Getting Started
Set up vmux on visionOS, macOS, or iOS and connect to your first remote host.
What is vmux?
vmux is an SSH terminal workspace that runs natively on Apple Vision Pro, Mac, and iPhone — with an Apple Watch companion for monitoring sessions on the go. Open multiple windows or panes, connect to remote servers, and work with your infrastructure on whichever device is in front of you.
Platforms
| Platform | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Apple Vision Pro | Spatial windows, eye-tracking focus, Optic ID app lock |
| macOS | Native menu bar, sandboxed Mac App Store build, Ghostty-quality rendering |
| iPhone | Embedded keyboard, voice input, Live Activity for active sessions, Face ID lock |
| Apple Watch | Read-only session list and snapshots relayed from your iPhone |
Connection profiles, themes, and saved hosts live on-device. Optional iCloud backup keeps an encrypted snapshot of profiles and pane state in your private CloudKit container — see the Privacy Policy for details.
Quick Start
- Open vmux.
- Fill in the connection form with your server details:
- Host — the hostname or IP address of your server
- Port — usually
22for SSH - Username — your remote user account
- Authentication — enter a password, or select an SSH key
- Connect.
That's it. You're in.
What You'll See
After connecting, a window appears with a translucent glass background. You'll see your remote shell prompt and a blinking cursor, ready for input. On Vision Pro the window floats in your space and can be moved, resized, or placed alongside other windows; on Mac and iPhone the window sits in the OS's standard window/scene chrome.
Next Steps
- SSH Keys — Set up key-based authentication for passwordless connections.
- Saved Hosts — Save your frequently used servers for quick access.
- Themes — Customize colors and appearance with VS Code themes.
- Keyboard Shortcuts — Learn the shortcuts that speed up your workflow.
- Command Palette — Access any command quickly with a searchable palette.
- Security — App Lock, Secure Enclave keys, encrypted backups.
- Privacy Policy — What data vmux holds and where.
- Website & Launch Ops — Homepage scope, signup export, and UI screenshot automation.
Other apps in the vmux family
This page is the manual for vmux on Apple Vision Pro. vmux is a family of apps — there are also dedicated builds for Mac, iPhone, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, plus supporting infrastructure like the menu bar SSH agent, the iPhone-based remote signer, a custom keyboard, widgets, a Live Activity, and a CLI daemon. See All vmux Apps for the full lineup, what each one does, and which manual to read next.