Connecting to another computer

Examples use the sample address 192.168.1.20 and PIN 123456; replace them with what your SwiftDesk window shows.

From the desktop app (Windows, macOS)

Left-click the SwiftDesk icon in the tray (or the Mac menu bar) to open the SwiftDesk window, then choose the Connect to another computer tab. The tray menu also has Connect to….

• Quick connect: pick the type, enter the address (optionally with :port, or user@host for SSH) and click Connect.
• Address book: Add to save a computer. Each row's ⋯ menu has Edit, Duplicate, Copy address, Copy connect link and Delete. Import from app reads the Android app's “Hosts only” export, including VNC, RDP and SSH entries.
• From your cloud: when this computer is enrolled in SwiftDesk Cloud, the other computers on the account show up here. Your computers open each other without a PIN when the account allows it.

Native viewer

For SwiftDesk computers the desktop app uses the native viewer by default: each frame is hardware-decoded and shown as soon as it arrives. If the native viewer is not paired with that computer yet or cannot start, the app opens the built-in window and says why; once a connection works there, the native viewer is used next time. Both share one pairing, so you type the PIN only once. Turn it on or off in Preferences: Use the native viewer (faster).

Which address?

• Same Wi-Fi or LAN: the computer's local IP, for example 192.168.1.20.
• Over Tailscale: the computer's Tailscale IP (of the form 100.x.y.z) or its MagicDNS name. Your address in the SwiftDesk window and the tray's Address line prefer the Tailscale IP.
• Away from home: install Tailscale on both devices. Do not open port 7340 to the internet. See remote access.

With a QR code

The SwiftDesk window on the computer you want to control (or http://127.0.0.1:7340/admin on that computer itself) shows a QR code. On a phone, tap Scan QR in the app to add and pair; scanning with the camera opens the web client with the PIN filled in. On desktop or web, paste the QR link.

VNC

For computers without SwiftDesk: a Mac with Screen Sharing on, or a machine with a standard VNC server.

• A Mac: turn on Screen Sharing in System Settings → General → Sharing, then sign in with the Mac account name and password.
• Standard VNC servers: enter the VNC server password.
• Desktop app: VNC opens in a SwiftDesk window with scaling, Ctrl+Alt+Del and clipboard both ways. Only ports 5900–5999 are allowed.
• Android app: Add host → VNC → address; the VNC viewer is built in.

VNC is in the apps, not in the browser web client.

Remote Desktop (RDP)

• Desktop app (Windows, macOS): the RDP session opens right inside a SwiftDesk window, with NLA, text clipboard both ways and resizing that follows the window. On the first connection SwiftDesk shows the Windows computer's certificate fingerprint for you to confirm; if the certificate changes, SwiftDesk warns clearly before any password is sent. The system Remote Desktop app is still available from that row in the address book.
• Android app: an RDP entry stores a Windows PC's address and opens it with Microsoft's Remote Desktop / Windows App (that app must be installed).

SSH

• Desktop app: opens a terminal window running the system ssh. Host keys are asked for as usual; closing the window ends the connection.
• Android app: Add host → SSH → address (port 22 by default), user, optional password (asked on connect when empty). On first connect the app shows the server key fingerprint to confirm and pins it; if the key later changes, the app warns clearly and asks before accepting it. The terminal is xterm-compatible with 10 000 lines of scrollback; the ⊘ button sends Ctrl+C.

Passwords, export and address book sync

Saved passwords

• Android app: tick Remember password when you enter one; it is stored in the system keystore, not in the address book file.
• Desktop app: VNC, RDP and SSH passwords are typed when you connect and never saved. For RDP you can choose to remember it for that session; it stays in memory only while the window is open.
• PINs are never saved in the address book. After the first pairing the other computer remembers your device by a token.

Exporting and importing the address book (Android app)

• Hosts only: just the computer list, no passwords or tokens.
• Hosts + saved passwords (encrypted): includes saved passwords, encrypted with AES-256-GCM using a passphrase you choose. The file cannot be opened without it, so keep it safe.
• Import detects encrypted files and asks for the passphrase. When a computer already exists you choose Replace, Keep both or Skip.

Sync through SwiftDesk Cloud

Optional. Sign in to SwiftDesk Cloud in the app (a passkey, or a code from an authenticator app) and turn on Sync my host list: your address book syncs across your devices. Passwords are end-to-end encrypted with a sync passphrase you set; pairing tokens stay on the device that paired.

In a session

Toolbar

The web client, the VNC, RDP and SSH windows and the Android app share one floating toolbar:

• Pin it to keep it visible; unpinned, it hides itself and comes back when the pointer reaches it.
• Minimize it to a round handle carrying the network-quality dot. Shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T while the bar or handle has focus.
• Drag it to any edge or corner to dock it there; on the left and right edges it turns vertical. The position is remembered per device.

Buttons

Mouse and keyboard

The pointer maps 1:1 onto the remote screen; keys are sent as physical key codes, so Ctrl+C or Cmd+Space behave like a keyboard plugged into the other computer.

Clipboard and files

• Text copied on the other computer reaches owner devices automatically. Other devices can paste into it but cannot read its clipboard.
• Files: drag and drop them onto the picture (web client and native viewer). They land in Downloads/SwiftDesk/, up to 4 GB per file and 16 GB per session, marked as downloaded from the internet so Windows and macOS warn on open.

When the network drops

The web client and the native viewer reconnect by themselves. The Android app shows an error with a Retry button.