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Helm
Your Mac, from iPhone or Android
Your Mac, in your pocket.
Open a terminal on your Mac from your iPhone or Android for free. Upgrade to control the whole screen, move files, chat and hear the audio.
Free to start: the terminal costs nothing and has no time limit. Pro adds screen, files, chat and audio.
- The problem
- You are away from your desk and your Mac needs you: a build to restart, a service to check, a long job to watch.
- What we fixed
- Helm opens a terminal on your Mac from your iPhone or Android, with screen, files, chat and audio on Pro. There is no SSH, VPN or port forwarding to set up.
What Helm does
The terminal is free. Pro adds the rest.
- Terminal (free)
- Screen control (Pro)
- File transfer (Pro)
- Chat (Pro)
- Audio and microphone (Pro)
App screenshots will appear here. See helm.optionallabs.com for the live walkthrough.
How it works
Install
Put Helm on your Mac and sign in with Google. It shows as online.
Sign in
Use the same account on your iPhone or Android and choose your Mac.
Approve
The first time, your Mac asks you to approve the new phone. After that it connects straight away.
What you get
Terminal
A real shell on your Mac, with several sessions open and no time limit. Included in Free.
Screen control
See and control the whole screen from your phone, with touch gestures.
Move files both ways
Send a file to your Mac, or pull one back to your phone.
Chat with the Mac
Leave a note for whoever is at the keyboard. Their reply lands on your phone.
Hear your Mac
Your Mac's sound plays on your phone, and your phone's microphone speaks to the Mac.
Every Mac on one board
Sign in with the same account and see which Macs are online and what you can do on each.
Device approval
Every new device has to be approved on your Mac before it can connect.
Works with the lid closed
Turn on the closed-lid setting in the Mac app and Helm keeps your Mac awake.
How Helm connects
Device to device
- Terminal, screen, files and audio travel over an encrypted connection between your devices
- Our server only introduces your devices
- If a network blocks the direct path, a relay forwards the encrypted traffic without being able to read it
What our server holds
- The email and name from the Google account you sign in with
- The name of each device you connect, whether it is approved, and whether it is online
Helm is not an offline app: it needs an account so your phone can find your Mac. Read Helm's own privacy policy for the full list. Read Helm's privacy policy.
Get Helm
Free to start: the terminal costs nothing and has no time limit. Pro adds screen, files, chat and audio.
- Mac app
- macOS
- Phones
- iPhone and Android
- Plans
- Free, Pro and Lifetime. See the site for current prices.