Matrix Remote Pair once. Asked every time. You stay in control.
Viewer: the computer you sit at. It shows the other screen in a window and sends your mouse and keyboard.
Receiver: the computer you want to reach. It shows its screen and takes your mouse and keyboard, but only after someone there allows it (or with an access password, on a Mac).
Example
Watch it
A short walkthrough in five chapters. It is an example with made-up names: nothing in it is your computer. Space plays and pauses; the arrow keys step through the chapters. With Reduce Motion on, it shows still pictures.
Step by step
The four steps
1
Pairing, once
The Receiver shows a one-time code. You type it on the Viewer. Each computer then works out a six-digit check number from the keys the two exchanged. You compare the two numbers by eye: if someone were sitting in between, they would differ.
2
Connecting: the person there is asked
On a MacPress Connect on the Viewer. The Receiver shows who is asking, with Deny as the default. No answer in 30 seconds counts as no. (A computer you marked Connect without asking on a Mac Receiver isn't asked about: it must give the access password instead.)
On WindowsPress Connect on the Viewer. The Receiver shows who is asking, with Deny as the default. No answer in 30 seconds counts as no.
3
You stay in control
On a MacWhile someone is connected, a red banner shows on every screen of the Receiver. Stop or the menu-bar icon ends it at once (so does ⌃⌥⌘X when the banner offers it), and your own mouse or keyboard pauses their control for two seconds.
On WindowsWhile someone is connected, a red banner shows on every screen of the Receiver: the full banner with Stop on the main screen, a red strip on the others. Stop or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X ends it at once (the keys don't work while Windows shows an admin prompt), and your own mouse or keyboard pauses their control for two seconds.
4
The fastest path
On the same network the two computers talk straight to each other. In different places, our relay introduces them and they usually talk direct; if they can't, the picture goes through the relay, still locked. Both need our relay. Once our relay checks licences, that works when the computer you connect to has a licence or is in its test period; in this test version it doesn't check yet.
Getting started
The first time, in four steps
On a MacOn the computer you want to reach: open Matrix Remote, go to This Mac and allow Screen Recording and Accessibility.
On WindowsOn the computer you want to reach: open Matrix Remote and go to This PC. Windows needs no extra permission.
On the same computer, press Pair a new Viewer. It shows an 8-character code.
On the computer you sit at, press Pair a computer… and type that code. Both screens now show a six-digit check number. If they are the same, press They match on both.
Your computer now appears under Your computers. Press Connect, and the person there presses Allow.
On the Receiver
When someone asks to connect
A computer you paired wants to see (and maybe control) this one.
Deny if you are not expecting it. Doing nothing for 30 seconds also denies.
Allow view only: they can watch, not touch.
Allow control: they can use your mouse and keyboard, and can type anywhere, even into passwords. Only allow someone you would hand your keyboard to.
On the Receiver
While someone is connected
On a MacIt shows on every screen while someone is connected. Hiding Matrix Remote doesn't hide it. Stop or the menu-bar icon ends the session at once, and so does ⌃⌥⌘X when the banner offers it. Move your own mouse or press a key, and their control pauses for two seconds. You always come first.
On WindowsIt shows on every screen while someone is connected: the full banner with Stop on the main screen, a red strip on the others. It is red whether they control this PC or only watch it. Stop or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X ends the session at once (the keys don't work while Windows shows an admin prompt). Move your own mouse or press a key, and their control pauses for two seconds. You always come first. Windows itself never lets them control admin prompts.
Mac only
Connecting when nobody is there
On a MacFor your own computers only. A paired computer marked Connect without asking can come in without anyone pressing Allow, but it must type the access password every time. The password is checked on this Mac and never stored on any server. It must be at least 8 characters. Five wrong tries lock it for five minutes, and longer after that. It works only while you are logged in and Matrix Remote is running.
On WindowsOn Windows, someone at this PC must press Allow every time. Connecting without anyone there is coming later.
Sessions
When a session ends
A session ends when the person at the Receiver presses Stop, when the Receiver stops sharing its screen (for example a display was unplugged), when the connection is lost for a minute, and after 8 hours at most. A session with control also ends after 30 minutes without any mouse or keyboard from the Viewer; a view-only session doesn't.
During a session
Share the clipboard
Text and pictures you copy on one computer can be pasted on the other during a session.
On a MacSettings has two switches: one for when another computer is using this Mac, one for when this Mac is using another computer. Each stays as you set it. Off on either side means nothing is copied either way in that session.
On WindowsSettings has two switches: one for when another computer is using this PC, one for when this PC is using another computer. Each stays as you set it. Off on either side means nothing is copied either way in that session.
What a password manager copies and marks as private is not sent. It never works in a view-only session.
During a session
Sending files
During a session you can send files to the other computer, up to 4 GB each and three at a time. They are encrypted on the way like everything else.
A file is refused if less than 5 GB would be left free on the computer receiving it.
A file shows as saved (✓) only when the other computer confirms it has saved and checked it. Until then it says it is waiting; if you disconnect first, you are asked. An older Matrix Remote can't confirm, so its files show as sent.
On a MacReceived files land in Downloads ▸ Matrix Remote and are marked as downloaded, so macOS checks apps before they run.
On WindowsReceived files land in Downloads\Matrix Remote.
iPhone and iPad
Sharing an iPhone or iPad screen
A Mac, Windows PC or Android device you pair here can watch this screen while you share it, even when you switch to other apps. View only: nothing here can be tapped or typed from there.
Pair once: this device shows a code; on the computer choose Pair a computer and type it; both show the same six-digit number. The computer needs Matrix Remote 1.5 or newer.
You start it every time with Start Broadcast, and iOS shows a red indicator while it runs. It stops when you stop it, when the computer stops watching, when nobody watches for 3 minutes, or after 8 hours.