It’s worse now. Do not buy.
I have been a loyal user of this app for a long time. I have purchased the Mac and iPad/iPhone apps, as well as the in-app add-ons. I used to highly recommend this app and advocate for it. However, I am disappointed with the developer's response to my review. Instead of taking responsibility for improving the app, they blamed me for not using another app alongside theirs. They also failed to acknowledge the limitations of their app and suggested that I should have known better. It is frustrating that the developer doesn't seem to care about my experience as a loyal user and instead recommends using another app. This is unacceptable. The app needs to be fixed and updated to meet the standards of 2023. The developer should stop making excuses for issues that other screen sharing apps do not have.
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Response from developer
Hi! Some of our users in your situation seem to have success using Tailscale in conjunction with Screens. Unfortunately we haven't heard back from you for over a year so we couldn't make that recommendation, which has been added on our support page since then. You'll find more details and instructions in the url below. Have a wonderful day! https://help.edovia.com/en/screens-connect-4/faq/vpn
Doesn’t Support Click + Hold
Screens has a beautifully designed simple interface, with a very user friendly network setup process. Unfortunately, it’s still lacking some basic features for remote computing. The app does not support right or middle mouse button click + hold commands, rendering softwares like Rhino, AutoCad, Revit, or the Adobe CS suite virtually unusable when remoting into a desktop. I’d consider revisiting this app once the developer team has addressed this basic interface, but if your in the AEC or design industries, stick with the laptop for now.
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Response from developer
Thanks for your review. Like we mentioned in our initial reply when you contact us earlier this week, we'll address your feature request in a future update. Have a nice day!
It’s not good anymore.
I have been a loyal user for a long time. I purchased the Mac and iPad/iPhone apps, as well as the in-app add-ons. I used to highly recommend this app and advocate for it. However, with the changing times and advancements in internet technology, such as the availability of 5G internet without relying on ISPs or modems, the way people connect to the internet has evolved. Despite this, the company still suggests checking router settings or firewall configurations when asked for help, which may not be relevant in these new connection methods.
I have personally experienced a situation where I encountered issues while using the app over cellular data and when seeking assistance, they simply directed me to their website without acknowledging my previous year of flawless usage. It is unfortunate that other options, like the Google remote connect app or Team Viewer, work seamlessly while Screens app fails to deliver.
Screens app no longer functions as it used to, and even attempting to connect from my phone to my home is unsuccessful. Although everything is properly set up and connected, using Google Remote allows me to connect with just one click. Screens app needs to address and update these issues to stay relevant in the ever-changing technology landscape.
I have personally experienced a situation where I encountered issues while using the app over cellular data and when seeking assistance, they simply directed me to their website without acknowledging my previous year of flawless usage. It is unfortunate that other options, like the Google remote connect app or Team Viewer, work seamlessly while Screens app fails to deliver.
Screens app no longer functions as it used to, and even attempting to connect from my phone to my home is unsuccessful. Although everything is properly set up and connected, using Google Remote allows me to connect with just one click. Screens app needs to address and update these issues to stay relevant in the ever-changing technology landscape.
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Great and stays great…
I have used Screens for probably 6- 8 years now. I have had the occasional hiccup with connection BUT I’m sure its more on some other hardware settings typically than this software having the issue. Often times signing out and back in fixes it. Anyway its always been there for me, the developer is great. They stay on top of it and are helpful. The way it works is really amazing— its very responsive even when I am on my iPhone and using data instead of Wi-Fi.
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Doesn’t work anymore
Nowadays it just randomly loses connection and stops responding. Not even any sort of error notification or anything, it just freezes with a still of my screen and stops broadcasting or accepting inputs. Even over my local network. When I force close the app and reopen it, it operates just fine as if nothing’s wrong… for a little while, and then it starts misbehaving again until I force close. My productivity is plummeting. It’s not me, it’s you. EDIT: Now it does something weird where, and I never believed this to be possible, the app I’m developing in (Unity) just stops responding to change until I move or resize the window. I thought it was a Unity problem, until I saw that natively on the computer the app responds fine. For some reason, Screens won’t render any changes to the app until I resize it. EDIT: Thank you for your flippant response to my review but I am going to continue leaving a negative review on your product for being a major inconvenience to me. Don’t talk to me about what’s productive, your app is taking productivity away from me and you expect me to keep your good name clean???? Completely unprofessional.
EDIT AGAIN: Yet another flippant response to my review. Just let it go. Your product is causing problems for me and so I left a negative review. I will not be changing it. I will not ever be changing it. Every new version I will continue posting a negative review. You’ve earned it.
EDIT AGAIN: Yet another flippant response to my review. Just let it go. Your product is causing problems for me and so I left a negative review. I will not be changing it. I will not ever be changing it. Every new version I will continue posting a negative review. You’ve earned it.
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Response from developer
We're sorry that you feel this way. You can write a negative review if you like (it's your right and privilege) but you're not giving us the opportunity to assist you and try to solve the problem you're experiencing. Frankly, we're not sure why you're so upset that we want to help you with our app so you can enjoy it. Have a nice day!
