I also need the action to create a new tab, enter the Tuts+ web address and press Return. Launching Safari on its own isn’t enough. The first thing I need the action to do is open Safari so from the Predefined Actions pop out, I’ve selected Open Application / File and then Safari. I’m going to create a simple action that I can trigger from any app to open Safari, create a new tab and navigate to Envato Tuts+.Ĭlick Add Remote Trigger and give it a name. In the sidebar you'll see a Global option and, if you’ve used BetterTouchTool before, a list of apps you’ve already set up. I’ve covered setting up BetterTouchTool gestures in a lot of detail before so check out that tutorial if you want a longer explanation. This is where all the real configuration happens.
Open BetterTouchTool on the Mac and go to the BTT Remote tab. Using an iOS device to control the cursor or navigate the file system works, but it’s far from ideal.
With these features you can control a Mac but it’s an awkward process.
The three main BTT Remote screens.įrom the first screen, you access the File Browser and Menubar with the buttons at the bottom of the screen. Swipe to the left and you get a screen that has a more powerful trackpad that’s a little easier to use with its bigger touch area. Swipe to the right and you get to the screen that has the keyboard controls, media keys and a multitouch trackpad. On the first screen, you control the apps. Until you configure a few actions, you’ll only really be able to use BTT Remote’s trackpad, File Browser and Menubar controls. Using the Trackpad, File Browser and Menubar You’ll be able to control the Mac from the iOS device. On the Mac, you’ll be asked whether or not to allow the connection. Select the Mac you wish to connect to-I’ve chosen Harry’s MacBook Pro-and tap on it. You will see a list of automatically discovered macOS devices running on the network. Make sure BetterTouchTool is running in the background on the Mac and open BTT Remote on the iOS device. As long as they are, and the Wi-Fi network is not an incredibly complex, fire-walled enterprise system, they should work automatically. BTT Remote is in the App Store while BetterTouchTool is available from the developer’s website.īoth devices also need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you don’t have both apps downloaded, go grab them now. To connect BTT Remote to a Mac you need BTT Remote running on the iOS and BetterTouchTool running on the Mac. It’s real strength is letting you create custom BetterTouchTool actions that can be triggered from the app.
You get the basic functionality in the free version, but if you’re planning to make BTT Remote part of your workflow, it’s worth upgrading.īTT Remote includes a trackpad, file browser, media keys and access to the menubar so you can directly control a Mac from the app, however, that’s not it’s true power. It’s free in the iOS App Store, although there’s a $3.99 in-app purchase to unlock all the features. The BetterTouchTool Remote app or BTT Remote is an iOS app that allows you to remotely control a Mac as long as you’re on the same Wi-Fi network. In this tutorial, however, I'll show you a different way to control a Mac using BetterTouchTool: with the BetterTouchTool Remote app for iOS. Instead of relying on developers to implement the features you want, you can add almost anything to a Touch Bar and have it accessible where ever you want. A three-finger swipe down closes one.Īnother great use is to make custom Touch Bars on one of the new MacBook Pros. A three-finger swipe up with Safari open on my MacBook creates a new tab. While it’s not as powerful at pure automation as something like Keyboard Maestro, with BetterTouchTool you can control a Mac in many different ways.įor example, one of my favourite ways to use it is to create custom multitouch gestures on for the Trackpad. BetterTouchTool is one of the most useful macOS automation apps.