Mac → Windows setup guide

How to access a Windows PC
from a Mac

To view and control a Windows PC from your Mac, set up the Windows computer as a host and connect with the Mac viewer. This guide covers preparation, registration and your first connection using the Luxwarp test prerelease.

Updated:

Before you start. These are development prereleases. Test the picture and input on your actual computers and networks before using them for important work. Free, Personal and Team use direct connections; the current beta does not include a relay.

1. Prepare your computers and account

  • Windows host: the Windows x64 PC you want to use remotely. Keep it powered on and sign in to the Windows desktop for an ordinary connection.
  • Mac viewer: the Apple Silicon Mac you use to connect. This guide does not assume Intel Mac support.
  • Account: use Personal for your own PC, or the appropriate Team registration and access permissions for an organization's PC. Personal signup alone does not grant Team access.
  • Network: both computers need access to the Luxwarp service and a reachable UDP direct path for screen transmission.

Check the current requirements and limitations on the download page. Personal and Team are currently in free beta without payment details. Downloading does not start a subscription.

2. Install Luxwarp and register the Windows host

  1. Get the Windows x64 installer from the download page. The current installer is unsigned and requires the x64 Visual C++ runtime. Check the source and release notes before installing.
  2. Complete installation and open Luxwarp. Account registration and unattended hosting setup are not required to finish installation.
  3. Choose Personal or Team in the app and complete the applicable registration. For Personal, sign in with the account you plan to use. For Team, follow your organization's Host enrollment process.
  4. Enable hosting in the app and check that the host is online. Keep Windows and Luxwarp running while testing an ordinary connection.
Do you need access at the Windows sign-in screen?

Windows unattended hosting setup is available only for supported Team Hosts. Register the company Host first, explicitly start setup in the app and complete the Windows administrator UAC approval. This action does not support Personal unattended hosting. Check your ordinary connection before setting up this mode.

3. Install Luxwarp on your Mac and select the Windows PC

  1. Install the Apple Silicon Mac package from the download page. The app is development-signed but not Apple notarized, so macOS may require approval to open it.
  2. Open Luxwarp and sign in or register for the appropriate Personal or Team environment. For Personal, use the same account as the Windows host. For Team, you need permission to access that host.
  3. Select your registered Windows PC in the host list and connect. If it is missing, check the troubleshooting section below.

This guide uses Windows as the host and Mac as the viewer. Screen Recording permission guidance for a Mac host applies to the opposite direction.

4. Check the picture, mouse and keyboard

  • Confirm that the Windows desktop appears.
  • Right-click the desktop to open its menu, then close it with Esc.
  • Type in a simple app such as Notepad to check keyboard input.
  • Open your actual work app and check its picture and input. If you plan to connect from outside your home or office, test the external network you will use too.

A host appearing in the list or accepting a connection request does not establish that picture and input work. A successful LAN connection does not guarantee access from other networks.

If your connection does not work

The Windows PC is missing from the list

Check its power, app and hosting status, registered account or Team, and your Team access permissions. Register with the correct account rather than copying another person's credentials.

The PC is listed but will not connect

A router, firewall, hotel or office network may restrict UDP direct connections. Follow the connection setup guide for your regular internet, LAN or routed WireGuard VPN environment. Do not disable the firewall or configure a DMZ.

The picture is black or input does not work

Check the Windows display and desktop state and Luxwarp hosting status. If this happens during sign-in, sign-out or an administrator prompt, also check the Team unattended hosting setup. Review the latest release limitations. If the issue continues, note the OS and app versions, when it happened and the symptoms, then contact support.

Can I follow this guide using only a browser?

This guide uses the installed Mac viewer and Windows host. It does not assume mobile app or browser viewer support.

Try your first connection

Read the release notes for both computers, install Luxwarp, register the Windows host and connect from your Mac.

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