Please fix Send Clipboard
I love this app so much *except* for one feature I use often— Send Clipboard. When I try to use this, more than half the time it disconnects and reconnects the remote mac without actually sending the clipboard. I have to try a few times before it sends it successfully without disconnecting the remote mac. This is consistent behavior on 4 different remote macs I’ve tried, each running different OS versions so it seems to be a problem with the Screens app. I have also tried it from many different iPad and iPhone devices, so it isn’t my local app configuration or install.
This has been a bug ever since I started using Screens many years ago. Will it ever be fixed? Will update to 5 stars if it does. Thanks.
This has been a bug ever since I started using Screens many years ago. Will it ever be fixed? Will update to 5 stars if it does. Thanks.
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iPadOS 16.2 with External Display & Stage Manager is a mess.
As the title states, Screens assumes that your external display is exclusively for its use when running on an M1 or M2 iPad’s screen even with Stage Manager on. It should run in a window like any other app and be movable between the built-in and external displays. Also my remote Mac’s display in Screens is scaled up for some reason making the desktop very small and windows extremely large, regardless of the display being used. The only workaround is to disconnect the external display.
Please fix. I find this very disappointing considering how long 16.2 was in beta.
Please fix. I find this very disappointing considering how long 16.2 was in beta.
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It just works
I have been looking for a simple way to remote control my MBP from my iPad Pro over my local wifi. I have been disappointed trying many VNC clients.
Although the setup warned me that I didn’t have port forwarding enabled (and I won’t be enabling it) it seemed to indicate a doomed installation… it was wrong.
I would change the installation message to indicate that it will work — but only for local wifi use — in that situation, instead of giving a failed install error that may cause many users to give up.
Also you might consider marketing to that use case, many of us work in the industry and there is zero chance we want to open our stuff for potential ingress from the internet.
Although the setup warned me that I didn’t have port forwarding enabled (and I won’t be enabling it) it seemed to indicate a doomed installation… it was wrong.
I would change the installation message to indicate that it will work — but only for local wifi use — in that situation, instead of giving a failed install error that may cause many users to give up.
Also you might consider marketing to that use case, many of us work in the industry and there is zero chance we want to open our stuff for potential ingress from the internet.
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Frustrating trying to use Mac key commands
Overall, the app works fairly well. The ability to use it in either trackpad mode or touch mode is great. It does a pretty good job of giving me access to my desktop from the couch, which is my main use. There are a number of key commands that I use extensively on macOS that aren’t sent across the connection. In particular, Cmd-Tab, Cmd-` and Cmd-Q, which are used frequently. There is an option in the settings to switch the control and command keys to handle this. It’s a clunky workaround that means using different keys when connected from the iPad, but at least it’s possible to use.
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Response from developer
Hi. Thanks for your feedback! These shortcuts are reserved by iOS and aren't available for apps to be used. However, you can work around this by switching the CTRL and CMD keys in the Screens app settings. This way, you'll be able to use those shortcuts!
Excellent App for VNC Remoting
I use VNC to connect to several Raspberry Pi systems serving special apps and for development. I was using Re****C but it does not support my little mouse. I stumbled onto Screens. Once I read the docs and switched my Pi’s VNC servers to “VNC Password” authentication the app connects and acts really nice. Mouse and BT keyboard integration is flawless.
The more I use Screens, the more I appreciate the care and skill that went into this app. Highly recommended.
The more I use Screens, the more I appreciate the care and skill that went into this app. Highly recommended.
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Great and stays great…
I have used Screens for probably 6- 8 years now. I have had the occasional hiccup with connection BUT I’m sure its more on some other hardware settings typically than this software having the issue. Often times signing out and back in fixes it. Anyway its always been there for me, the developer is great. They stay on top of it and are helpful. The way it works is really amazing— its very responsive even when I am on my iPhone and using data instead of Wi-Fi.
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Amazing, fabulous, pro tools
Works with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 on the day they shipped. Works on Big Sur the day it shipped. A pro tool for people that value their time and need to get work done. A much better solution than ARD or screen sharing for less than 30 machines to manage.
Great app with full support for Magic Keyboard
So glad I sprung for Screens vs. some of the free VNC apps out there. It’s the only one with full, native trackpad support while using the Magic Trackpad with my iPad Pro. This makes the iPad as responsive as a desktop machine when connecting to my VNC hosts. UI is also a delight. Invest in this, it’d the best I’ve encountered.
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Best Remote Access for Mac
It’s the best for the job. It would be 5 stars if it was truly plug and play. The need for an additional program to make it run is a minor annoyance, but annoying nonetheless. That aside, it is the fastest, lightest, most functional of the remote access programs.
Should have bought this earlier
I have an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil and a Magic Keyboard. I’ve been struggling to find a VNC client to access my Ubuntu desktop/server. This app has excellent Magic Keyboard support, gestures work perfectly, even with the Apple Pencil. With the url scheme I can create a launcher on my iPad Home Screen. The connection is active whenever I return to the app, unlike some other apps where I have to reconnect after 15 seconds or so in the background. I’m impressed with this app.
