HPSS

For iPad and iPhone

Your Mac, on your iPad, at full speed.

HPSS connects to the High Performance mode built into macOS Screen Sharing: the low-latency, hardware-encoded video stream that Apple silicon Macs use with each other. Nothing to install on the Mac, no account, and nothing leaves your network.

One purchase, no subscription.
Family Sharing for up to six people.

The Mac's screen arrives as four HEVC video tiles, decoded on the iPad's media engine.

Mac: Apple silicon, macOS Sonoma 14 or later
iPad & iPhone: iPadOS or iOS 17 or later
Network: Both on the same local network
On the Mac: Screen Sharing turned on. Nothing to install.

Made for working, not just looking

A remote screen is only useful if you can type, point and read on it. HPSS treats the iPad as a proper way to use your Mac.

A trackpad, not a touchscreen

One finger moves the pointer, tap to click, two fingers scroll or right-click, three fingers drag. Hardware keyboards and trackpads work as they do on a Mac.

Typing that keeps up

A keyboard bar with sticky ⌘ ⌥ ⌃ ⇧, Esc, Tab and common shortcuts. The picture slides up so the cursor never hides behind the keyboard.

The resolution you want

Match the iPad's screen exactly, ask the Mac for a bigger desktop, or go Retina for sharp text. Switch any time during a session.

Sound and clipboard

The Mac's audio plays on the iPad. Copy text or an image on one side and paste it on the other.

Your iPhone as a keyboard

Open HPSS on an iPhone next to the iPad and it becomes a keyboard and trackpad for the session, shortcut bar included.

Back where you left off

Switch apps and come back: the session stays connected for quick trips away and returns with a fresh picture.

Connected in a minute

No helper app, no account to create. HPSS uses the Screen Sharing that is already on your Mac.

Turn on Screen Sharing
On the Mac, open System Settings, then General, then Sharing, and switch on Screen Sharing.
Pick your Mac
Open HPSS. Macs with Screen Sharing on appear under Nearby Macs, or type the Mac's name.
Sign in and connect
Use your Mac user name and password, choose a display preset and tap Connect.

The HPSS connect screen on iPad, showing a nearby Mac, the sign-in fields and display settings — The connect screen on a 13-inch iPad.

Under the hood

Not VNC.

Classic Screen Sharing sends your screen as a series of compressed images. High Performance mode, added in macOS Sonoma, streams it as video instead, with the Mac's sound alongside. Apple supports it only between two Apple silicon Macs.

HPSS is a native implementation of that mode for iPad and iPhone. It decodes the video in hardware and protects the connection with the encryption built into iOS and iPadOS.

Mac
Encodes the display as HEVC video in four tiles
Network
Encrypted UDP on ports 5900–5902, straight to the iPad
iPad
Decodes the tiles on the media engine and draws them with Metal
Back
Pointer, keys, clipboard and display changes go the other way

HPSS on the inner display of iPhone Duo, with the connect screen laid out in two columns either side of the fold — Unfolded on iPhone Duo, the layout steps around the fold.

Ready for iPhone Duo

Unfold it and the inner display becomes a small Mac screen you can carry. HPSS is built with the iPhone Duo SDK, runs edge to edge on both displays and keeps its controls clear of the fold.

Nothing leaves your network

HPSS has no account, no servers of its own and no analytics. It talks to your Mac and nothing else. Your password is used to sign in to the Mac and is never stored.

Read the privacy policy

Does my Mac need extra software?

No. HPSS uses the Screen Sharing built into macOS. Turn it on in System Settings, under General and Sharing, and make sure your user account is allowed to connect.

Which Macs work?

High Performance mode needs a Mac with Apple silicon running macOS Sonoma 14 or later. Intel Macs don't offer it.

Does it work away from home?

HPSS connects to Macs on your local network. Both devices need to be on the same network, and guest Wi‑Fi that keeps devices apart will stop it finding your Mac.

Is it a subscription?

No. You buy it once, and Family Sharing lets up to six people in your family use it.

Something isn't working

The support page covers the common fixes, or email hpss@bitsmatter.co.uk with your iPad or iPhone model, your Mac model and what you saw.