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Sill lets users view and control a Mac window or the whole desktop from an iPhone or iPad. The project says video and input travel directly between paired devices over an encrypted connection, using a local network, USB, direct wireless connection or a user’s VPN.
Sill is an app that streams a window from a Mac, or the entire desktop, to an iPhone or iPad, where users can interact with it using touch, a keyboard, a trackpad or Apple Pencil. The project says the connection runs directly between paired devices, giving Mac users a way to work with desktop apps from a mobile screen without an account or an intermediary server.
The Mac app captures the selected window or desktop using ScreenCaptureKit and encodes the image as HEVC video with VideoToolbox. Sill says it uses the Mac’s hardware video encoder when available, with software encoding as a fallback. The video travels over an encrypted TLS 1.3 connection to the iPhone or iPad app, which decodes and displays it. The Mac captures nothing while no device is connected, according to the project.
Input travels back to the Mac: users can tap, click, scroll, type, and use an on-screen trackpad or Apple Pencil as a pointer. Sill translates those actions into mouse and keyboard events. The project says a keyboard connected to the mobile device can type on the Mac, and that a connected trackpad or mouse can scroll the window under its pointer. Using those controls requires granting the Mac app Accessibility permission.
Sill supports several connection methods: a shared local network, a USB cable, a peer-to-peer wireless mode called Direct Wireless Connection, or Remote Access through a user’s VPN or a forwarded router port. The project says the two apps pair once, after which each connection is pinned to the devices’ keys. Remote Access and Direct Wireless Connection are off by default. The Mac download is free, and the iPhone and iPad app is available free from the App Store, according to the project.
Mac Apps Reach Mobile Screens
Sill offers a way to access Mac software from an iPhone or iPad when users want to view or control a desktop app away from the computer. Its support for touch, keyboards, trackpads and Apple Pencil gives users several ways to interact with the streamed screen. That may be useful for tasks that depend on a Mac app but do not require sitting at the Mac itself.
The connection design also gives users choices about where traffic travels. Sill says nearby connections can use a local network or cable, while access from elsewhere can go through a VPN the user already operates. The project says it runs without an account or a server between the devices. Those are descriptions of how the software is designed; the source does not provide independent security testing or performance measurements.
The app has specific system requirements and asks for access that enables its functions. The Mac must use Apple silicon and macOS 14 or later; the mobile device must run iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 or later. Sill requests Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions on the Mac, and local network access on the mobile device. Users therefore need to weigh the app’s remote-control features against the permissions it requires.
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Pairing and Connection Options
To connect on a local network, Sill finds the Mac using Bonjour. For initial pairing, the user selects the Mac on the mobile device and scans a code shown on the computer, or enters its 12 digits. The project says pairing happens automatically over USB. Paired devices appear in the Mac app’s settings, where they can be removed.
For use without a shared network, users can turn on Direct Wireless Connection, which the project describes as peer-to-peer Wi-Fi similar to AirDrop. Remote Access is intended for connections away from home through the user’s VPN or a router port they forward. The project says a mobile device learns the remote connection details the next time it connects at home while Remote Access is enabled.
The apps also include options for adapting the display and connection. On iPhone, the interface places the streamed picture above controls; an iPhone Duo layout changes with the device’s hinge position. Users can adjust text size, share text through an optional clipboard feature, and change stream quality. The project says Sill drops frames when the encoder or connection falls behind, rather than building up a queue that would show older frames.
“Any window from your Mac, on your iPhone and iPad.”
— Sill project, GitHub description
Performance and Security Details
The source does not give independent results for image quality, latency, battery use, or performance across different network conditions. It also does not state how many devices are using Sill or provide a dated release announcement. The project says connections are encrypted and pinned to paired-device keys, but the material supplied does not include an independent security review.
Remote Access depends on a user’s own VPN or router configuration, and the source does not explain how every network setup will behave. It also does not provide details about future feature plans, ongoing maintenance, or support timelines. Those questions may matter to users deciding whether to rely on Sill for regular or sensitive work.
Install and Check Compatibility
People interested in trying Sill can check their Mac and mobile device against the listed operating system requirements, then download the Mac app from the project’s website and the iPhone or iPad app from the App Store. The project also provides a Homebrew installation command for the Mac app and says the mobile app can be built from source.
After installation, users need to grant the requested permissions, pair their devices, and choose a connection method. Anyone planning to connect away from home will need to set up Remote Access through their own VPN or router. The project’s source does not list a future release date or a next public milestone.
Key Questions
What does Sill do?
Sill streams a Mac window or the entire desktop to an iPhone or iPad and sends touch, pointer and keyboard input back to the Mac.
What devices and operating systems are required?
The project lists an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later and an iPhone or iPad running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 or later.
Can Sill connect to a Mac away from home?
Yes. The project says users can enable Remote Access through their own VPN, such as Tailscale, or a port forwarded on their router. Remote Access is off by default.
Does Sill require an account?
The project says there is no account or intermediary server. It describes connections as direct between paired devices, using a local network, USB, peer-to-peer wireless or a user-configured remote connection.
Source: hn
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