Connect from anywhere.

First, pair on your home network#

If Pocket is already paired with this Mac, keep that pairing and go to remote setup. Otherwise, put your iPhone and Mac on the same local network:

1. Open pairing in Studio

   On your Mac, open Studio → Settings → iPhone. Turn on Receive from iPhone, then click Pair a Device….

2. Connect from Pocket

   On your iPhone, open Pocket → Settings → Connect to Studio…. Choose the scan option and scan the QR code shown by Studio. You can also choose your Mac from the list and enter the code displayed below the QR code.

3. Finish while the pairing window is open

   Leave Studio’s pairing window open until Pocket confirms the connection. Selecting a Mac by name still requires the displayed code; scanning the QR code supplies the pairing information for you.

Once paired, you can send locally whenever the devices can reach one another. Complete the next steps while you are still on the local network if you also want to send away from home.

Away from home: use the built-in connection#

This is the simplest setup. You do not need a Cloudflare account, a CNAME record, router port forwarding, a custom address, or a separate private-network app.

1. Enable receiving on your Mac

   In Studio → Settings → iPhone, leave Receive from iPhone on. Under Built-in remote connection, turn on Receive away from home. Review the disclosure and destination archive, then click Enable.

2. Wait for Studio to finish setup

   Wait until Studio says Remote route configured. Life Capture sets up the route for this Mac. If Studio offers Retry, resolve the displayed issue and retry before continuing.

3. Attach your paired iPhone

   While still connected locally, open Pocket → Settings → Remote connection. Tap Attach Remote Connection…, read the disclosure, then tap Attach. Pocket checks that it is connecting to the Studio you paired with.

4. Check, then send

   Tap Check Paired Connection in Pocket. Once it succeeds, you can use the connection over cellular or another Wi-Fi network. Check again from the outside network, then send a Moment and confirm it arrives in Studio.

Keep Studio running and your Mac open, awake, and connected to the internet. Keep Pocket open in the foreground while sending. This connects to your Mac; it is not hosted storage that can receive while your Mac is asleep or offline.

When a connection is interrupted, Pocket keeps the capture and its saved transfer state. Reopen Pocket when the Mac is reachable and use Retry if offered. A delivery confirmation means Studio has received the capture; photo analysis and the day’s story may take longer to finish.

You can turn Receive away from home off in Studio at any time. Local connections and AirDrop remain available.

If the built-in connection ever goes away. The built-in route is a free convenience Life Capture provides today, and nothing else depends on it. If the service is ever unavailable or retired, your archive and your pairing are untouched, and Moments still reach your Mac by direct transfer on your network, by AirDrop, or through a custom remote connection you control, such as Tailscale.

Optional: configure a custom remote connection#

Choose this alternative if you prefer to manage your own private network, such as Tailscale. It is separate from the built-in connection above. Set up your private network on both devices so the iPhone can reach the Mac.

1. Find the custom address and port

   In Studio → Settings → iPhone, turn on Receive from iPhone. The Custom connection address shows the local address and listening port. Expand Configure a custom remote connection for guidance, then open Pair a Device….

2. Enter an address your iPhone can reach

   In Pocket’s Connect to Studio… screen, use the manual address field. For a private network, use your Mac’s address or name on that network together with Studio’s displayed port. A local-only Mac name may not work away from home.

3. Confirm the pairing

   Keep Studio’s pairing window open and enter the code it displays when Pocket asks. Keep both devices connected to your private network when sending remotely.

If Pocket cannot reach Studio#

• Start with the Mac. Studio must be running with the intended archive open, and the Mac must be awake and online. For the built-in route, check that Receive away from home is on and setup is complete.
• Finish attachment locally. Pairing and Attach Remote Connection are separate steps. Complete both before leaving the local network. If attachment fails, wait for Studio’s Remote route configured status, unlock your iPhone, and retry.
• Read the current connection status. Use Check Paired Connection in Pocket. A previous successful check does not mean the Mac is reachable now. Keep Pocket in the foreground for sending and use Retry Original Transfer if it is offered.
• Check local discovery permissions. If your Mac is missing during local pairing, check iPhone Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network and allow Pocket access. Keep Studio’s pairing window open; if scanning is difficult, choose the Mac and enter the displayed code.
• For custom connections, check the private network. Both devices must be connected to it, and the address and port must reach your Mac. If Studio reports a changed port, follow its instructions to update custom pairing.
• Keep your existing setup while retrying. A temporary connection error is not a reason to unpair, remove the remote connection, or resend a capture already marked sent. Check the capture’s day in Studio and allow processing to finish. Import troubleshooting can help if it still does not appear.

What pairing protects#

The QR code or displayed pairing code establishes trust between your devices. With the built-in remote connection, captures, notes, tags, and confirmations are encrypted between your paired iPhone and Mac. The connection provider can see connection addresses, timing, and transfer sizes, but cannot read that content.

Life Capture manages the remote route; it does not host your journal archive. You do not create a Life Capture account. Enabling the route also uses Apple’s app-purchase verification; the privacy policy explains that setup information and the provider’s role.