Remote desktop
Remote desktop shows the other machine's screen in a window on yours. You can watch only, or control its mouse and keyboard.
How it stays private
The screen-sharing agent on the shared machine listens only on that machine itself, never on the network. The viewer reaches it through an SSH tunnel and a fresh random token that only the signed-in user can read. SSH is the only way in, so only machines you paired can connect.
Allow or refuse sharing of this screen
Open This machine.
Under Screen sharing, turn Let paired machines view and control this screen on or off.
While someone is connected, the app shows a banner such as "… is viewing and controlling this screen", and the system shows a notification. Select Disconnect them in the banner to end the session.
DANGER
A paired machine that controls your screen can do anything you can do at the keyboard. Pair only with computers you trust, and turn sharing off on a machine that should never be controlled.
Control the other screen
On the machine card, select Remote desktop. CrossShell connects, starts the agent on the other machine if needed, and opens the viewer.
View without controlling
On the machine card, open More and select View screen only. Your mouse and keyboard are not sent to the other machine.
Limits
- Windows secure desktop. UAC prompts, the lock screen and the sign-in screen cannot be captured. The viewer shows a notice until they go away.
- Windows elevated windows. Windows that run as administrator can be driven only when the agent runs with highest privileges. That is automatic for administrator users when the session is started remotely.
- Linux on GNOME. Sharing starts without a prompt.
- Other Wayland desktops. The desktop shows a consent dialog once; after that it is remembered.
- Linux on X11. Supported.
- One network. For machines in different places, put both on a VPN such as Tailscale or WireGuard and use Pair by address.