Getting Started: Use Cases
Every remote session has different demands. A video editor scrubbing through a 4K timeline needs something different from a gamer checking on an AFK farm from their phone, and both need something different from a sales engineer running a live product demo for a client overseas.
This page is organized around DeskIn's main features rather than job titles, because the same feature often solves different problems depending on who's using it and when. Each section explains what a feature does, then walks through the situations where it matters most, with the specific settings and configuration to get it right.
For setup basics and your first connection, see Basic remote control & access. For security configuration, see Security settings.
Quick Reference: Settings by Situations
The same person might need different DeskIn configurations at different times of day. Start here to find the right settings for what you're doing right now, then follow the links for full detail.
Doing precise visual work (design, grading, CAD drafting)
Prioritize color accuracy. Enable 4:4:4 True Color. Set resolution to match your workstation's native output. Frame rate can drop to 30fps without affecting static work. See Display quality.
Doing motion-dependent work (video editing, animation review, VFX)
Prioritize frame rate. Set 60fps for general editing, 240fps at 2K for fast motion review. Enable GPU-accelerated preview. Ensure bandwidth is at least 10-20 Mbps. See Display quality and Frame-accurate audio sync.
Gaming
Prioritize latency and frame rate. Enable Game Mode. Use a wired connection when possible. Connect controllers via Bluetooth. Set resolution based on your network; drop to 2K if bandwidth is tight. See Game controller support and Windows games on Mac.
Presenting or demoing
Prioritize stability. Use a wired connection if available. Enable Privacy Screen to protect the remote monitor. Test the connection before the meeting. Set up unattended access so the demo machine is ready when you need it. See Running demos.
Quick check-in from a phone
Prioritize speed of connection. Use Touch mode for tap-based interaction. Don't worry about resolution or color settings; the default auto-negotiation is fine for brief sessions. See Phone as a monitoring tool.
Working on someone else's network (hotel, client office, conference)
Check firewall requirements if the connection stalls. TCP 443 and UDP 10888/10999/21000-25000 need to be open. If the network is restrictive, try a mobile hotspot as a fallback.
High-Fidelity Display
Relevant to: designers, video editors, CAD engineers, VFX artists, anyone presenting visual work remotely
DeskIn streams the remote screen at up to 4K 60fps (or 2K 240fps) with 4:4:4 chroma sampling. That means no color subsampling, no compression artifacts on fine text, and no dropped detail in gradients or shadows. You can adjust resolution, frame rate, and color depth from the session toolbar during a connection.
These settings aren't about aesthetics. They determine whether your remote session is usable for work that depends on visual accuracy.
Smooth playback for video and animation
Frame drops or screen tearing break your ability to evaluate motion. You can't judge a transition if the playback stutters. At 4K 60fps, timeline scrubbing and playback stay smooth. For animation work where you need to evaluate motion at higher granularity, 2K at 240fps lets you inspect timing at a level that standard playback can't reveal.
What to configure
Set frame rate to 60fps for general editing. Switch to 240fps at 2K when reviewing fast motion or animation curves. The trade-off: 240fps requires dropping to 2K resolution, so fine text and UI elements may look softer.
Enable GPU-accelerated preview. This uses your remote workstation's GPU for effects preview without buffering. Without it, effects-heavy timelines may stutter during playback.
For stable 4K 60fps playback, you need at least 10-20 Mbps upload/download bandwidth on both ends. On slower connections, drop to 2K or reduce the frame rate.
If you're editing music, dialogue, or anything where audio timing matters, see Frame-accurate audio sync below.
Precise viewports for 3D and CAD
Your Revit model is 200 MB and the client wants to orbit it live. Or you're reviewing a SolidWorks assembly from a hotel laptop. Compressed viewports blur wireframe edges, smear small dimension text, and make snap points unreliable.
DeskIn preserves the fine detail that CAD and 3D work depends on: thin wireframes, small callout measurements, and subtle shading differences between surfaces all render cleanly. Combined with low-latency input (covered below), this makes remote 3D orbiting responsive enough for precision work.
What to configure
Enable higher resolution to keep wireframes and annotations sharp.
If working with dense assemblies (thousands of parts), prioritize resolution over frame rate. Accurate snap points matter more than smooth rotation.
