open-screen-sharing README

The project's README from github.com/nekohasekai/open-screen-sharing. As one markdown file: README.md.

Open Screen Sharing

Open Screen Sharing on iPad connected to macOS and vphone-cli

Open Screen Sharing aims to develop superior servers and clients based on the private protocol used by Apple VNC (macOS's Screen Sharing server and ScreenSharing.app).

Installation

iOS

Download on the App Store

The App Store version is $1 through October 31, 2026, then $2. Your purchase supports my work.

The App Store version excludes the following features due to App Store restrictions:

To use these features, sideload the app by adding the source to SideStore or AltStore:

https://github.com/nekohasekai/open-screen-sharing/releases/latest/download/altstore.json

Or download OpenScreenSharing.ipa and sideload it.

macOS

Download and install OpenScreenSharing.pkg.

Nightly builds

You can download and install nightly builds from the Nightly release. For AltStore or SideStore on iOS, the source URL is:

https://github.com/nekohasekai/open-screen-sharing/releases/download/nightly/altstore.json

You can also switch to the Nightly track in the App settings of the macOS app and update directly.

Features

  1. Compared to the original ScreenSharing.app:
  1. Apple VNC server implementation on iOS and iPadOS

Roadmap

Given the complexity of custom protocols, we are currently focusing on improving the existing experience and expanding support based entirely on the Apple VNC protocol

License

Copyright (C) 2026 by nekohasekai <[email protected]>

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

In addition, no derivative work may use the name or imply association
with this application without prior consent.

open-screen-sharing (nekohasekai/open-screen-sharing)

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248 ·GitHub
Open-screen-sharing
What is this?Open Screen Sharing reimplements Apple's private VNC protocol (the one used by macOS Screen Sharing and ScreenSharing.app) to build better screen-sharing clients and servers for Apple devices, with RDP support as well.
Is this a replacement app I install, or a protocol library?It is an installable app (not a library): a macOS app distributed as a .pkg and an iOS/iPadOS app distributed on the App Store or as a sideloaded .ipa.
How do I install and run it?On macOS, download and install OpenScreenSharing.pkg. On iOS/iPadOS, either buy it from the App Store or sideload OpenScreenSharing.ipa via SideStore or AltStore to unlock features the App Store blocks.
Do I need a jailbreak or special setup to run the VNC server on iOS?No jailbreak or TrollStore is needed, but running the Apple VNC server on an iPhone/iPad requires iOS 27 and a connection to the iOS developer debugging protocol via LocalDevVPN or sing-box with a loopback address.
Does the App Store version have every feature?No. The App Store release drops the Apple VNC server (it needs background keep-alive and a lockdown exploit) and the ability to drag files from a remote Mac into other apps (it needs a private API), because of App Store restrictions.
Which Apple platforms does it support right now?macOS and iOS/iPadOS are supported today; Android, Windows, and Linux support, Homebrew publishing, and a jailbreak version are all still on the roadmap.
What does this do better than Apple's own ScreenSharing.app?It is optimized for both local and public networks (it runs smoothly over Tailscale P2P), fixes language-switching bugs, adds exclusive mouse support, a Debug HUD, and better touch interactions on iOS/iPadOS.
Can I connect to the iOS VNC server using the native macOS Screen Sharing app?Yes, but due to an Apple bug you first need to go to Settings > Quality and disable 'Full Quality' before adding the connection, otherwise it won't work correctly.
How much does the iOS App Store version cost?It is $1 through October 31, 2026, then rises to $2; sideloading via AltStore/SideStore or installing on macOS stays free.
Is RDP support already working or still planned?RDP support is already implemented and checked off in the roadmap, alongside existing macOS support and the App Store release.
What are similar projects?AltStore, sill, zulu, opendisplay, p2wlan, netbird, rustdesk, UTM
Which topics is it in?rdp, remote-access, ios-app, p2p, vpn, macos-app, apple, mobile-app, utility, ios, networking, go
Creator
nekohasekai
Size
7.3 MB
Stars
248
Updated
CommitOct 18Releasev1.0.1Oct 17
Age
11d
Commits · 90 Days