Multiple devices

The computer is one side. Phones, tablets, and other browsers can pair into the same herd. Each device holds its own credential. You cannot clone a pairing by exporting browser data.

Add another

On the computer:

remote pair

Scan with the new device (or type this printout’s 14 glyphs). Do not scan again from a device that is already paired — that opens a new pairing and invalidates whoever else was using the current code.

A handful of phones is enough. When the cap is hit, a new device fails until you forget one.

Who is connected

remote list

1  iPhone  just now
2  Android phone  2 hours ago

Unpair one: remote forget 1

If nothing is paired: Nothing paired yet. Pair one: remote pair.

The phone Settings page also lists devices: the current row is This device, others show online or offline. Already unpaired rows are omitted.

Revoke

On the phone, open Settings, tap the computer card, and Paired devices has Unpair on every other row. That device disconnects immediately and must pair again. Unpair this device, at the bottom of the same page, still only drops this device.

On the computer, use the list index:

remote forget 1

remote forget iPhone works when the name is unique. Collisions require the index.

To drop a phone you can no longer hold, prefer the computer:

1. remote list on the computer
2. remote forget N
3. Local credentials on that device become useless; opening Remote requires pairing again

Lost or sold phone

1. forget the row on the computer immediately
2. If push was on, those subscriptions die with it
3. If the computer itself may be compromised, see What the relay cannot see

One phone, several computers

Each computer enrolls and pairs on its own. Same installer, new pairing:

1. On the other computer: curl -fsSL https://remote.tmts.ca/install.sh | sh -s -- --origin https://remote.tmts.ca
2. There: remote pair
3. On this phone: Settings → Switch computer → Add a computer, then scan that computer’s current code (a desktop browser types it)

The phone keeps one credential per computer and reconnects to the last one you used. To switch, tap the computer name at the top of the session list; on a wide screen it is at the top of the left rail.

A computer that is asleep or offline stays on the list. Remote does not delete that credential, and it does not send you back to the pairing page. Wake it; you do not pair again. A locked screen is fine; a closed lid only works if the machine does not sleep.

Forget on a row only drops the credential in this browser. The computer still lists this device until you forget it there or Unpair it under Settings → computer card → Paired devices. Unpair this device still only affects the current computer pairing.

Machines Herdr reaches over SSH

If Herdr on a paired computer has saved SSH machines (herdr machine add), the phone can add each one without a pairing code.

1. Connect to that computer and open Computers
2. Under Machines … reaches, tap Add on a machine
3. If Remote is missing there, confirm Install. The computer installs and starts it over its own SSH connection

The machine then joins the computer list and you connect to it like any other computer. It keeps its own identity and keys; the first computer only relays a one-use pairing link and is not needed afterwards.

What to expect:

• One tap per machine, and each phone adds machines for itself
• The computer must reach the machine with ssh that needs no password or prompt
• Machines run Linux or macOS and use Herdr's default session
• Both the computer and the machine need Remote 1.3.0 or later. Update the computer with remote update

From the computer's terminal, remote machine list shows the same machines and remote machine link NAME prints that machine's pairing code here.

Another window

A second Remote page on the same paired phone may tell the old window Another window took over this device's connection. Distinct devices can stay connected together; multiple windows of one device steal the session.