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Set up CyberDeck with Companion

1. Install Bitfocus Companion 4.2+ on your control computer.
2. Install CyberDeck on your iPhone or iPad.
3. On iOS, add a connection: enter the Companion host (companion.local or its IP) and port 16623. Open the surface — it's already configured by Companion.

Networking

CyberDeck is LAN-only. Phone, iPad, and the Companion computer need to be on the same network — typically same Wi-Fi or same VLAN.

• mDNS / Bonjour: CyberDeck looks for companion.local by default. If your network doesn't pass mDNS, enter the IP manually.
• VPN: Works if the VPN routes mDNS and you can reach the Companion machine. Otherwise enter the IP.
• Firewall: Companion's Satellite API listens on port 16623 (WebSocket, default) and falls back to port 16622 (TCP). If a firewall is in front of the control computer, allow inbound on both from your client subnet.

Multi-surface and custom dashboards

Both are full-version features.

• Multi-surface on iPad: open the second surface in a side-by-side split or a separate window. Each instance is its own Companion surface.
• Custom dashboards: build a surface that pulls buttons from multiple Companion pages. Useful for one-screen "show-control" layouts that don't fit in a single Companion page grid.

Troubleshooting

"Couldn't find the server"

CyberDeck can't reach the Companion host you entered. Check:

• Both devices on the same Wi-Fi / VLAN
• The Companion computer is awake and Companion is running
• If you used companion.local, try the IP instead
• No firewall blocking port 16623 (or 16622, the TCP fallback)

"Server didn't respond"

CyberDeck found the host but Companion didn't reply in time. Restart Companion. If the issue persists, the satellite API may be disabled — open Companion's Settings → Satellite and confirm it's listening.

Surface shows old / stale state

Force-quit CyberDeck and reopen. If the buttons stay stale, the surface ID may be cached on the Companion side — remove and re-add the surface from Companion's Surfaces tab.

Buttons don't render / wrong bitmaps

Could be a Companion version mismatch. CyberDeck v2 expects Companion 4.2+. Update Companion if you're on 3.x or older.

Encoders not working

Encoder rotation requires Companion 4.2+ and CyberDeck v2.0.0 or later. Older combinations don't support it.

Version mismatch

If Companion is older than 4.2+, CyberDeck will refuse to connect — the app speaks Satellite protocol v1.10 and won't fall back. CyberDeck v1 was tolerant of older versions; v2 is not.

FAQ

Does it work over the internet?

No. CyberDeck is LAN-only. If you need remote control, route it through a VPN to your Companion machine.

Does it sync between devices?

No. Saved connections and dashboards live on each device. By design — no accounts, no cloud.

Is there an Android version?

Not yet. iOS first. If demand warrants, Android follows.

Can my organization deploy CyberDeck via MDM / Apple Business Manager?

Not in v2 at launch. Email me if this is a blocker — I'll prioritize based on what I hear.

Contact

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