Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Specchio.
Table of Contents
General
What is Specchio?
Specchio is a macOS application that mirrors and controls your iPhone from your Mac. It connects over USB or WiFi, streams your iPhone screen in real-time, and translates your Mac's mouse and keyboard input into touch events on your iPhone.
Do I need to jailbreak my iPhone?
No! Specchio uses Apple's official XCUITest framework (WebDriverAgent), so no jailbreak is required.
Is Specchio safe to use?
Yes. Specchio:
- Uses only official Apple APIs
- Requires no jailbreak
- Works entirely locally (no cloud services)
What iOS versions are supported?
iOS 12 and later are supported. For best results, iOS 16+ is recommended.
What Mac versions are supported?
macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later is required.
Installation & Setup
Why do I need Xcode?
Xcode provides the iOS SDK and development tools that Specchio uses to communicate with your iPhone. Specifically:
- iOS platform SDK for device communication
- Code signing for installing WebDriverAgent
- XCUITest framework for screen capture and input
Can I use Command Line Tools instead of full Xcode?
No. The Command Line Tools are not sufficient. You need the full Xcode application from the Mac App Store.
Do I need an Apple Developer account?
No. A free Apple ID is sufficient. Specchio uses the free Apple Development certificate that anyone can create in Xcode.
How big is the Xcode download?
Xcode is approximately 12-15 GB to download, and requires about 20 GB of free disk space for installation.
Why does the first connection take so long?
The first time you connect, Specchio must:
- Compile WebDriverAgent for your specific device (~45-60 seconds)
- Install it on your iPhone (~5 seconds)
- Start the WDA server (~5 seconds)
Subsequent connections are much faster (~5 seconds) because WebDriverAgent is cached on your device.
Connection
Which connection method is better: USB or WiFi?
USB is recommended for most users because:
- Lower latency (nearly instant)
- Higher frame rates (up to 60 FPS)
- More reliable connection
- Works with free license
- Charges your iPhone while connected
Use WiFi only when you need wireless freedom.
Can I use multiple iPhones with one Mac?
Yes! You can connect multiple iPhones and switch between them in the device picker.
Can I connect one iPhone to multiple Macs?
Yes, but not simultaneously. You need to disconnect from one Mac before connecting to another.
Why does WiFi connection require Premium?
WiFi connection requires additional infrastructure and testing to ensure reliability across different network configurations. The Premium fee helps support ongoing development and maintenance.
Does Specchio work over the internet?
No. Specchio only works locally — your iPhone and Mac must be on the same network (for WiFi) or connected via USB.
Display & Performance
Why is the display laggy?
Lag can be caused by:
- WiFi connection: Use USB for lowest latency
- Slow mode: Try USB Video mode for best performance
- High CPU usage: Close other apps, try Lite mode
- Poor USB cable: Try a different cable
Why does the screen look blurry?
This could be due to:
- Wrong display mode: Ensure you're not in Lite mode
- Display scaling: View → Actual Size (100%)
- Screenshot quality: Check with diagnostic commands
What's the difference between display modes?
- USB Video: Hardware-accelerated H.264 video (best quality, USB only)
- Screenshot: Pixel-perfect screenshots over HTTP (reliable, works on WiFi)
- Lite: Synthetic UI from accessibility tree (lowest bandwidth)
Can I record the iPhone screen?
Yes! Use macOS's built-in screen recording:
- Press ⌘ + Shift + 5
- Select the Specchio window
- Click Record
Input & Control
Why isn't my keyboard typing?
Make sure you:
- Click into a text field on your iPhone first
- Have an active connection
- Haven't locked your iPhone
The iOS keyboard won't appear when you type via Specchio — this is normal.
Can I use my Mac's trackpad gestures?
Some gestures work:
- Scroll: Two-finger swipe
- Pinch to zoom: ⌘ + scroll/drag
- Long press: Right-click or hold
Full trackpad gesture support is planned for a future release.
How do I go to the home screen?
Press ⌘ + Shift + H, or use the Esc key.
Can I use my Mac's keyboard shortcuts?
Yes! Most iOS keyboard shortcuts work:
- ⌘ + C/V/X for copy/paste/cut
- ⌘ + Z for undo
- App-specific shortcuts work too
Does Specchio support game controllers?
Not currently. This feature is planned for a future release.
Licensing
Is Specchio free?
Specchio has a free tier with limitations:
- USB connection only (no WiFi)
- Screenshot display mode
- Standard features
Premium unlocks:
- WiFi connection
- USB Video mode
- Clipboard sync
- Priority support
What's the difference between free and Premium?
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| USB Connection | ✅ | ✅ |
| WiFi Connection | ❌ | ✅ |
| USB Video Mode | ❌ | ✅ |
| Screenshot Mode | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lite Mode | ✅ | ✅ |
| Clipboard Sync | ❌ | ✅ |
| Priority Support | ❌ | ✅ |
How do I get a license?
- Visit the Specchio website
- Purchase a Premium license
- Enter the license key in Specchio → Settings → License
Can I use Specchio on multiple Macs?
A single Premium license allows use on up to 3 Macs that you own.
Troubleshooting
Specchio doesn't detect my iPhone
- Make sure your iPhone is unlocked
- Try a different USB cable
- Try a different USB port
- Restart both your Mac and iPhone
- Re-enable "Trust This Computer" on your iPhone
"WebDriverAgent failed to launch" error
- Verify Xcode is installed:
xcodebuild -version - Verify iOS SDK is installed:
xcodebuild -showsdks - Verify you have an Apple Development certificate
- Check that your iPhone is in Developer Mode
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting
Screen is black after connecting
- Make sure your iPhone is not locked
- Try a different display mode
- Test WDA screenshot:
curl http://localhost:8100/screenshot --output test.png - Restart the connection
High CPU usage
- Switch to Lite mode (lowest CPU usage)
- Reduce max FPS in settings
- Close other applications
- Try USB Video mode (uses hardware acceleration)
For more detailed troubleshooting, see the Troubleshooting page.
Still Have Questions?
- Check the Troubleshooting page for detailed diagnostics
- Search existing issues at https://github.com/Alexintosh/Specchio/issues
- Create a new issue with diagnostic output
- Contact support for Premium users