Phone remote: control Desktop prompting from the App
Phone remote lets the mobile App control Open Teleprompter Desktop on your computer—play / pause, adjust speed, and jump between paragraphs—without staying at the keyboard. The remote pad uses an iPod-style click wheel design; all commands travel over your local Wi‑Fi (LAN) and are not relayed through the cloud.
- Desktop: LAN remote starts automatically when Desktop launches; open Remote in the sidebar to show the pairing QR code and how-to steps
- Mobile App: monthly / quarterly / yearly membership required; go to Settings → Remote to open the pairing guide, then scan the QR code
- Web: cannot act as the phone remote
Before you start
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Desktop is open | Closing Desktop ends pairing and control |
| Same Wi‑Fi | Phone and computer must be on the same LAN (guest networks / client isolation often fail) |
| App membership | Phone remote is member-only; non-members see an upgrade prompt in the Remote sheet |
| Teleprompter window | After pairing, open a teleprompter window on Desktop before you can play |
Pair in 4 steps
1. Show the QR code on Desktop
- Install and open Desktop
- In the left sidebar, tap Remote
- The dialog shows the pairing QR code, a 4-step how-to list, and a Wi‑Fi reminder
Desktop enables LAN remote on launch—you usually do not need a separate settings toggle. If the QR code does not appear, confirm you are signed in with a member account.
2. Open the remote sheet on the App
- Open the App and sign in with a member account
- Go to Settings → Remote
- A bottom sheet opens with numbered pairing steps and a Scan to connect button
Non-members see an upgrade prompt instead. Subscribe to a monthly, quarterly, or yearly plan and return.
3. Scan the QR code
- Tap Scan to connect — this opens a full-screen camera view with a scanning frame
- Point the camera at the Desktop QR code
- After a successful scan, you enter the remote pad automatically
If scanning fails, confirm both devices are on the same Wi‑Fi and the Desktop Remote dialog shows a live QR code. Move closer and try again.
4. Open a teleprompter window and control
- On Desktop, open a teleprompter window (constant speed or AI Follow)
- The remote pad screen updates to show the playback status and current mode
- Use the click wheel to control playback (see below)
The remote pad (iPod-style click wheel)
The pad is designed like a classic iPod: an LCD-style screen on top and a click wheel below. The wheel works differently depending on whether Desktop is in constant-speed or AI Follow mode.
Screen display
The screen shows:
- REMOTE STATUS header with a green (connected) or red (disconnected) dot
- Status line: "Not paired" → "Paired successfully" → "Playing" / "Paused"
- Second line: speed in CPM (chars per minute), session label, or "Ready to remote the script"
- Mode line: "Mode: Constant Follow" or "Mode: AI Follow"
- Hint lines (when connected): short-press and long-press actions for ◀ and ▶, center-button action, MENU long-press to exit
- Corner label: CONNECT → SCANNING → READY → LIVE (playing) / PAUSED
Click wheel controls
The wheel has five zones plus a ring-slide gesture:
| Control | Action | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| OK (center) | Play / pause | Both |
| PLAY (bottom) | Play / pause | Both |
| ◀ short press | Previous paragraph | Constant: previous section (TOC) · AI: previous line |
| ▶ short press | Next paragraph | Constant: next section (TOC) · AI: next line |
| ◀ long press | Rewind (previous line) | Constant only; no action in AI mode |
| ▶ long press | Fast-forward (next line) | Constant only; no action in AI mode |
| Ring slide | Adjust speed up (clockwise) / down (counter-clockwise) | Constant only; disabled in AI mode |
| MENU long press | Exit remote (with confirmation dialog) | Both |
Ring slide (speed adjustment)
In constant-speed mode, slide a finger around the outer ring of the click wheel to change the playback speed. Each step triggers a haptic click. The speed value updates on the screen in real time.
The ring slide is disabled in AI Follow mode because speed is governed by your voice, not a fixed rate.
Exiting the remote
Long-press MENU (top of the click wheel). A confirmation dialog appears—tap Exit to leave the remote pad and return to the previous screen.
If you disconnect and want to reconnect, the pad shows a Scan to connect button. Tap it to scan again without going back to Settings.
What you can do
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Play / pause | Toggle Desktop playback from OK or PLAY |
| Speed | Slide the ring to adjust constant-speed CPM (haptic feedback per step) |
| Jump sections | Short-press ◀ / ▶ to navigate by TOC section (constant) or line (AI) |
| Fine-scrub | Long-press ◀ / ▶ to rewind or fast-forward line by line (constant only) |
| Status at a glance | Screen shows connection dot, playback status, speed, mode, and hint labels |
On-screen hints are authoritative—read the pad display when switching between AI Follow and constant-speed mode, as available actions change.
FAQ
Cannot scan or pairing fails?
- Confirm the same Wi‑Fi and no client isolation (common on guest networks)
- Confirm Desktop is open and the Remote dialog shows a valid QR code
- Move the phone closer; if the QR expired or the server restarted, reopen the Desktop Remote dialog
- Check that your App account has an active membership
Paired but nothing happens when I press play?
Open a teleprompter window on Desktop first. Pairing alone does not start playback—the pad sends commands to the active teleprompter window.
How do I change speed in AI Follow mode?
You don't. AI Follow matches the scroll to your voice. The ring slide is only active in constant-speed mode. Switch modes on Desktop if you want manual speed control.
Membership required?
Phone remote is a monthly / quarterly / yearly benefit. Non-members see an upgrade prompt when tapping Settings → Remote. See Membership benefits.
Does control go through the public internet?
No. Commands stay on your LAN between the phone and Desktop. Use a trusted network.
Disconnected—what now?
If Desktop closes, the network changes, or the session times out:
- The pad screen shows "Not paired" with a Scan to connect button
- Tap it to scan again, or go back to Settings → Remote to restart the pairing flow
What is the difference between short-press and long-press on ◀ / ▶?
In constant-speed mode: short-press jumps by TOC section; long-press steps line by line (rewind / fast-forward). In AI Follow mode: only short-press is available, and it jumps by line.