Native macOS Remote Desktop · Zero Cloud Telemetry

Turn Your iPad into a True MacBook. Live macOS. Zero Cloud. Zero Latency.

Stream your Mac's full display to iPad at 60 FPS hardware H.264. Control it with your Magic Keyboard, fluid trackpad gestures, and a dedicated Lock Mode that traps ⌘Space and ⌘Tab instead of iPadOS.

 Download Mac Host (.dmg) macOS 15.0+ · Free 📱 Get iPad App (TestFlight) Explore Features ↓

End-to-End Mutual TLS 1.3 Zero Cloud Servers / Accounts Bluetooth & Hotspot Auto-Discovery Magic Keyboard & Trackpad Lock Mode

LIVE DESKTOP H.264 2732×2048 / 60.0 FPS / 11.8 Mbps / Decode 2.4 ms / Ping 1.6 ms / Drops 0

MacBridge running macOS desktop live on an iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard

🔒 Lock Mode: ACTIVE ⌘Space → Spotlight ⌘Tab → Switcher 3-Finger → Spaces

Zero cloud latency · Pure hardware-accelerated pipeline

60 FPS

Hardware H.264

ScreenCaptureKit & VideoToolbox hardware pipeline

< 15 ms

Local Display Latency

Direct peer-to-peer over Wi-Fi, Hotspot, or USB-C

0 Bytes

Cloud Storage / Tracking

No central servers, no login, no third-party telemetry

mTLS 1.3

Device Identity Pinning

Hardware-backed cryptographic keys (Ed25519 & P-256)

Engineered for Serious Work

Three Reasons Why Typical Remote Desktops Fail — And How MacBridge Fixes Them.

Legacy VNC and cloud remote desktop software were never built for iPadOS hardware integration. MacBridge was built from scratch to feel like native Apple silicon hardware.

Objection 1: Lag & Blurry Screens

Hardware H.264 Video Pipeline. Sub-15ms Latency.

Instead of sending uncompressed, sluggish bitmaps over CPU, MacBridge uses Apple's native ScreenCaptureKit and hardware VideoToolbox encoder. Frames stream directly peer-to-peer at your iPad's exact native resolution with pristine clarity and fluid 60 frames per second.

Objection 2: iPadOS Shortcut Conflicts

Dedicated Lock Mode. Mac Shortcuts Stay on Mac.

Tired of pressing ⌘Space or ⌘Tab on your Magic Keyboard only to have iPadOS steal focus? MacBridge features Lock Mode with high-priority system shortcut capture. Press ⌘Space to trigger Mac Spotlight, ⌘Tab for Mac App Switcher, and ⌘H to hide Mac apps — plus 3-finger touchscreen swipes for Spaces and Mission Control.

⌘Space Mac Spotlight

⌘Tab Mac App Switcher

⌘H Hide Front App

⌃← / → Switch Spaces

3-Finger Swipe Mission Control

Objection 3: Cloud Privacy & Corporate Snooping

100% Peer-to-Peer. No Cloud Servers. Ever.

Services like TeamViewer or AnyDesk route your screen through proprietary cloud relays and demand subscriptions. MacBridge has zero cloud servers, zero analytics SDKs, and zero accounts. Every byte of screen video and keystrokes travels directly between your devices over an encrypted Mutual TLS 1.3 tunnel.

Instant Onboarding

Three Steps. One Tap Every Time After.

Install MacBridge Host on Mac

Download the lightweight .dmg, drag it to Applications, and grant Screen Recording and Accessibility in macOS System Settings.

Pair Once Cryptographically

Open MacBridge on iPad. Nearby Macs appear automatically via Bluetooth proximity. Tap your Mac and confirm the on-screen pairing on your Mac.

One-Tap Smart Wake & Connect

Next time, tap your Mac from iPad. MacBridge checks power state, sends a local Wake-on-LAN magic packet if asleep, and connects automatically.

Direct Comparison

How MacBridge Compares

Feature / Capability	MacBridge	Legacy VNC	TeamViewer / Cloud	Apple Sidecar
Architecture	✓ Peer-to-Peer mTLS 1.3	✕ VNC / RFB protocol	✕ Cloud relay server	Apple AWDL direct
Video Performance	✓ 60 FPS VideoToolbox H.264	✕ 15-30 FPS CPU bitmaps	✕ Compressed cloud stream	60 FPS proprietary
Keyboard Lock Mode	✓ Traps ⌘Tab, ⌘Space, ⌘H	✕ iPadOS intercepts keys	✕ Limited shortcut capture	Native macOS control
Trackpad / Mouse	✓ Full 2-finger scroll & 3-finger swipe	✕ Basic pointer click	✕ Delayed pointer movement	Native precision
Discovery Mode	✓ Bluetooth LE + Hotspot Auto	✕ Manual IP entry required	✕ Cloud account sign-in	Requires same Apple ID
Data Privacy	✓ 100% Zero-Cloud / No Account	✕ Local but unencrypted VNC	✕ Routed through company servers	Apple ecosystem only
Pricing	✓ Free Host + One-time unlock	✕ Varies	✕ Expensive monthly subscription	Free (bundled with Mac)

Answers to Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does connecting time out on hotel or guest Wi-Fi?

Hotel, airport, and cafe guest Wi-Fi networks intentionally enable 'AP/Client Isolation', blocking devices on the same Wi-Fi from opening direct TCP sockets. Solution: Connect both devices to your phone's personal hotspot, plug a direct USB-C cable between iPad and Mac, or use your own private Tailscale mesh network.

How does Lock Mode work with Magic Keyboard?

When Lock Mode is enabled (padlock icon in the toolbar), MacBridge requests system-level priority for keyboard shortcuts. Pressing ⌘Space triggers macOS Spotlight, ⌘Tab switches Mac apps, ⌘H hides the active Mac window, and ⌃← / ⌃→ switches Mac Spaces without escaping back to the iPad home screen.

Does MacBridge work over cellular or outside the home?

Yes! Because MacBridge uses direct Mutual TLS sockets, you can connect from anywhere over your own private VPN (such as Tailscale MagicDNS or WireGuard). MacBridge operates zero cloud relay servers, so you retain 100% data ownership and zero subscription costs.

How does Smart Wake work if my MacBook lid is closed?

MacBridge evaluates whether your Mac is awake or asleep. If asleep and connected to AC power, MacBridge dispatches a validated Wake-on-LAN Magic Packet directly or via an optional local wake relay. Please note: Apple MacBooks on battery power will not wake with the lid closed due to macOS battery protection hardware.

What data does MacBridge collect or send to third parties?

Zero. None. MacBridge has no user accounts, no analytics SDKs, and no diagnostic telemetry. Your screen frames and keyboard strokes exist only in volatile device memory during the active session.

Ready to Experience Your Mac on iPad?

Download the free Mac companion app now and connect your iPad with zero friction.

 Download Mac Host (.dmg) macOS 15.0+ · Free 📱 Get iPad App (TestFlight)