[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":38},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-en-remote":3},{"meta":4,"html":10,"headings":11,"raw":37},{"title":5,"description":6,"icon":7,"order":8,"updated":9},"Phone Remote Access","Pair your phone by scanning a QR code, then check your Mac's live status from anywhere and run the few actions you allow.","remote-access",12,"2026-10-28","\u003Cp>Away from your desk, you can still check on your Mac from your phone: is the long task still running, is memory running low, how much battery is left? You can also release memory, keep the Mac awake or quit a stuck app remotely. Phone remote access is part of WashBear Pro; see \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fpricing\">Pricing\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"requirements\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#requirements\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Requirements\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>WashBear is running on your Mac (staying in the menu bar is enough), and the Mac is online and awake;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>your phone uses Safari on iOS 16 or later, or a modern Android browser;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>no account and no app installation are needed.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"turn-on\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#turn-on\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Turn on remote access\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>On your Mac, open \u003Cstrong>Settings → Remote Access\u003C\u002Fstrong> and turn on \u003Cstrong>Phone remote access\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The status next to the switch shows \u003Cstrong>Connecting\u003C\u002Fstrong>, \u003Cstrong>Connected\u003C\u002Fstrong> or \u003Cstrong>Not connected\u003C\u002Fstrong>. You can pair a phone once it shows \u003Cstrong>Connected\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"pair-phone\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#pair-phone\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Pair a phone\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>Click \u003Cstrong>Pair a new phone\u003C\u002Fstrong> to show a QR code on your Mac. The code expires after 2 minutes; click \u003Cstrong>New QR code\u003C\u002Fstrong> to create another.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Scan the code with your phone's camera. On the page that opens, enter a name for the phone and tap \u003Cstrong>Start pairing\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Your Mac shows \u003Cstrong>Confirm pairing\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Check that the 6-digit \u003Cstrong>Verification code\u003C\u002Fstrong> matches on both devices, then click \u003Cstrong>Pair\u003C\u002Fstrong>. If you don't recognize the request, click \u003Cstrong>Decline\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>When pairing finishes, tap \u003Cstrong>Open dashboard\u003C\u002Fstrong> on the phone. Choose Add to Home Screen in your browser's menu to open it like an app later.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\u003Cp>One phone can pair with several Macs and switch between them at the top of the dashboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"dashboard\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#dashboard\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>What the dashboard shows\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The dashboard shows your Mac's name, macOS version and uptime, along with CPU usage and its recent trend, memory use and pressure, network upload and download speeds, free disk space, and battery charge and charging state. CPU, GPU and disk temperatures appear when available. Below, the 10 apps using the most CPU and the most memory are listed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the dashboard is on screen, it updates about every 2 seconds. When the page is not in the foreground, your Mac stops sending data. If you turn on \u003Cstrong>Privacy mode\u003C\u002Fstrong> on your Mac, app names in the rankings appear as "App 1", "App 2" and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"remote-actions\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#remote-actions\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Remote actions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Release memory\u003C\u002Fstrong>: the same as releasing memory from the menu bar status panel.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Keep awake\u003C\u002Fstrong>: choose from 30 minutes to 4 hours. During that time your Mac won't sleep from inactivity; tap \u003Cstrong>Allow sleep\u003C\u002Fstrong> to end it early. Closing a laptop lid can still put the Mac to sleep.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Display\u003C\u002Fstrong>: \u003Cstrong>Turn off\u003C\u002Fstrong> or \u003Cstrong>Turn on\u003C\u002Fstrong> the screen. Turning it on does not unlock your Mac; if it requires a password, it stays on the lock screen.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Apps\u003C\u002Fstrong>: tap an app in the rankings to \u003Cstrong>Quit\u003C\u002Fstrong> it (the app can save first or decline to quit), \u003Cstrong>Pause for 15 min\u003C\u002Fstrong> (it resumes automatically, or tap \u003Cstrong>Resume\u003C\u002Fstrong>), or \u003Cstrong>Force quit\u003C\u002Fstrong> it (the phone asks you to confirm, and unsaved work is lost).\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>WashBear itself and system processes that can't quit normally are protected. Phone remote access cannot delete files, run cleanups, change settings or run commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"permissions\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#permissions\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Choose allowed actions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>Settings → Remote Access → Allowed remote actions\u003C\u002Fstrong>, turn each action on or off: \u003Cstrong>Release memory\u003C\u002Fstrong>, \u003Cstrong>Keep awake\u003C\u002Fstrong>, \u003Cstrong>Turn display off or on\u003C\u002Fstrong>, \u003Cstrong>Quit apps\u003C\u002Fstrong>, \u003Cstrong>Pause apps\u003C\u002Fstrong> and \u003Cstrong>Force quit apps\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003Cstrong>Force quit apps\u003C\u002Fstrong> is marked \u003Cstrong>Risky\u003C\u002Fstrong> and is off by default; the others are on. These settings apply to all paired phones. If a phone requests an action you haven't allowed, it shows a message instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"remove-device\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#remove-device\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Remove a phone\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>In the device list under \u003Cstrong>Settings → Remote Access\u003C\u002Fstrong>, click \u003Cstrong>Remove\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The phone disconnects immediately and must be paired again to reconnect. \u003Cstrong>Remove this computer\u003C\u002Fstrong> on the phone only clears the pairing stored on the phone; it does not remove the phone from your Mac's list. If you lose a phone, remove it on your Mac as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"security\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#security\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Security and privacy\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Data and commands between your phone and your Mac are end-to-end encrypted with the Noise protocol. The relay at remote.washbear.app only forwards encrypted data. It cannot read the dashboard or forge commands, and only handles connection information such as IP addresses, connection times and data volume.