From your first connection
to your Mac, anywhere.

Make your first connection

Set this up while you are still with your Mac, before heading out.

1. Open Link on both devices

   Prepare itssle Link on your Mac and iPhone or iPad. Start on the same Wi-Fi for your first connection. Keep the Mac powered on and awake.

2. Select and pair your Mac

   Open the new-device connection flow on the Mac. Select that Mac on your iPhone or iPad, or scan its QR code. Check the device names before approving. Do not approve requests you do not recognize.

3. Allow the features you need

   Check Permissions in the Mac app and Privacy & Security in macOS System Settings. Screen viewing needs Screen Recording; keyboard and pointer control need Accessibility. System permissions and approval for each paired device are separate.

4. Check the actual result

   Turn on Direct Link on the Mac and tap Connect on the mobile device. Check that the Mac screen appears and that pointer movement and clicks work in control mode. A ready status alone is not a screen-and-input test.

Choose a connection method

Open Remote access → Connection method on your iPhone or iPad. Automatic is recommended when moving between home and other networks.

• Automatic · recommended

  Starts checking available wired (USB/LAN), Wi-Fi and external Tailscale routes in that order. Link also rechecks its connection ports when needed. This setting does not install or sign in to Tailscale for you.

• Wi-Fi · local network only

  Uses the local Wi-Fi route only. If you fix this setting to Wi-Fi, switching to cellular does not automatically switch Link to Tailscale.

• External (Tailscale) · external route only

  Uses your configured Tailscale route only. You can select it at home to test that route. It does not fall back to a local route.

• Wired (USB/LAN) · wired route only

  Requires a wired network path available to the app. A USB cable and wired Ethernet are not the same thing. Plugging in a charging cable alone does not guarantee a remote connection.

Connect away from home

Reach your Mac from café Wi-Fi or iPhone cellular. Tailscale provides the network path between your devices; itssle Link uses it to deliver your screen and files.

1. Get your Mac ready

   Complete pairing and test remote control first. Leave the Mac powered on, online and awake, with itssle Link and Direct Link running. Tailscale does not wake a sleeping Mac for you.

2. Install Tailscale on the Mac

   Use the official macOS guide below. Open Tailscale, sign in and complete its setup prompts, including VPN configuration. Depending on the installation variant, you may also need to approve a network extension.

3. Install it on iPhone or iPad too

   Open Tailscale from the App Store and allow its VPN configuration. For your own devices, signing in with the same account used on the Mac is the simplest setup. Check that both devices belong to the same Tailscale network, called a tailnet, and are connected.

4. Set Link to Automatic

   In the mobile app, open Remote access → Connection method and select Automatic. Select External (Tailscale) if you want to test only the external route. Do not leave it fixed to Wi-Fi.

5. Check the Mac address if needed

   In Tailscale’s device list, select the destination Mac and copy its 100.x address or full *.ts.net name—not the phone or tablet’s own address. In Link, open Remote access → Tailscale address → Review and change address, paste it and run the secure connection check. An address alone lets Link check its service ports. It reuses the address only after authenticating that Mac.

6. Test before leaving home

   On iPhone, turn off Wi-Fi and check cellular access. Confirm Tailscale is connected, return to Link and tap Connect. For a Wi-Fi-only iPad, use a different Wi-Fi network or personal hotspot. Check the actual screen and clicks, and confirm that connection information reports External (Tailscale).

Troubleshoot in this order

Check these before reinstalling or resetting your pairing. One status message alone cannot tell you that the Mac is switched off.

• Works on Wi-Fi, but not cellular

  First check that Connection method is Automatic or External (Tailscale). Check cellular data permission and Tailscale on both devices, then reconnect in Link.

• A network connection is needed

  Check Wi-Fi or cellular on the mobile device. For external access, also test the internet in a browser. Café or hotel Wi-Fi may require a login page first. If the internet already works, return to Link and retry instead of repeatedly opening Wi-Fi settings.