Use multi-monitor synchronization from the toolbar to mirror your workstation's dual or triple monitor layout remotely, keeping 2D plans and 3D views on separate screens.
For responsive CAD orbiting, 5-10 Mbps bandwidth is sufficient. Heavy viewport manipulation (rotating large assemblies with textures) benefits from 10+ Mbps.
If you use a SpaceMouse or 3D controller, see 3D navigation with SpaceMouse below.
Low-Latency Input and Peripheral Support
Relevant to: illustrators, 3D artists, CAD engineers, gamers, video/audio editors, anyone using specialized hardware remotely
DeskIn targets low latency for input transmission (~40ms). It also passes through USB peripherals (graphics tablets, game controllers, 3D mice, and editing consoles), so the hardware you've trained your hands on works the same way remotely.
Latency and peripheral support together determine whether a remote session feels like controlling your machine or watching a delayed video of it.
Pressure-sensitive drawing and sculpting
You're on an iPad with an Apple Pencil, connected to your desktop running Photoshop. Or you're sculpting in ZBrush with a Wacom tablet plugged into your laptop. DeskIn passes pressure sensitivity and tilt data from your local stylus to the remote application. The strokes respond the same way they would if the tablet were plugged directly into the workstation.
Before you start: Ensure the remote workstation already has your tablet's drivers installed.
What to configure
Connect your graphics tablet or Apple Pencil to your local device as usual. DeskIn handles the input passthrough automatically; no driver setup is needed on the local side.
On iPad, open Toolbar > Mouse and choose Touch mode with the virtual mouse overlay disabled, so the Pencil maps directly to the remote canvas. With the overlay enabled, taps register as mouse clicks instead of pen strokes.
3D navigation with SpaceMouse and 6-DoF controllers
Standard remote tools either don't pass 3D mouse input at all, or translate it into flat 2D panning that loses the 6-DoF precision. DeskIn redirects 6-DoF controller input to the remote machine. Panning, zooming, and orbiting in SolidWorks or CATIA responds the same as it does locally: no axis reversal, no dropped inputs, no drift.
Before you start: Ensure the remote workstation has the 3Dconnexion driver installed. On macOS, this may require additional configuration in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
What to configure
Connect the SpaceMouse to your local device via USB. DeskIn's peripheral passthrough redirects the input to the remote machine.
Game controller support and custom touch layouts
You're gaming from your phone on the train, or playing a PC title on your iPad with a Bluetooth controller. DeskIn passes Xbox and PlayStation controller inputs (analog sticks, triggers, and vibration feedback) directly to the remote PC. For touch controls, you can create custom keyboard and hotkey layouts for different game types and switch between them.
What to configure
Connect a controller via Bluetooth to your local device, or use DeskIn's virtual gamepad for on-screen controls.
Switch to Game Mode in the toolbar, which adjusts how DeskIn sends input to game engines. Without Game Mode, some games capture input incorrectly because DeskIn's default input method is designed for desktop applications.
Create separate touch control layouts for different genres (MMO, shooter, RPG) and switch between them from the toolbar.
Note: iOS devices can be used as controllers to play games on a remote PC, but iOS devices themselves cannot be controlled remotely due to Apple's system restrictions.
Frame-accurate audio sync for editing
How do you cut a music video to the beat when you're 50 miles from your editing workstation? DeskIn maintains audio-visual synchronization at <40ms latency. Audio is transmitted without compression or alteration; what you hear remotely matches the host workstation's output.
What to configure
Audio sync is enabled by default. No additional configuration is needed.
For the tightest sync, use a wired network connection on both ends rather than Wi-Fi.
If you notice drift, check the connection status indicator in the toolbar. High latency from a congested relay can cause sync issues. Switching to a P2P connection (same network) or adjusting quality settings can help.
If you're also transferring large video files between sessions, see Moving large production files below.
Cross-Platform and Mobile Access
Relevant to: travelers, remote workers, gamers on non-Windows devices, IT administrators, anyone working across multiple devices or operating systems
DeskIn runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. A phone, a tablet, or a borrowed laptop can each serve as a way to reach your workstation. What matters is what you're trying to do with each device.
iPad as a portable workstation
You travel with an iPad instead of a laptop and need access to full desktop applications: Excel with macros, corporate ERP systems, AutoCAD with plugins, or anything else that doesn't have an iPadOS equivalent.
