Connect your iPhone or iPad

Yes — you can use your own iPhone or iPad with your remote Mac. There are two ways to do it:

	VirtualHere	TestFlight
What it does	Forwards the device over the network, so Xcode on your Mac sees it as plugged in	Installs your builds on the device over the air
Run & debug from Xcode	✅	Install only
Cable	Device plugged into your computer	None
You need	VirtualHere server (your computer) + client (your Mac)	An Apple Developer Program membership

Option 1 — VirtualHere (run & debug from Xcode)

VirtualHere carries USB over the network. The server runs on the computer your iPhone is plugged into; the client runs on your remote Mac.

1. On your computer (Windows, macOS or Linux), install and start the VirtualHere USB Server, then plug in your iPhone and unlock it.

2. Open an SSH tunnel so your Mac can reach the server. This works from anywhere, even behind a home router:

   ssh -R 7575:localhost:7575 your-username@YOUR-IP

   Keep this terminal open while you work.

3. On your remote Mac (over Screen Sharing), install and open the VirtualHere USB Client, then add the hub localhost:7575 (right-click USB Hubs → Specify Hubs…).

4. Right-click your iPhone in the client and choose Use this device.

5. On the iPhone, tap Trust when prompted, and turn on Developer Mode if iOS asks (Settings → Privacy & Security).

6. In Xcode, pick your iPhone as the run destination and press Run.

Good to know

• The first time you connect a device, Xcode prepares it (copying debug symbols). This can take several minutes; later sessions start quickly.
• Debugging is most responsive on a low-latency connection. Our Macs are hosted in France, so the closer you are, the snappier it feels.
• If the device stops appearing after an iOS or Xcode update, update VirtualHere on both sides.

Option 2 — TestFlight (wireless installs)

1. On your remote Mac, archive your app in Xcode (Product → Archive).
2. Upload it to App Store Connect from the Organizer (Distribute App → TestFlight & App Store), or with fastlane (fastlane pilot upload).
3. Once App Store Connect has processed the build, add yourself as an internal tester.
4. Install the TestFlight app on your iPhone or iPad and install your build — no cable needed.

Crash reports from TestFlight builds show up in Xcode’s Organizer.

Testing on many devices

To run automated tests across many device models, run your XCUITest or Appium suites on a real-device cloud such as BrowserStack, AWS Device Farm or Sauce Labs, triggered from your Mac. Note that Apple’s Xcode Cloud runs tests on simulators only.

Caution

VirtualHere is third-party software with its own licensing, and TestFlight is an Apple service. My Remote Mac provides the Mac and the network; you install and configure these tools.