What Is Phone Use?
Phone Use is an open-source application that displays your iPhone screen in a window on your computer. You can interact with the phone yourself or allow agents such as Claude Code and Codex to tap and type with your permission.
The connection is wireless: no jailbreak or cable is required. Your iPhone and computer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Phone Use is currently alpha software, so you should expect occasional problems and report issues through GitHub.
Key Features
- Windowed iPhone access: View your iPhone screen from your computer.
- Desktop input: Click to tap, drag to swipe, use the mouse wheel to scroll, and type with your keyboard.
- AI agent control: Connect tools such as Claude Code and let an agent tap or type on the phone.
- Permission controls: Phone Use can request confirmation on your iPhone before an agent assumes control.
- Manual takeover: You can take control back from an agent at any time.
- Wireless setup: The system works without a jailbreak or USB cable.
What You Need
- An iPhone and a computer connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- The Phone Use desktop application for Linux, macOS, or Windows.
- The Phone Use iPhone application, currently built from source with Xcode because it is not yet available in the App Store.
- For the macOS application, the hardware bridge described later in this tutorial.
Install the Desktop Application
Linux
Download the Linux Flatpak package from the latest Phone Use release. Its filename follows this pattern:
PhoneUse-<version>-x86_64.flatpakOpen a terminal in the download directory and install the package for your user account:
flatpak install --user ./PhoneUse-<version>-x86_64.flatpakmacOS
Phone Use requires macOS 15 or later. Download PhoneUse-<version>-mac.dmg from the latest release, open the disk image, and drag Phone Use into the Applications folder.
The Mac application requires the Phone Use bridge. Prepare the bridge before completing the connection workflow.
Windows
A packaged Windows release is not currently provided. Windows users must build and run Phone Use from source by following the repository’s Windows instructions.
Install the iPhone Application
The Phone Use companion app is not yet in the App Store. Build it from the repository’s iOS project using Xcode, then install it on your iPhone.
After installing both applications, confirm that the iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open Phone Use on the computer and follow its guided setup to:
- Connect keyboard and mouse input.
- Pair the iPhone companion application.
- Start Screen Mirroring.
Set Up the Hardware Bridge
The bridge is a small board that joins your Wi-Fi network and presents itself as the iPhone’s keyboard and mouse. This leaves the computer’s Bluetooth connection free.
Phone Use recommends the LilyGO T-Display. To prepare one with the Linux application:
- Connect the LilyGO T-Display to the Linux computer.
- Open Phone Use.
- Choose Bridge, then Flash LilyGO T-Display.
- Follow the application’s prompts to finish flashing and networking setup.
For alternative flashing methods and technical details, consult the bridge documentation.
Control the iPhone Yourself
Once pairing and Screen Mirroring are active, select Open iPhone in the desktop application. Use familiar desktop gestures to interact with iOS:
- Tap: Click the desired location in the mirrored iPhone window.
- Swipe: Click and drag in the direction of the swipe.
- Scroll: Turn the mouse wheel.
- Type: Select a text field and enter text with the computer keyboard.
For example, to enter text in an iPhone app, open the mirrored phone, click the app, select its text field, and type on your physical keyboard.
Connect an AI Agent
Phone Use supports AI-assisted interaction with tools such as Claude Code and Codex. To begin with Claude Code, click Connect Claude Code in the Phone Use desktop application and follow the displayed connection steps.
Phone Use can ask for confirmation on the iPhone before the agent takes control. Keep this approval step enabled when you want to review when automated interaction begins. Watch the agent’s actions in the mirrored window, and take over manually whenever needed.
Only grant control when you understand the task the agent will perform. Phone Use provides permission and takeover controls, but you remain responsible for actions carried out on the device.
Advanced Tips and Troubleshooting
Check the Network First
If pairing or mirroring does not work, verify that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. This is a core requirement of the setup.
Keep Manual Control Available
Supervise agent-driven tasks in the mirrored iPhone window. Because you can take over at any time, you can interrupt automation and finish a sensitive or ambiguous step yourself.
Consult the Project Documentation
- Running from source explains source-based setup.
- Architecture documentation describes how Phone Use works.
- Companion app documentation covers the iPhone app and its API.
- Privacy policy provides privacy information.
Report Alpha-Stage Problems
Phone Use is alpha software. If a feature fails, capture the relevant setup details and submit a report to the project’s GitHub issue tracker.
Conclusion
Phone Use brings an iPhone into a desktop window and enables wireless interaction through a mouse, keyboard, or approved AI agent. After installing the desktop and iPhone applications, joining the same Wi-Fi network, and configuring the required input connection or bridge, you can control iOS manually or connect Claude Code while retaining permission and takeover controls.