DeskIn streams your full Windows or macOS desktop to the iPad. Magic Keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, and mouse input all work. DeskIn's Resolution Adaptation adjusts the remote PC's output to match the iPad's aspect ratio, so you get a full-screen workspace without black bars.
What to configure
Enable Resolution Adaptation in display settings to match the iPad's native aspect ratio. Without this, you'll see black bars on the sides or top/bottom of the screen where the aspect ratios don't match.
Use Cursor mode (Toolbar > Mouse) for precise trackpad-style navigation in dense desktop interfaces. Switch to Touch mode for casual browsing or presentations.
For extended sessions, the iPad's battery lasts longer than usual because DeskIn offloads all processing to the remote machine. The iPad is only receiving and displaying a video stream.
See How to connect iPad to PC and How to connect iPad to Mac for setup walkthroughs.
Windows games on Mac
You have a gaming PC at home and a Mac at your desk. Dual-booting, compatibility layers, and cloud gaming services each come with tradeoffs: installation friction, performance loss, or subscription costs.
DeskIn streams the game from your Windows PC to your Mac screen. The game runs on your gaming rig; the Mac just displays it and sends your input back. Your entire Steam library, Epic Games launcher, and any Windows-only title is accessible without installing anything on the Mac side.
What to configure
Enable Game Mode in the toolbar, which adjusts how DeskIn sends input to game engines.
Mac keyboards and mice work as expected. Key bindings and sensitivity settings from your Windows setup transfer through.
For competitive or fast-paced games, use a wired Ethernet connection on both machines and set the frame rate to 60fps or higher. On Wi-Fi, expect occasional latency spikes that can affect timing-sensitive gameplay.
See Play Windows games on Mac for a detailed guide.
Phone as a monitoring and quick-action tool
You're running an overnight render, farming resources in an MMO, or you just need to check whether a download finished on your home PC. You don't need a full desktop session. You need a quick look and maybe a few taps.
DeskIn's mobile app lets you connect to your workstation from your phone for brief check-ins. Open the app, connect, verify what you need, make an adjustment if necessary, and disconnect. The session starts in seconds. Your PC continues running uninterrupted after you disconnect.
Tips:
Use Touch mode for quick interactions. It maps taps directly to clicks without needing to drag a cursor.
For games, you can check on your character's status without launching a full session.
Extending your screen to a tablet
You need more screen space but you're working from a single-screen laptop. Or you're presenting to a group and want to show your laptop screen on a larger display.
DeskIn can turn an iPad or Android tablet into a second monitor for your computer, either mirroring your screen or extending your workspace. On the desktop side, you can also create virtual screens, which are additional displays that exist only in software. These are useful for headless workstations or when you need more display area than your physical setup provides.
What to configure
Use the Screen Management button in the Device List toolbar to choose between Mirror Screen and Extended Screen modes.
For phone-to-computer screen casting, scan the QR code on the DeskIn client's Extension Screen tab.
Virtual screens can be created from the toolbar during a session. They appear as additional monitors on the remote machine.
Unattended access and remote power
Relevant to: remote workers, IT administrators, anyone who needs to reach a machine when nobody is physically present
Unattended access lets you connect to your workstation without anyone approving the connection, and Wake-on-LAN lets you power it on remotely.
Working from home on your office PC
Your office computer has the files, applications, and processing power you need. It's sitting in the office, turned on, and nobody is there.
With unattended access configured, you connect with your Device ID and security password. No one needs to be at the office to approve anything. If the machine was powered off, Wake-on-LAN can start it remotely (Windows only, requires another DeskIn device on the same LAN and WOL enabled in BIOS).
Before you start: On the office machine, enable Start DeskIn with system in General Settings, set a security password (minimum 6 digits) in Security Settings, and prevent the machine from sleeping. For Wake-on-LAN, ensure the BIOS has WOL enabled.
See Setting up unattended access and Wake-on-LAN setup for step-by-step instructions.
Emergency IT support and on-call response
A server issue comes up while you're at dinner. Your management tools, dashboards, and terminal access are all on your office workstation.
Pull out your iPad or phone, connect to your workstation via DeskIn, and handle the issue. Full keyboard and shortcut support means you can write scripts, navigate directories, and execute terminal commands from the remote session. The session toolbar's Terminal button opens a command prompt directly on the remote machine.
