Screens 5.8.12

Screens 5

A cross-platform VNC client for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro that lets you observe or fully control remote computers as if you were sitting in front of them.

Screens from Edovia targets remote workers, server admins, and anyone supporting family Macs from afar. Install Screens Connect on a Mac or Windows PC at home, sign in with a Screens ID, and reach that machine over the internet without manual port forwarding. On the local network, Screens discovers nearby hosts automatically; for Linux and Raspberry Pi, Tailscale integration offers a simpler secure path than opening VNC ports manually.

Control, privacy, and file access

Connections support observe-only or full control modes, adaptive or full display quality, multi-monitor selection on Mac hosts, and clipboard sync between devices. Curtain Mode blacks out the remote Mac screen during sensitive work in shared spaces. File transfer works through drag and drop between Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro clients and a remote Mac; Windows and Linux clipboard sharing is limited to text and URLs per the vendor. SSH tunneling and custom SSH keys encrypt sessions on untrusted networks.

Apple ecosystem integration

Screens runs natively on macOS 14 or later, iOS and iPadOS 17.6+, and visionOS 2+, with iCloud sync for saved machines, Touch ID and Face ID app protection, Apple Watch unlock, URL scheme automation, and hardware keyboard and pointing-device support on iPad and Vision Pro. Session selection on Mac lets you share an active user desktop or start a private background session when someone is already logged in.

Licensing and fit

Screens is free to download with a trial; full access uses a subscription that covers all Apple platforms according to Edovia. Windows hosts need a separate VNC server such as UltraVNC or TightVNC; the VNC protocol does not carry audio to the client. Built-in macOS Screen Sharing may suffice for Mac-to-Mac on a LAN, but Screens adds mobile clients, Tailscale, Curtain Mode, and cross-OS support. Version 5.8.12 is a maintenance release focused on stability and performance per the Mac App Store listing.