Operational guide

01

Install Host (the controlled Mac)

WisBridge Host runs on the Mac you want to control. Install it, grant two permissions, and it is ready to be reached.

1. Download the WisBridge Host installer from our website.
2. Double-click the installer and follow the on-screen steps.
3. WisBridge Host launches automatically after installation.
4. Grant Screen Recording: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording → check WisBridge Host.
5. Grant Accessibility: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → check WisBridge Host.
6. (Optional) To place received files in the frontmost Finder window, allow WisBridge Host to control Finder under Automation.

Start at login: click the WisBridge Host menu bar icon → Start at Login. Without Screen Recording or Accessibility, clicks and keyboard input won't reach the Host.

02

Install WisBridge (the control side)

WisBridge is the app you control from, available in the Mac App Store. New users get a 7-day free trial with all Pro features.

1. Search for WisBridge in the Mac App Store and install it.
2. Open WisBridge — no extra setup is required.
3. Allow the local network prompt so WisBridge can discover Hosts.
4. After the 7-day trial, you still get 15 minutes of Lite free usage every day.

Full access requires buying or subscribing to a Lite or Pro license — see Licensing & purchase.

03

Establish a connection

Connect over Wi-Fi, LAN, or Thunderbolt. Use automatic discovery first, or enter an IP address manually.

1. Make sure both Macs are on the same local network and Host is running.
2. Open WisBridge and wait for Hosts to appear automatically.
3. Click a Host card, enter the controlled Mac's username and password, then click Connect.
4. If discovery fails, tap “+” or the manual IP entry and type the Host's IP address.
5. Optional: enable Auto Route, Auto Login, or Remember Password on the sign-in panel.

Lite connects to 1 Host at a time; Pro connects up to 3. Hitting the limit on Lite is a license limit, not a fault.

04

Display modes and quality

Pick Easy, Pro, or Max from the Control Center to balance latency, sharpness, and workspace size.

1. Open the Control Center via the menu bar WisBridge icon.
2. Choose a mode in the Display Engine card: Easy for low latency, Pro for crisp text, Max for a huge canvas.
3. The change takes effect within seconds.
4. In Max mode, use Option + Scroll or Option + two-finger pinch to zoom the movable viewport.
5. Zoom with the Control Center − / 100% / + controls or the View menu (Cmd++ / Cmd+- / Cmd+0).

All modes are optimized for smoothness by default.

05

Keyboard, mouse & shortcuts

Mouse and keyboard input forward to the remote Host while WisBridge is focused. Use the Fn prefix for Host shortcuts.

1. Move the mouse inside the WisBridge window to control the remote cursor; clicks, scrolling, and drags work directly.
2. Multi-finger trackpad gestures are forwarded as well.
3. Press Cmd+P to pause or resume a session; the picture freezes behind a privacy overlay.

06

File transfer

File Transfer lets you copy files and folders in both directions between your Mac and a connected Host — no USB drive or network disk needed. It uses a dedicated transfer window where you pick files on one side and a destination on the other.

1. Open File Transfer: Control Center → Send Files, or press Fn+Option+F5.
2. The first time, allow folder access — granting Home covers Desktop, Documents, and Downloads.
3. Send to Host: keep direction → Send to Host, check files in the left (local) pane, open the destination folder in the right (remote) pane, then click Copy Selected Items.
4. Receive from Host: switch to ← Receive from Host, check files in the right (remote) pane, open the destination folder in the left (local) pane, then click Copy Selected Items.
5. Progress is shown and you can Cancel at any time.

If a file with the same name already exists, a conflict dialog appears — see the table above. For big files, use a wired (LAN / Thunderbolt) link; for important folders, check “Back up items before replacing them”.

07

Clipboard sync

Copy text or images on one side and paste on the other — the two clipboards stay in sync.

1. Turn on Clipboard Sync in the Control Center.
2. Copy on one Mac (Cmd+C) and paste on the other (Cmd+V).
3. On iOS, remote clipboard content writes in automatically; to send text, use the “Send Text to Mac Clipboard” shortcut.

08

Picture-in-Picture (PiP)

Keep an eye on a region of the remote screen in a floating window, even over other apps.

