Control a Mac Connected to a TV From Your iPhone
Published 2026-09-26 · Updated 2026-10-05
You can control a Mac connected to a TV from your iPhone by pairing Poket PC once, then using Trackpad and action tiles from the couch and opening live screen only when the TV text is too small to guess.
Couch deck config
The default deck already fits living-room use:
| Tile | Why on the couch |
|---|---|
| Music or Safari | Launch the app on the Mac driving the TV |
| Play/Pause, Previous, Next | The same as the Mac’s own media keys |
| Vol −, Vol +, Mute | The Mac’s volume, as its volume keys set it |
| Mission Control | Jump between full-screen apps |
| Lock | Locks the Mac. The phone cannot unlock it, so use it only if you can unlock the Mac another way |
Tap Edit, then +, to add Sleep, Screensaver, Show Desktop, Brightness +, Brightness −, or Notes. Remove the tiles you don’t use. The 1.0 deck has no tile for a macOS Shortcut or for other apps. Full tile kinds are on action tiles.
Typical session flow
- Make sure the Mac is awake and logged in. Poket PC cannot wake a sleeping Mac or unlock a locked one.
- Open Trackpad on the iPhone: a large pad under the mode switcher, with pointer speed adjustable in Settings for ten-foot UI.
- Launch content with a tile, or tap on the TV image in Screen. Screen shows the Mac’s main display only, so if the TV is a second display, you see the other screen. It runs at 30 fps, on the same Wi-Fi or through the relay.
- Tap Type for search text. It sends text plus Return and Delete only; no Cmd shortcuts yet.
- When you are done, disconnect. Leave the Mac unlocked if you want to reach it from the phone again.
Network
The Mac and phone can be on the same Wi-Fi for lowest latency. If you are away but the Mac stays on at home, works anywhere uses the relay without port forwarding.
Audio
Host audio through the remote session is not shipped in 1.0 (planned). You hear audio from the TV or soundbar connected to the Mac, not in the Poket PC app.
Pairing and apps
Install the helper from Mac, get the iPhone app from the public TestFlight beta on beta (version 1.0 is in App Review, not on the App Store yet), and pair with the QR code and the six-digit code. Guide: control Mac from iPhone.
Related setup
A Mac mini behind the TV shares the same pattern; see headless Mac mini for the login-item and permission checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control a Mac hooked up to a TV from my iPhone?
Yes. Pair Poket PC on the Mac and iPhone, then use Trackpad for pointer work, tiles for playback and volume, and Screen when you need to read the UI.
Can I control a Mac with Apple TV?
No. Poket PC controls a Mac over the network, not an Apple TV. If a Mac is what's plugged into the TV, Poket PC controls that Mac.
Do I need to mirror the Mac screen to the iPhone the whole time?
No. Trackpad and the Deck work without Screen open. Open Screen for dense settings pages or small text.
Will video audio play on the TV?
Sound plays wherever the Mac sends it, such as the TV. Poket PC 1.0 does not stream the Mac's audio to the iPhone.
Is the couch remote setup free?
Version 1.0 is free with no ads and no in-app purchases.