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This app is terrible
Don’t waste your money. Some reviews mentioned it was better than jump desktop. It’s not even close. This is just a glorified vnc client that is actually quite slow even on local networks. It doesn't work with headless windows servers. You have to have a monitor connected or you get a black screen. This is a known issue on the vnc server they use with it.
So for my own use I had three computers to login to, the main windows server I just get a black screen. I have a remote server and it works on that but is very slow. Then there is my MacBook Pro and it works on that kind of but doesn't work nearly as well as jump desktop or parallels access, the UX for this app just isn't good. I was hoping for something usable. Oh and apple no longer gives refunds if you have problems with software, I only had the software 2 days and spent that time just trying to get it working right. This was the last app I plan to purchase on the App Store. Well I guess I got suckered because you do have a beautiful icon, too bad that quality didn't translate to the rest of the app.
I hate writing this negative review. If Apple had just given me a refund, for this broken app, I would have just let it go unreviewed.
So for my own use I had three computers to login to, the main windows server I just get a black screen. I have a remote server and it works on that but is very slow. Then there is my MacBook Pro and it works on that kind of but doesn't work nearly as well as jump desktop or parallels access, the UX for this app just isn't good. I was hoping for something usable. Oh and apple no longer gives refunds if you have problems with software, I only had the software 2 days and spent that time just trying to get it working right. This was the last app I plan to purchase on the App Store. Well I guess I got suckered because you do have a beautiful icon, too bad that quality didn't translate to the rest of the app.
I hate writing this negative review. If Apple had just given me a refund, for this broken app, I would have just let it go unreviewed.
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Response from developer
Hi. Sorry to see that you've experienced problems with Screens. Please contact us at screens@edovia.com if you need further assistance. Have a nice day!
Could be great
Ok the whole concept of this app could be so great for us designers. I have a macbook pro 16 inch that I use photoshop intensely for.
I was so excited for this app because I thought I could use photoshop on the go on my ipad pro remotely from my 16 inch because who is lugging around 4.5 pounds
But photoshop does not work. It will open up the software but when it comes to pen support and editing it just doesnt work
I guess that would be a game changer if it did. And photoshop for ipad is a complete joke. Any of us pro users know its a liquid form of photoshop.
I need to edit photos daily and I cant seem to figure out to be productive on the go.
Now for wanting to log into your computer system away from home, grab a file or something than this is good.
I really tried to give this app a chance but it doesnt work for me
Apple tries with their version but it only works with devices near by and not remotely and their pen support for photoshop works
We are in 2021 and us apple users can not use out ipad pros with mac os softwares.
Thought I leave this review for those who wanted to get this for photoshop. Sadly it just doesnt work
I was so excited for this app because I thought I could use photoshop on the go on my ipad pro remotely from my 16 inch because who is lugging around 4.5 pounds
But photoshop does not work. It will open up the software but when it comes to pen support and editing it just doesnt work
I guess that would be a game changer if it did. And photoshop for ipad is a complete joke. Any of us pro users know its a liquid form of photoshop.
I need to edit photos daily and I cant seem to figure out to be productive on the go.
Now for wanting to log into your computer system away from home, grab a file or something than this is good.
I really tried to give this app a chance but it doesnt work for me
Apple tries with their version but it only works with devices near by and not remotely and their pen support for photoshop works
We are in 2021 and us apple users can not use out ipad pros with mac os softwares.
Thought I leave this review for those who wanted to get this for photoshop. Sadly it just doesnt work
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Invaluable Tool
This is a great way to keep monitoring going for all your remote computers. Due to COVID i have yet to test this outside of a local WiFi network, but otherwise it’s been very nice to use.
Definitely better to have a keyboard with whatever you want to monitor with for better control, such as on an iPad, especially if you use multiple spaces pre monitor, but it’s still pretty handy with an iPhone.
Definitely better to have a keyboard with whatever you want to monitor with for better control, such as on an iPad, especially if you use multiple spaces pre monitor, but it’s still pretty handy with an iPhone.
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This is the one you want
Do you have an iPad Pro with a Magic Keybaord and you want to remote control your Mac or PC? Yes. This is the app you want. Not only because it does everything other remote apps do, but because it works perfectly with the magic keyboard trackpad to give you near-perfect mouse control. You can click buttons, resize windows, drag things around your desktop - all with your magic keyboard trackpad. Perfect.
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Works but unusable
Hey. I’ll give credit where it’s due. The mouse support for iPad is pretty good. Unfortunately everything else is terrible.
The connection is terribly laggy (this is being used in a server room with 10gbps up down wired internet) and I always end up having to reconnect by gorse closing the app.
I wish I could still use Chrome Remote Desktop as it was flawless, but unfortunately I need that iPad mouse support. But unfortunately I cannot recommend this to anyone.
The connection is terribly laggy (this is being used in a server room with 10gbps up down wired internet) and I always end up having to reconnect by gorse closing the app.
I wish I could still use Chrome Remote Desktop as it was flawless, but unfortunately I need that iPad mouse support. But unfortunately I cannot recommend this to anyone.
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