Support – Pocket VNC

Welcome to the support page for Pocket VNC. Here you can find answers to common questions, learn how to use the app, and get in touch with us for help or feedback.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Q: What is Pocket VNC?

A: Pocket VNC lets you view and control a Mac, Windows PC, or Linux computer from your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone. It connects directly to a VNC server on your computer. There is no account and no cloud relay. Your screen and keystrokes go straight to that computer.

Q: What platforms does the app support?

A: Pocket VNC runs on iOS and Android.

Q: Which computers can I connect to?

A: Any computer running a standard VNC server. This includes macOS Screen Sharing, UltraVNC (including Windows logon), TightVNC, and other VNC servers. If the server offers VeNCrypt with TLS, the connection can be encrypted. Servers that only offer anonymous TLS are not supported.

Q: Do I need an account?

A: No. Add the computer's IP address, enter the password if the server asks for one, and connect. Nothing is sent through our servers.

Connecting

Q: How do I connect for the first time?

A: On the computer, turn on a VNC server. On a Mac, open System Settings, then General, then Sharing, and turn on Screen Sharing. In Pocket VNC, tap Add device, enter the IP address, and save. Tap the device to connect.

Q: What port should I use?

A: The default is 5900. If the server is on display :1, use port 5901. Display :2 uses 5902. Open Advanced on the device screen to change the port.

Q: When do I need a username?

A: A username is optional for a normal VNC password. macOS Screen Sharing and UltraVNC Windows logon ask for the account name on that computer as well as the password. If sign-in fails, tap Enter credentials and fill in both.

Q: What do Online and Unreachable mean?

A: Online means the app could open a connection to that address and port. Unreachable means it could not. A computer can show as Online and still refuse the VNC password.

Q: Why does it say Connection failed after I leave the app?

A: The session is a live connection. If the phone sleeps, switches networks, or leaves Pocket VNC in the background, the computer may close it. Turn on Keep screen on in Settings if you want the phone to stay awake while you are connected. Open the app again and tap Reconnect.

Q: The password is correct, but I still cannot sign in.

A: Check the username, especially on a Mac or on UltraVNC with Windows logon. Also check that the port matches the server. After several failures, some servers ask you to wait before trying again.

Q: Is the connection encrypted?

A: A normal VNC connection is not encrypted. Use it on your own home or office network, or over a VPN you trust. If your server supports VeNCrypt with TLS, Pocket VNC uses that. Do not send a VNC password over a public network without a VPN.

Controls

Q: How do I use the screen?

A: It works like a laptop trackpad.

- Drag one finger to move the cursor.

- Tap to left-click.

- Long-press to right-click.

- Long-press, then drag, to drag with the left button held.

- Tap with two fingers to right-click.

- Drag with two fingers to scroll.

- Pinch to zoom.

Tap the zoom button on the toolbar to switch between fit-to-screen and actual size.

Q: How do I open and close the keyboard?

A: Tap the keyboard button on the toolbar. Tap it again to close the keyboard. A special keys bar can sit above the keyboard with Esc, Tab, Ctrl, Alt, Win or Command, Shift, arrow keys, and function keys. Turn that bar on or off in Settings, under Show special keys bar.

Q: How do keyboard shortcuts work?

A: Tap Ctrl, Alt, Win/⌘, or Shift once. It stays down until the next key, so you can type a shortcut such as Ctrl+C. Ctrl+Alt+Del is a separate key at the end of the special keys bar. On a Mac, Ctrl is Control, Alt is Option, and Win/⌘ is Command.

Q: Can I use a hardware keyboard?

A: Yes. Connect a keyboard to your phone or tablet and type while a session is open.

Clipboard

Q: How do I paste text into the computer?

A: Tap the clipboard button. Send to remote places the text on the computer's clipboard. On the computer, press Ctrl+V, or Command+V on a Mac. Type it types the text directly and works for any language.

Q: Why did some characters turn into question marks?

A: Send to remote uses the standard VNC clipboard, which only carries basic Western characters. Use Type it for Chinese and other text.

Q: How do I copy text from the computer to my phone?

A: Turn on Sync remote clipboard in Settings. When the computer copies text, Pocket VNC can place it on your phone. You can also tap Copy to phone in the clipboard panel when remote text is shown.

Devices and picture quality

Q: How do I add, edit, or remove a computer?

A: Tap Add device to save one. Tap the three dots on a device to edit, duplicate, or delete it. You can also long-press a device to edit it. Passwords are stored in your phone's secure storage.

Q: What do Fast, Balanced, and Lossless mean?

A: They are picture quality options under Advanced. Fast uses less data and is smoother on a slow network. Balanced is the default. Lossless keeps the sharpest image and uses more data. Color depth can be 24-bit, 16-bit, or 8-bit. A lower depth uses less data.

Q: What is View only?

A: View only lets you watch the screen without moving the mouse or typing. Turn it on under Advanced before you connect.

Troubleshooting

Q: The computer is Unreachable.

A: Confirm the phone and the computer are on the same network, or that your VPN can reach the computer. Check the IP address and port. Confirm the VNC server is running and that a firewall allows that port.

Q: The screen stays black or looks blocky.

A: Wait a moment, then open the … menu and tap Refresh screen. If it is still poor, edit the device and try Balanced or Lossless, and 24-bit color.

Q: I cannot find the cursor.

A: Drag one finger anywhere on the screen. The cursor moves from where it already is. It does not jump to your finger. Pinch out if you are zoomed in and the cursor is off screen.

Q: How do I change the theme or stop the screen from sleeping?

A: Open Settings from the gear icon. Theme can follow the phone, or stay light or dark. Keep screen on stops the phone from sleeping during a session. Haptic feedback can be turned off there too.

Need Help?

You can reach us by email at shrimpstudio435@gmail.com or by calling the number below. Please describe your question or issue in detail, and include your phone model and the computer you are connecting to. We typically respond within 24–48 hours.

Email: shrimpstudio435@gmail.com

Phone: +852 6464 3622

Use the form below to report bugs, suggest features, or share your opinion. We read every submission.

Thank you for using Pocket VNC.