Pipa

Support

Need help? Check the first steps and the FAQ below. If that doesn't solve it, write to suporte@pipadesk.com: we answer in English or Portuguese.

First steps

  1. On your Mac (macOS 13 or later), download Pipa Host, open the DMG, drag the app to Applications and open it. The kite icon shows up in the menu bar.
  2. In the Pipa Host menu, open the permissions setup and grant Screen Recording and Accessibility to Pipa Host. macOS asks once; after that Pipa Host remembers.
  3. In the menu, start the host and then start pairing by QR code.
  4. On your iPhone or iPad, open Pipa, tap + › Scan Mac's QR Code and point the camera at the QR code. Check the Mac's name and tap Pair.
  5. Done: your Mac shows up under Your Macs. One tap connects.

Frequently asked questions

My Mac doesn't show up on my iPhone.

Both need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, and your iPhone needs the Local Network permission (Settings › Pipa › Local Network). Check in the Pipa Host menu that the host is running. VPNs that block the local network (the "kill switch" in some VPN apps) also hide your Mac: allow local network access in the VPN, or connect by the Mac's address (+ › Connect by IP or name).

Can I use it away from home?

Yes, with Tailscale: install it on your Mac and iPhone, signed in to the same account, and pair at home with the QR code. The QR code already carries the tailnet route, and your Mac shows up through it when you're away.

My Mac went to sleep. Can I wake it?

While a device is connected, your Mac stays awake. If it's already asleep, touch and hold the Mac's card and choose Wake the Mac. For this to work, turn on Wake for network access on the Mac (System Settings › Battery › Options, or Energy Saver), keep it plugged in, and use your iPhone on the Mac's network. Away from home, first connect to another paired Mac that's awake on the same network: it passes the request along. A MacBook with the lid closed and no external display may not wake.

The picture froze and came back.

On weak Wi-Fi, Pipa waits for the network to come back and asks for a fresh image by itself. If the connection drops entirely, the app reconnects. The indicator next to the Mac's name shows the connection quality.

My Mac is locked.

Pipa shows the lock screen, but macOS may not accept a password typed through it. Unlock your Mac before you leave, or turn off automatic locking while you need access.

How do I send files and text between my iPhone and my Mac?

Copied text goes both ways through the clipboard. Files you send from your iPhone go to a folder on your Mac ("Pipa" in Downloads by default, or the one you choose in Pipa Host), and only that folder is visible to the iPhone.

I lost my iPhone. How do I revoke its access?

On your Mac, in the Pipa Host menu, revoke the device next to its name. It's disconnected at once and can't get back in.

macOS says it can't verify Pipa Host.

Pipa Host is signed and notarized by Apple, so this shouldn't happen with the file downloaded from this site. If it does, delete the download and get it again from here; don't open copies from anywhere else.

How do I uninstall?

On your Mac, quit Pipa Host from its menu, delete the app from Applications and the ~/.remote-control folder. On your iPhone, delete the Pipa app.

Requirements

  • iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or later.
  • Mac with macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon or Intel.

Contact us

Write to suporte@pipadesk.com with your iPhone or iPad model, your macOS version and what happened. Privacy policy: pipadesk.com/en/privacy/