Troubleshoot with SSH and your Mac screen.
Read the error. Inspect the running app. Follow the evidence from your phone.
An error message and a broken button need different checks.
Investigate command failures in terminal or SSH. For a visual issue, inspect the running app on your Mac screen—not just a chat response.
Terminal & SSH
Read output and check the environment.
Mac screen
Inspect the actual browser or desktop app.
Know where the command will run.
Before rerunning a build or changing a service, confirm the host and directory. Your phone controls a terminal; execution happens on the connected machine.
Check the machine
hostnameCheck the directory
pwdUse the SSH setup already on your Mac.
Vibe Remote uses Mac-owned terminal sessions and existing SSH configuration. Connect only to hosts you are authorized to access; verify the destination before acting.
Links & references
Your phone
Open the terminal or SSH controls.
Your Mac
Uses its SSH configuration and credentials.
Your SSH host
Requires a working, authorized connection.
Check what the app actually does.
Allow vibe-helper under Screen Recording and Accessibility on your Mac. Use touch and keyboard input to inspect a browser preview or desktop app.
Links & references
Open the Mac screen
Reach the app running on your Mac.
Repeat the action
Check the button, layout, or app state.
Move from the symptom to a checked result.
Read the relevant Mac file and Git diff, run your project’s checks, then inspect the app again. Confirm the target before any restart or deployment.
Links & references
Find the cause
Inspect source and configuration.
Check the change
Read Git edits and test output.
Verify the app
Repeat the visual check on your Mac.
Before your first remote check.
Links & references
Is this a local terminal on my phone?
No. Vibe Remote connects your phone to a Mac-owned terminal. An SSH session can then reach an authorized host using the Mac’s existing setup.
Does this work without an AI agent?
Yes. You can run terminal checks, use SSH, browse Mac files, review Git, or open the Mac screen without a Codex or Claude Code session.
Does screen control show my SSH host or simulate an iPhone?
Neither. It controls your Mac’s display, not the SSH host’s desktop or a mobile browser. The file browser also targets your Mac; inspect remote-host files in the SSH session.
What if the Mac is asleep or offline?
It cannot provide this workflow. Keep it powered, awake, and online; test your phone and SSH connections before leaving.
About this guide
By Vibe Remote team · Updated