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How to Install RudyDesk on Any Platform

14 April 2026
guideinstallationtutorial

Windows

  1. Open rudydesk.com/download
  2. Click "Download for Windows (installer)" and run the file
  3. The app settles into the tray and starts together with the system

There is a portable build, RudyDesk-Portable.exe, but it is meant for one-off help: it leaves nothing behind, so it has no autostart and the machine number only lasts as long as the file itself.

macOS

Download RudyDesk-arm64.dmg for Macs with an M1–M4 chip, or RudyDesk-x64.dmg for Intel Macs. Which one you have is shown under the Apple menu, "About This Mac", line "Chip".

On first launch macOS asks for two permissions: to run the program at all, and to grant it Accessibility rights. Without the second one the screen is visible but the cursor will not move.

Linux

RudyDesk-x86_64.AppImage runs almost anywhere; make it executable once with chmod +x RudyDesk-x86_64.AppImage. For Ubuntu and Debian there is RudyDesk-amd64.deb, which brings the required libXtst along.

Input control works in an X11 session. Pick the "Xorg" session at login: under Wayland input is forbidden by Wayland itself — the screen shows, the mouse does not move.

Android

Open rudydesk.com/app in Chrome and accept the offer to add the app to the home screen. Installed that way it updates itself. If the browser offers nothing, download RudyDesk.apk from the download page — such an install has to be updated by hand.

Allow notifications: without them the phone cannot be reached while its screen is off.

iPhone and iPad

Open rudydesk.com/app in Safari specifically, tap Share and choose "Add to Home Screen". Launch the app from the home screen and allow notifications.

The first connection

  1. On the computer, start RudyDesk and look up its nine-digit number
  2. On the second device, enter that number and press "Connect"
  3. Accept the request on the computer or enter its password
  4. The screen appears on the second device

Worth setting up right away

  • A permanent password — without it the machine cannot be reached in your absence
  • Two-factor login
  • The list of allowed numbers
  • A readable device name, so machines are not confused in the list