Use Your iPhone…From Your Mac!

With a jailbroken phone, VNC lets you send text and operate apps with your Mac’s mouse—all over your Wi-Fi network.

No joke--with the help of a Cydia app called Veency, you can operate your jailbroken iPhone from your Mac. Everything from sending text messages with your Mac’s keyboard to operating iPhone apps with your mouse is possible. Veency opens up an intriguing new world of opportunities, and here’s how to set it up...

1. Download Veency

Search for “Veency” in Cydia, the jailbroken app store. The results are called packages, and the one you want is authored by Jay Freeman (the creator of Cydia). Once it’s installed, you won’t see an icon appear. To use Veency, you have to find it in Settings, where it offers plenty of options like password protection and the ability to show or hide the computer cursor when it’s in use (we like it off).

This is the package you want to download.

2. Download a VNC Client for Your Computer

Now that you have a VNC server on your phone, you’re halfway there. The next step is putting a client on your computer. There are dozens of free options at your disposal (for both Mac and Windows users). We’ve used Chicken of the VNC as our client on Mac with relatively few problems, and RealVNC is a solid option for Windows users.

Not fond of our choices? A quick Google search for VNC and your operating system will reveal tons of other free options.

3. Create Your Server

Once your VNC client is installed on your computer, run it. In Chicken of the VNC, you’ll see a sidebar with a list of already implemented servers. Ignore them for now and instead create your own (in Chicken of the VNC, simply tap the + button on the bottom left). 

Don’t bother naming your server. You’ll have to delete it to enter your IP address in the next step.

4. Find Your IP address

In the VNC Login menu for your new server, all you need to focus on is the section that says Host. This is where you’ll enter your iPhone’s IP address. To find this, navigate to Settings > Wifi and tap the “>” next to the network you’re connected to. The first section of the DHCP tab will be IP Address. Enter that into the Host section of your computer’s VNC.

Your iPhone will then prompt you to accept or reject an incoming VNC connection. Tap Accept, and you’ll be connected.

5. Set Up a Password

It’s important to set a password on your VNC connection so any Joe Schmoe can’t try to log onto your phone, but this couldn’t be simpler. In Settings > Veency, fill the empty password field. In Chicken of the VNC, fill the password field with the same password. Once that’s done, hit Connect. Voilà! Now you’re more secure and don’t have to accept incoming connections each time.

Your password can be any length—just make sure it’s secure!