Setup & support
Make the connection.
Start with your iPhone and Mac on the same local network. One blank document is all you need for your first test.
Your first connection
Install the companion.
Download the Mac beta, move it to Applications and open it. You also need the iPhone app; its public App Store release is still in preparation.
Find and pair your Mac.
Keep both devices on the same local network. Allow Local Network access, select your Mac on the phone and enter the code shown in its menu bar. Approve the phone by name on the Mac.
Send one harmless message.
Open a blank TextEdit document on the Mac. Add/select TextEdit on your iPhone and type a short sentence. Check that the intended document receives it before using Nimlet in your working apps.
A permission for each job.
| Device | Permission | What it enables |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | Accessibility | Pointer, keyboard and supported window control. |
| Mac | Screen Recording | Window previews, screenshots and system-output audio. |
| Both | Local Network | Finding and connecting your devices. |
| iPhone | Microphone & speech recognition | Dictation, including possible Apple service fallback. |
| iPhone | Camera | Taking a photo when you choose Camera; existing photos use the system picker. |
| iPhone | Notifications | Alerts, including optional encrypted APNs push when configured. |
The Mac companion does not use your Mac’s microphone. Listening captures the system output, which may include several apps or a call.
Away from your desk
Pair nearby first.
After initial pairing, Nimlet can reconnect over a configured private VPN such as Tailscale. Connect both devices to the permitted VPN network, let the phone connect locally once to receive the Mac’s addresses, then test the connection on another network. Keep the Mac awake and running Nimlet.
Settings → Network shows the selected route. If needed, use the VPN address and listening port shown in the Mac menu. VPN access does not require enabling public port forwarding. VPN service, permissions and setup are separate from Nimlet.
Direct public access
This is a separate, explicit Mac setting. It requires a reachable public address and suitable router/firewall configuration; carrier-grade NAT can prevent incoming connections. When enabled, the Mac can request router port mappings and query STUN services for its public address. Use a private VPN if a direct route is unavailable. Nimlet does not provide a hosted control relay.
What works in the background?
Keep Nimlet open for interactive control. Listening can continue using iOS background audio. Optional APNs push can deliver alerts while the app is suspended, but the Mac and notification relay must be configured and notification permission enabled. Delivery is not guaranteed. A push alert does not itself execute an approval.
Find the next step.
My Mac doesn’t appear.
Keep the companion running and the Mac awake. Check Local Network permission on both devices. Guest Wi-Fi or client isolation may block device-to-device traffic. A manual address can help discovery, but it does not bypass permissions or a firewall. Verify the selected Mac before pairing.
I’m connected, but typing or clicks do nothing.
Check Accessibility permission for the installed Nimlet copy; older installs may be listed as Mice. Check that the target still exists and can receive input. For apps, select the intended window. A send receipt alone does not prove the document accepted the input.
The preview is blank.
Check Screen Recording permission and follow any instruction to reopen Nimlet. Select an available window. Note the exact error if it still fails.
I can’t hear my Mac.
Turn on listening on the phone and check that “Let phones listen” is enabled in the Mac menu. Check Screen Recording permission, phone volume and the selected audio output. The stream contains the Mac’s whole system output, not just the selected app. Listening pauses while you dictate.
Speech recognition isn’t available.
Check microphone/speech permissions, device language and speech assets. Use the keyboard while troubleshooting. On-device recognition is preferred; fallback recognition may send audio to Apple. Nimlet does not display the active route for every recording. Use typed input if you need to avoid that fallback.
Agent status or push alerts don’t arrive.
Agent status and approval requests need compatible command-line hooks installed on your Mac. Push additionally needs a configured notification relay; a relay address is not built into the app. Check iPhone notification permissions, per-target rules, Focus settings and Mac connectivity. Relay failures are not queued for retry. Reconnect to see the current state before acting on an old alert.
Pro, restoring purchases and refunds.
Pro unlocks multi-target messages, image attachments and screenshot annotation. Open Settings → Nimlet Pro → Restore Purchases with the Apple Account used to buy it. Basic control remains free. Apple handles billing and refund requests. If a price cannot load, check App Store connectivity. Public purchasing will become available after launch.
What happens to the images I send?
Images are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/Nimlet/inbox/ on the Mac. On a later upload, files older than a week are removed and the folder is limited to 512 MB, oldest first. You can delete files yourself. Receiving apps may keep their own copies.
Removing a phone or uninstalling.
Revoke the phone in the Mac companion before removing the apps. Deleting an app does not guarantee removal of Keychain entries, Mac preferences or support files. Read the privacy policy for storage locations and removal details.
Still need a hand?
Tell us what happened.
Include both app versions, OS versions, the selected target, the action you tried and the exact error. Tell us whether you were on local Wi-Fi, a VPN or another network, and whether the intended Mac app changed.
Remove private document contents, pairing codes and personal addresses from logs or screenshots. Never send passwords, authentication codes or private keys.