Do I need to be on the same network?

No. On the same Wi-Fi, Servey uses a direct, high-performance stream for the sharpest possible picture. On different networks it automatically switches to a private connection between your own devices. Either way it just works.

Is it secure and private?

Yes, and there are two locks rather than one. Signing in with Google pairs only your own devices, scoped to your account. On top of that you set a master password on your Mac that every device must produce before it can connect, each new device waits for you to approve it on the Mac itself, and you can revoke any device at any time. Your screen video travels end-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer between your devices; if your network will not allow a direct connection, it relays through our own server rather than a third party's cloud.

What happens to my terminal session if I disconnect?

It keeps running. Every terminal session in Servey is a named session that lives on your Mac rather than inside the app, so closing Servey, losing signal or putting the phone in your pocket does not stop the work. Start a long build from the iPad, come back an hour later, and you rejoin it exactly where it got to. You can also open the same live session on your Mac and your iPad at once.

Can I hide what I am doing from people near my Mac?

Yes. Privacy Mode blacks out every monitor physically attached to your Mac while the stream you are watching keeps showing the real desktop. It covers every app, every space and every connected display, including the cursor, and nothing is overlaid on screen. If Servey quits or the connection drops, macOS restores the displays on its own, so it cannot leave the Mac stuck on black.

What if I stop using Servey - am I locked in?

No. Servey runs your terminal sessions in tmux on your own Mac, and the app shows you the attach command for each one. Paste it into Terminal.app, iTerm, Ghostty or an SSH connection and you are in the same live session with Servey uninstalled. Nothing you start in Servey is trapped in a format only Servey can open.

Does it work over cellular?

Yes. Servey is built to connect reliably even on strict mobile and carrier networks where most tools give up, and it tunes quality to your connection automatically so the picture stays smooth.

Which devices are supported?

A Mac as the host, controlled from an iPhone or iPad. Servey needs macOS 15.3 or later on the Mac and iOS or iPadOS 18.5 or later on the device you control it from, so it is worth checking your versions before you join the waitlist. Any Mac that runs macOS 15.3 works, Apple silicon or Intel, and a MacBook can be driven with the lid shut. Servey is built natively for the Apple ecosystem - not an Electron or Java port - so it feels fast and right at home on your devices.

Do I need a VPN or port forwarding?

No. There's no VPN to configure and no ports to forward. Sign in with Google on both devices and your Mac appears - that's the entire setup.

Is there a free version?

Yes. Servey has a free tier with no card and no countdown: five-minute sessions, five sessions a day, and your daily allowance resets at local midnight. Everything Servey does is in it - screen mirroring, input and the terminal - so what you are paying for on a paid plan is time, not a longer feature list.

When is it launching and how much will it cost?

Servey is in pre-submission hardening now, and the waitlist is how you get in first. Pricing is already set: free to start, the Terminal plan at $1.99/month or ₹99/month in India, and Full access - screen mirroring plus terminal - at $4.49/month or ₹299/month in India. Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment it's ready. You're never charged until launch.

Can I control a headless Mac Mini with no monitor?

Yes. Servey gives you the Mini's screen plus a real terminal from your iPhone or iPad, so it runs fine with no display attached.

How do I access a Mac Mini remotely without a keyboard or mouse?

Servey provides an on-screen trackpad, a full keyboard, and a terminal, so you can drive a headless Mini entirely from your phone.

Is a terminal included for server-style tasks?

Yes. Servey ships a genuine shell on your Mac, ideal for restarting services, tailing logs, or deploying on a headless Mini.

Control a headless Mac Mini remotely from your iPhone or iPad

By Janesh Kapoor · July 9, 2026 · Updated September 5, 2026 · 4 min read

A Mac Mini tucked on a shelf with no monitor makes a fantastic little always-on machine - a build box, a media server, an automation host. The catch is driving it. Here is how to run a headless Mac Mini from your iPhone or iPad.

The Mac Mini is popular as a headless machine: small, quiet, efficient, and powerful enough to be a home server, CI runner, or automation host. But 'headless' means no keyboard, mouse, or monitor attached - so you need a reliable way to reach it, both for the occasional GUI task and for everyday command-line work.

You need two things: a screen and a shell

Most headless work is command-line: check a service, pull code, run a job, read a log. For that you want a real terminal. But now and then you need the actual desktop - to click through a GUI installer, approve a permission dialog, or use an app that has no command-line equivalent. A good remote tool gives you both from the same place.

A genuine shell on the Mac Mini for day-to-day commands and maintenance.
Full screen mirroring with mouse and keyboard for the occasional GUI task.
Access from your local network at home and remotely when you are out.
Setup that does not require plugging in a monitor just to get started.

Driving a Mac Mini with Servey

Servey turns your iPhone or iPad into the head for your headless Mac Mini. You get crystal-clear screen mirroring with real mouse and keyboard when you need the desktop, plus a real terminal for everything else - both available on your local network and remotely. Because setup is just signing in with Google on each device, you do not need to attach a display to configure it.

Whether the Mini is a build box, a home server, or an automation host, you can check on it and control it from your pocket. Servey is launching soon - join the waitlist to be notified before release.

Frequently asked questions

Can I control a headless Mac Mini with no monitor?: Yes. Servey gives you the Mini's screen plus a real terminal from your iPhone or iPad, so it runs fine with no display attached.
How do I access a Mac Mini remotely without a keyboard or mouse?: Servey provides an on-screen trackpad, a full keyboard, and a terminal, so you can drive a headless Mini entirely from your phone.
Is a terminal included for server-style tasks?: Yes. Servey ships a genuine shell on your Mac, ideal for restarting services, tailing logs, or deploying on a headless Mini.

Servey puts your Mac in your pocket. Launching soon.