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Pairing requires the one-time secret in the QR code, a matching verification code and your confirmation on the Mac. After that, every connection is authenticated in both directions with the keys exchanged during pairing. Remote commands expire after 30 seconds.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Only summary readings and app names are sent to the phone, never file names, paths or command lines.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>For details, see the \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fprivacy#remote\">Privacy Policy\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",[12,16,19,22,25,28,31,34],{"depth":13,"id":14,"text":15},2,"requirements","Requirements",{"depth":13,"id":17,"text":18},"turn-on","Turn on remote access",{"depth":13,"id":20,"text":21},"pair-phone","Pair a phone",{"depth":13,"id":23,"text":24},"dashboard","What the dashboard shows",{"depth":13,"id":26,"text":27},"remote-actions","Remote actions",{"depth":13,"id":29,"text":30},"permissions","Choose allowed actions",{"depth":13,"id":32,"text":33},"remove-device","Remove a phone",{"depth":13,"id":35,"text":36},"security","Security and privacy","\nAway from your desk, you can still check on your Mac from your phone: is the long task still running, is memory running low, how much battery is left? You can also release memory, keep the Mac awake or quit a stuck app remotely. Phone remote access is part of WashBear Pro; see [Pricing](\u002Fpricing).\n\n## Requirements {#requirements}\n\n- WashBear is running on your Mac (staying in the menu bar is enough), and the Mac is online and awake;\n- your phone uses Safari on iOS 16 or later, or a modern Android browser;\n- no account and no app installation are needed.\n\n## Turn on remote access {#turn-on}\n\nOn your Mac, open **Settings → Remote Access** and turn on **Phone remote access**. The status next to the switch shows **Connecting**, **Connected** or **Not connected**. You can pair a phone once it shows **Connected**.\n\n## Pair a phone {#pair-phone}\n\n1. Click **Pair a new phone** to show a QR code on your Mac. The code expires after 2 minutes; click **New QR code** to create another.\n2. Scan the code with your phone's camera. On the page that opens, enter a name for the phone and tap **Start pairing**.\n3. Your Mac shows **Confirm pairing**. Check that the 6-digit **Verification code** matches on both devices, then click **Pair**. If you don't recognize the request, click **Decline**.\n4. When pairing finishes, tap **Open dashboard** on the phone. Choose Add to Home Screen in your browser's menu to open it like an app later.\n\nOne phone can pair with several Macs and switch between them at the top of the dashboard.\n\n## What the dashboard shows {#dashboard}\n\nThe dashboard shows your Mac's name, macOS version and uptime, along with CPU usage and its recent trend, memory use and pressure, network upload and download speeds, free disk space, and battery charge and charging state. CPU, GPU and disk temperatures appear when available. Below, the 10 apps using the most CPU and the most memory are listed.\n\nWhile the dashboard is on screen, it updates about every 2 seconds. When the page is not in the foreground, your Mac stops sending data. If you turn on **Privacy mode** on your Mac, app names in the rankings appear as \"App 1\", \"App 2\" and so on.\n\n## Remote actions {#remote-actions}\n\n- **Release memory**: the same as releasing memory from the menu bar status panel.\n- **Keep awake**: choose from 30 minutes to 4 hours. During that time your Mac won't sleep from inactivity; tap **Allow sleep** to end it early. Closing a laptop lid can still put the Mac to sleep.\n- **Display**: **Turn off** or **Turn on** the screen. Turning it on does not unlock your Mac; if it requires a password, it stays on the lock screen.\n- **Apps**: tap an app in the rankings to **Quit** it (the app can save first or decline to quit), **Pause for 15 min** (it resumes automatically, or tap **Resume**), or **Force quit** it (the phone asks you to confirm, and unsaved work is lost).\n\nWashBear itself and system processes that can't quit normally are protected. Phone remote access cannot delete files, run cleanups, change settings or run commands.\n\n## Choose allowed actions {#permissions}\n\nIn **Settings → Remote Access → Allowed remote actions**, turn each action on or off: **Release memory**, **Keep awake**, **Turn display off or on**, **Quit apps**, **Pause apps** and **Force quit apps**. **Force quit apps** is marked **Risky** and is off by default; the others are on. These settings apply to all paired phones. If a phone requests an action you haven't allowed, it shows a message instead.\n\n## Remove a phone {#remove-device}\n\nIn the device list under **Settings → Remote Access**, click **Remove**. The phone disconnects immediately and must be paired again to reconnect. **Remove this computer** on the phone only clears the pairing stored on the phone; it does not remove the phone from your Mac's list. If you lose a phone, remove it on your Mac as soon as possible.\n\n## Security and privacy {#security}\n\n- Data and commands between your phone and your Mac are end-to-end encrypted with the Noise protocol. The relay at remote.washbear.app only forwards encrypted data. It cannot read the dashboard or forge commands, and only handles connection information such as IP addresses, connection times and data volume.\n- Pairing requires the one-time secret in the QR code, a matching verification code and your confirmation on the Mac. After that, every connection is authenticated in both directions with the keys exchanged during pairing. Remote commands expire after 30 seconds.\n- Only summary readings and app names are sent to the phone, never file names, paths or command lines.\n\nFor details, see the [Privacy Policy](\u002Fprivacy#remote).\n",1793257449910]