1. Control Center → Select PiP (or Fn+Option+F6), drag a selection, and double-click to confirm.
2. Resize by dragging the corners; double-click the PiP to return to your main window's desktop.
3. Lock, Reset, Zoom Fit, and All Desktops are available in the PiP toolbar.
4. Interactive PiP (Pro): turn on the Interactive toggle to click, zoom, and type inside the PiP.
5. On iOS, tap the PiP button to select an area or manage the PiP list.

Selecting and viewing PiP works on every version. Interactive control inside PiP and the iOS PiP toolbar buttons are Pro features.

09

Magnifier

Magnify the area around your cursor in a floating lens. Transparent areas pass clicks through.

1. Control Center → Lens, or View → Toggle Magnifier (Cmd+M).
2. Move and resize the lens; up to 3 numbered lenses are supported.
3. Great for pixel-level inspection and fine positioning.

010

Screenshots & recording

Capture the whole screen or record a video locally on the Viewer.

1. Press Fn+Option+F10 for a full-screen screenshot (PNG, includes all overlays).
2. Press Fn+Option+F11 to start or stop recording (MOV, saved locally).

Screenshots (PNG) are available on every tier. Pro records a selected area with audio as MOV.

011

Licensing & purchase

Lite or Pro — one-time (perpetual) or subscription. Check, restore, and manage your license from the license panel.

1. Open the license panel: menu App → License… (Cmd+L), or the Control Center footer.
2. Choose Lite or Pro, one-time (perpetual) or monthly/yearly subscription.
3. After switching devices or reinstalling, use Restore Purchases with the same Apple ID.
4. After the trial, you still get 15 minutes of Lite free usage daily, resetting at 00:00 local time.

Pro: up to 3 Hosts, up to 3 interactive Host PiPs on one desktop, MOV recording, and iOS multi-PiP overview. Lite: 1 Host at a time with the complete everyday toolkit, including the same high-fidelity system audio.

012

Host updates

Host updates itself automatically once per hour; you can also update manually.

1. Keep Automatically Install Updates enabled in the menu bar menu to stay current.
2. To update manually, open the Host status window and click Update.
3. The connection drops briefly during the update and resumes automatically.

013

Using the iOS app

Use your iPhone or iPad to discover and control a Mac on the same network — view and operate the desktop, use quick actions, and switch to a full remote session.

1. Install WisBridge from the App Store and allow the Local Network permission.
2. Discovered Hosts appear as cards; tap one, or enter an IP manually, then sign in.
3. Portrait is used for sign-in; landscape switches to the remote session automatically.
4. Use the quick action bar for keyboard, macros, media control, brightness, PiP, and system actions.
5. Lite shows and operates 1 Host at a time; Pro connects to and operates up to 3 Hosts at once and can combine several PiPs into one overview. Purchases are shared with Mac via one Apple ID.

The Host Mute button has been removed from the iOS toolbar; manage remote sound with Mute Host Audio Here and Listen Here Only. The PiP toolbar buttons are a Pro feature.

014

Headless Macs (Mac mini / Mac Studio / Mac Pro)

Take over Macs with no display attached. Host creates a virtual HD display automatically.

1. Install and start WisBridge Host on a Mac with no display attached (e.g., Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro).
2. Grant Screen Recording and Accessibility, then connect from WisBridge (macOS or iOS).
3. Host creates a virtual HD display — the desktop is fully usable.
4. We recommend the Easy or Pro display modes.

015

Troubleshooting

Run a quick checklist first, then open the FAQ or contact support with diagnostic logs.

1. Confirm Host is running (menu bar icon), both Macs are on the same network, and permissions are granted.
2. For lag, switch to Easy mode or use a wired link.
3. If clicks or keys don't work, check the Accessibility permission on the controlled Mac.
4. If a Host isn't discovered, check the local network permission, firewall, VPN, or use a manual IP.
5. Still stuck? Copy Help → Copy Diagnostic Log and contact support with the details.

WisBridge works within the same local network or over a direct connection — not across the internet.

Before You Troubleshoot

Confirm these three checks before opening FAQ or support.