• Checking local network / external route

  Link is looking for a path. Let the attempt finish instead of tapping repeatedly. If it keeps cycling, check the connection method, Direct Link on the Mac and Tailscale, then reconnect.

• No response from the Mac

  Check that the Mac app is running and Direct Link is on. Away from home, review or change the saved Mac Tailscale address. Once the network is available, pull down on Link’s home screen to refresh or tap Reconnect.

• Tailscale immediately disconnects

  Check that VPN On Demand is not set to Never for the current Wi-Fi or cellular interface. Another VPN can also change automatic connection behavior. For managed VPNs or access policies, ask your administrator rather than disabling protection.

• Tailscale is connected, but the Mac is unavailable

  Check the selected tailnet and any requests to sign in again or approve a device. The Link app and per-device access must also be enabled on the Mac. Ask your administrator about organization access rules or firewall restrictions affecting Link between these devices.

View and control your screen

Choose your connection settings in Remote access. Once connected, use the top HUD for view/control and display options.

• Choose your input

  Direct touch acts on the item you touch. The on-screen trackpad moves the pointer with your finger. View mode lets you inspect the screen without sending input. Treat physical mice and trackpads separately from finger gestures.

• Scroll and cursor

  Use two fingers to scroll on the on-screen trackpad. If you need horizontal gestures, check the vertical-scroll focus option in trackpad settings. Cursor display settings control the pointer inside the remote screen.

• Keyboard and paste

  Open the keyboard button for typing and shortcuts. Language switching depends on the input sources installed on your Mac. Use remote paste to send text copied on iPhone or iPad, and allow the OS paste prompt for that action. This is not automatic clipboard synchronization.

• Display fit and ending a session

  Choose the device-fit option under Display to connect using a fitted workspace. Zooming the video and changing the Mac workspace are different operations. End the remote session with the power icon when finished. It does not shut down the Mac.

• Frame rate, HDR and 4:4:4

  In Remote Access → Display Settings, choose a frame rate (Automatic up to 60 fps, fixed 30 or 60 fps, or up to 120 fps on 120Hz devices), HDR and 4:4:4 Sharp Color Text (Beta). HDR connects at up to 60 fps and cannot be combined with 120Hz. 4:4:4 reduces color bleeding on colored text and thin colored lines in code and charts; it applies in landscape at up to 60 fps and cannot be combined with HDR or 120Hz. Both the Mac and iPhone or iPad apps need version 1.6 or later; otherwise Link connects in 4:2:0. Check the applied state after connecting.

Read photos and documents

Open the folders your Mac allows without navigating a remote desktop.

• Choose folders on the Mac

  Add a folder under Shared folders in the Mac app, then check its sharing scope and device permissions. Include photos and documents if you want both. Folders on an external drive need that drive to stay connected.

• Find a file and choose a view

  Open Shared folders on the mobile device and select a folder. Use All, Photos or Documents, thumbnail sizes or list view, search and sorting. The option to collect files from subfolders shows them together without moving the originals.

• Read and export

  Tap a photo or supported document to open its viewer. The reader handles formats such as PDF, text and Markdown; available features depend on the file type. To work in another app, use sharing/export to save a copy or open a compatible app.

• Originals and cache

  Shared-folder browsing does not change or delete Mac originals. Thumbnails and reading caches may remain on the mobile device, but not every file is automatically saved offline. Manage exported copies separately even after sharing is revoked.

Check Mac status and information

Mac status shows usage and connection quality. Mac information shows device, app, connection and permission details.

• Check when a value was updated

  CPU and memory refer to the entire Mac, not just Link. If disconnected, check the last update time and labels for previous information. Saved values are not live readings.

• Understand connection measurements

  Latency helps you assess responsiveness. App data rate describes Link traffic; it is not a test of your internet plan’s maximum speed. For remote access, the Mac’s upload connection also matters.

• Include useful details in a report

  Send both device models, OS and app versions, connection method and active route, the exact message, and when and how it failed. Redact private files, pairing QR codes or codes, and account information from screenshots.

Frequently asked questions