MiniScreen

Support

Need a hand? Open an issue on GitHub. Issues are public, so never post a password, or your Mac's address or Tailscale name.

Set up your Mac

1. On the Mac, open System Settings, then General, then Sharing, and turn on Screen Sharing. Click the info button next to it and check that your user is allowed.
2. Install Tailscale on the Mac and your iPhone, and sign in to the same account on both.
3. In MiniScreen, add your Mac using its Tailscale name, which ends in .ts.net, or its 100.x.x.x address.

Never forward port 5900 on your router. Screen Sharing encrypts your password but not your screen or typing, which is why MiniScreen only connects over Tailscale.

Fix a problem

"Tailscale isn't connected on this iPhone"

Open the Tailscale app and turn it on.

"Can't reach this Mac"

Check that the Mac is awake, connected to Tailscale, and has Screen Sharing on.

"The Mac refused the sign-in"

Check the username and password. The username is the Mac's account name, which may differ from your full name. Also check that this user is allowed under Screen Sharing in System Settings.

I can't connect after the Mac restarted

After a restart, the Mac has to log in and start Tailscale before MiniScreen can reach it. One way to have it come back by itself:

1. In the Tailscale menu, turn on Start on Login.
2. In System Settings, open Privacy & Security and turn off FileVault.
3. In Users & Groups, turn on automatic login.

This is your call. It lets anyone who can touch the Mac use it, so only do it somewhere you trust. With FileVault on, someone has to type the password at the Mac after every restart.