Before you start: Pre-configure unattended access on every machine you might need to reach.
What to configure
Use Magic Keyboard (iPad) or a Bluetooth keyboard (phone) for terminal work. DeskIn passes all Ctrl/Cmd shortcuts and function keys.
Enable Privacy Screen in Security Settings if you're accessing sensitive systems from a public location. This blacks out the physical monitor on the remote machine.
File transfer and clipboard
Relevant to: video editors, designers, IT support staff, anyone moving files between machines.
DeskIn supports direct file transfer between devices at 12 Mbps (up to 160mbps depending on network and subscriptions), as well as shared clipboard across local and remote machines. These work both during active remote sessions and as standalone operations from the Device List.
Moving large production files
Cloud sync is slow for multi-gigabyte files, and email attachments have size limits. DeskIn's file transfer sends files directly between devices, with no cloud intermediary, no upload queue, and no format restrictions. Select files on one end, choose a destination on the other, and transfer.
What to configure:
From the Device List, select a device and tap File Transfer. This opens a dedicated transfer session without starting full remote control.
During an active session, access file transfer from the session toolbar.
Transfer speeds depend on network conditions. For the best speeds, use a wired connection or a strong Wi-Fi signal on both ends.
See How to transfer files for the full walkthrough.
Clipboard sharing across devices
DeskIn's shared clipboard connects local and remote. Copy on one side, paste on the other. This works for text and operates across platforms: copy on Windows, paste on iPad. No configuration needed; it's active during any remote session.
Remote printing
You're working from home and need to print a document on your office printer. DeskIn's remote printing feature lets you send a print job from the remote machine to a printer connected to your local device. The document prints locally without needing to transfer the file first.
What to configure
Ensure the local device has a printer connected and configured.
During a remote session, use the remote machine's print dialog as usual. DeskIn redirects the job to your local printer.
Security and Privacy During Sessions
Relevant to: sales engineers, designers handling client work, anyone working with confidential material or presenting to external audiences
All DeskIn sessions are encrypted end-to-end with AES-256 and aligned with ISO 27001 standards. Beyond encryption, several features give you control over who can access your machine and what's visible during a session.
Running demos with proprietary software
How do you run a live software demo when the demo environment takes two hours to install and requires a database connection that only exists in your office? Connect to your workstation from the meeting room (or remotely) and run the demo live. DeskIn lets you transfer mouse and keyboard control to the prospect during specific parts so they can explore the interface firsthand, while you retain overall session authority.
Before you start: Set up unattended access on the demo workstation so it's ready whenever a meeting is scheduled. Test the connection from the meeting location beforehand.
What to configure
Use Privacy Screen to black out the office monitor. This prevents anyone at the office from seeing the demo content.
Use access control (blacklist/whitelist) to restrict which accounts can connect to the demo machine.
For multi-stakeholder sessions, additional viewers can join the same session simultaneously.
Invite a backend specialist to join the session remotely for live technical support, using multi-screen visibility to show application interfaces on one screen and system integrations on another.
Demos over client Wi-Fi or mobile data typically work at 3-5 Mbps with adaptive quality. For the sharpest visuals, 10+ Mbps is better.
Protecting unreleased or client-confidential work
The work can't be exposed to anyone who happens to walk past the workstation. Privacy Screen blacks out the physical monitor on the remote machine during your session. Combined with session-based access control (restricting which accounts and Device IDs can connect), this keeps sensitive work visible only to authorized users on authorized devices.
What to configure
Enable Privacy Screen in Security Settings to black out the remote monitor during sessions. Without this, anyone near the remote machine can see your screen activity.
Configure a whitelist to allow only specific accounts or Device IDs to connect.
Enable Lock screen after each remote access so the machine locks automatically when you disconnect.
For additional protection, enable Two-Factor Authentication on your DeskIn account.
What to Explore Next
Getting set up for creative work. Remote design features for color fidelity and tablet support. File transfer for moving assets between machines. Productivity tools for screen extension, mirroring, and remote printing.
Getting set up for gaming. Remote gaming features for controller support, Game Mode, and cross-platform play.
Getting set up for work and support. Remote work features for connection methods and cross-platform access. Remote support features for screen sharing and troubleshooting tools. Remote mobile control for controlling Android devices remotely.
Need help? Contact support@deskin.io or join theDeskIn Discord.
