Or better: how about controlling your PC or Mac from your friend’s house? Enabling a download, changing the screens, closing apps… there’s quite a lot you can get done remotely just by using your iPhone as a remote control for PC and Mac (and even Linux). We’ve been taking a look at how powerful the iPhone can be, as a remote control, letting you control your PC, Mac, iTunes, Apple TV and more and it turns out – not quite surprisingly – that there are truckloads of apps that can get things done for you. What follows is a roundup of some of the best iPhone apps that will let you remotely control your PC, Mac or Linux machine with your iPhone. Here we go:
iPhone Apps To Remotely Control Mac
1. Remote for Mac
When your body and mind are in the strong grip of lethargy, you don’t even like to move from your couch. Probably, for this reason, remote controls were invented. And for the same reason, Evgeny Cherpak has come up with remote control for Mac. Unlike other controllers, this one is actually an app you can download on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, and then control your Mac sitting in your chair or couch. You can control your Mac by moving and tapping your fingers on the delicate touchscreen of Apple devices. There are five main tabs on the app: Media, Input, Apps, Menu, and System. This app is appreciated by designers, musicians, writers, and almost everyone who uses their Mac all day long. Price: $9.99Download
2. Remote Mouse
If you want to have more customization options, you should keep “Remote Mouse” under your radar. Based on what suits your workflow, you can perfectly customize the interface to let you get on top of everything that matters to you. Make the best use of quick gestures and volume buttons to deal with your files more efficiently. It becomes a pretty useful keyboard and mouse to offer you more flexibility. Like using the trackpad? Well, it also provides you with a tiny trackpad that just works in getting your work done. Price: FreeDownload
3. iTunes Remote
Apple’s propriety Remote app lets you control iTunes on your PC/Mac with your iPhone. Setting up Remote is easy and quick and once done, your entire iTunes library shows up on your iPhone. Interestingly, you can also create Genius Playlists, edit the library and do all sorts of modifications to it through your iPhone. Being a free app, Remote works awesomely. Price: FreeDownload
4. Chrome Remote Desktop
When you talk about the top remote apps, “Chrome Remote Desktop” is the one you should never give a miss. Well, I say it because I have used this app and found it damn good. It works efficiently in letting you access your Mac or PC from another computer or mobile device. Once you have connected both your iPhone and the computer, you will be able to access files and apps on your computer over the Internet with the Chrome Remote Desktop. What I really adore about this app is the ability to let you control your computer using super handy gestures like swipe with two fingers to scroll up or down, pinch and stretch with two fingers to zoom and more. Price: FreeDownload
5. Off Remote
Ever forgot to turn off your computer before leaving? With Macs and PCs that “sleep” it’s easy to forget that you haven’t really shut down your computer. But worry not. Apps like Off Remote can get that covered for you. This app lets you check if all computers are shut down, lets you switch them on or put them to hibernate and brings a good level of password protection too which makes sure only you can switch off the computers. Connects fast and easy, with auto-discovery and more. Price: FreeDownload
6. TeamViewer
Nothing beats TeamViewer when it comes to a fantastic VNC client that gives complete access to your computer even when you are on the couch with your iPhone. TeamViewer comes with a server-side application that you download to your PC/Mac and then the app for iPhone which you install on your iDevice. Once done, you just link up the computer with the iPhone and done – you will now be in complete control of your PC. Get the iPhone in landscape mode and that about completes it. Unlike many other VNC apps that turn your iPhone into a remote control for PC and Mac, TeamViewer is built for quick setup and easy usability for almost everyone. Price: Free (for lite)Download
7. MochaVNC
MochaVNC is more or less TeamViewer on steroids. If you’ve got MochaVNC on your PC or Mac and on the iPhone, you’ll most probably reduce the usage of your Mac or PC drastically. Crisp interface, a cool way to incorporate the keyboard into the app’s keypad and a really thorough and tested set of features make MochaVNC a powerful remote control app. Price: $5.99 (lite version available)Download
8. RealVNC (VNC Viewer)
What I like about “RealVNC” is a neat functionality. It’s designed to work with not just Mac and Windows PC but also Linux computers. You can use this handy remote app to view the desktop of your computer and even take control of the keyboard as well as mouse. One notable feature of this app is the intuitive interface that makes it pretty simple to control the computer. Moreover, you can back up the connection and sync it across your devices for a seamless experience. Price: FreeDownload
9. Rowmote
Rowmote is one of the most simplistic apps you can ever see. It’s an app-ified version of the simple remote control that came with your Mac so it’s almost the same as using your remote. Only, you don’t have to worry about ‘lost’ remotes anymore. Rowmote lets you open dock apps quickly and easily. It also features specific controls to Apple TV. Price: $0.99Download That’s all! What’s your favorite? So, which one of the above remote apps is going to find a place on your iOS device? Let us know your feedback about it. You would like to catch up with these post as well:
How to Use Apple Watch as a Remote for iTunes
Wish to explore more such top iPhone app roundups?
