Pairing

Pairing is authorization, not an account login. Remote has no username, email, or cloud account. Until it completes, the device cannot operate. After the computer confirms, this device holds a credential.

The credential stays in this browser on this device. Another browser, cleared site data, removing the PWA, or a private window means pairing again.

Opening pairing on the computer

On the computer that already runs pairfob:

remote pair

It will:

1. Prefer a QR code
2. Also print a manual code
3. Wait for the other device to prove the pairing secret
4. Ask for one Enter

There is no web confirm page. Do not look for an “Accept pairing” button in another machine’s browser — accept happens in this computer’s terminal.

Only one pairing at a time

If another computer also runs remote pair, the old code dies. The phone may say another computer started pairing, or that the code expired. Use the code this computer just printed.

Connecting the other device

Open remote.tmts.ca/pair. The pairing page follows the same language as Remote (Connect your computer in English). A device that is already paired goes straight to the session list.

What the page offers follows what you point with. A phone or touch tablet leads with the scan and keeps typing behind Type the pairing code. A desktop browser with a mouse shows the code field on the page and no scan.

Scan (preferred on a phone or touch tablet) — Scan to connect

Point the camera at the QR on the computer. Camera permission is only for that scan.

Type it — Type the pairing code

Typing needs 8 secret glyphs + 6 locator glyphs. There is no 8-glyph-only hand entry.

• One field; paste all 14 glyphs (spaces and hyphens allowed; O → 0, I/L → 1)
• Eight glyphs only: the page asks for the rest and does not send
• Desktop browser: run remote pair on the computer you want to control, type or paste the code under the QR into the field on the page, and click Connect. This browser can then see the sessions on that computer

The two parts are different jobs:

Part	Length	Job
Pairing code	8	Secret. Proves you saw the computer screen
Locator	6	Finds that computer. Not the same class of secret

Enter on the computer

Only Enter on the computer actually admits the device. After you scan or type the code, the device still waits. Neither side shows security words. That stops a screenshot of the QR from pairing without you.

If it is not your device, refuse on the computer (Ctrl-C or wait for expiry) and run remote pair again.

Expired or wrong codes

A code is spent when used, and it also expires. Do not use a code from chat or last week’s screenshot.

Match the string on screen (English Remote):

You see	Meaning	Do this
That pairing code is spent or expired	Slot rotated, or the code is dead	Use the code the computer is printing now
Enter the full pairing code / 14 characters needed	Locator missing	Paste 8+6 together
The pairing code is too long: it should have 14 characters	Extra characters typed or pasted	Keep only the 14 the computer shows
That pairing code is incorrect	Does not match	New code; do not permute the old one
Pairing timed out	Network, or the computer left the wait	Scan or type the current code again
Too many attempts	This side is rate-limited	Wait
Another computer started pairing	A newer pair took the slot	Open pairing on the computer you mean to use

After pairing

• Opening remote.tmts.ca/pair reconnects to the last computer this browser used
• Another computer on this phone: install pairfob there with the same command, run remote pair, then Settings → Switch computer → Add a computer — Multiple devices
• Another device: run remote pair again and scan or type the new code on the new device — Multiple devices
• On the phone, Settings → computer card → Paired devices can unpair other devices. The computer can also remote forget N

Do not

• Paste pairing codes into someone else’s page or a group chat
• Clone a paired browser profile onto another phone
• Assume pairing finished before the computer confirmed
• Keep using an old code while two computers have pairing open