Next.
Does this stream Mac audio to the iPhone?
No. Version 1.0 does not send host audio over remote desktop. You are sending key commands, not hearing the Mac's speakers on the phone.
Do volume tiles work over cellular?
Yes, when connected through the relay after pairing.