Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. Scan the QR code on your PC with the phone's camera and the remote opens in its browser. On Android you can also add the optional Google Play app.
On this page
1. Install SofaDeck on your PC
Download the installer from the download page and run it. SofaDeck needs Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit). If Windows shows a blue SmartScreen box, the download page explains why and how to check the file's SHA-256 checksum before clicking More info → Run anyway.
On a Mac? Download the .dmg from the Mac section of the download page, drag SofaDeck to Applications and open it — it sits in the menu bar. Allow Local Network when asked, then turn on Accessibility if you want hotkeys and typing. Pairing and everything below work the same.
When it's installed, SofaDeck lives in the system tray by the clock. If you don't see its icon, click the small ^ arrow; you can drag the icon onto the taskbar so it's always visible.
Allow it on your home network
The first time SofaDeck starts, Windows Firewall may ask whether it can accept connections. Tick Private networks (your home network) — that's what lets your phone reach it. There's no need to allow Public networks. While you're at it, check that Windows treats your home Wi-Fi as Private: Settings → Network & internet → your connection → Network profile type → Private.
2. Pair your phone with the QR code
Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. The remote is a web page your PC serves, so Safari, Chrome or Samsung Internet all work; you only scan the QR code.
- Open SofaDeck from the tray. It shows a QR code.
- Open your phone's camera and point it at the code. Tap the link that appears.
- Your phone offers a one-time step to trust SofaDeck's local certificate (needed for voice) — do it now or tap Continue and accept the browser warning.
- Type the 6-digit PIN shown next to the QR code on the PC.
The phone is now paired. It can press buttons on this PC until you unpair it. If someone photographs the code without seeing the PIN on your PC screen, nothing happens — see how pairing works.
Same network, always. The phone must be on the same Wi-Fi as the PC (or the PC wired to the same router). Mobile data and guest Wi-Fi networks won't work.
3. Add the deck to your home screen
So it opens full-screen with one tap, like an app:
- iPhone / iPad (Safari): tap the Share button → Add to Home Screen.
- Android (Chrome): tap the ⋮ menu → Add to Home screen (or Install app).
4. Build your first page
Edit your deck from SofaDeck on the PC: add a button, pick what it does (app or game, website, key, media, volume, text, PC power, or a macro with Pro), give it a short label and an icon, and it appears on the phone right away. Good first buttons:
- Play/Pause, Volume +, Volume − and Mute — an instant media remote.
- The three apps you open most often.
- A hotkey you always forget — Win+Shift+S for a screenshot, or your meeting app's mute shortcut.
- Show desktop and Sleep for when you walk away.
Short labels work best — they're also what you say to trigger a button by voice. Guides with ready-made layouts: streaming, living-room PC, LaunchBox & Big Box and presentations.
5. Turn on voice
Tap the microphone button at the bottom of the deck. The first time, your phone asks for microphone permission — tap Allow. Voice only works on the secure https link: if the mic button explains that instead, trust SofaDeck's certificate (SofaDeck on the PC → Help shows the iPhone and Android steps) or tap Proceed on the browser warning. The keyboard's own dictation key works in the text box either way. Say a command such as "volume down" or a button's label. The voice commands page lists everything it understands.
Troubleshooting
My phone says the page can't be reached.
The phone and PC must be on the same network. Check the phone isn't on mobile data or a guest Wi-Fi, that your router doesn't have 'AP/client isolation' turned on, and that Windows Firewall allowed SofaDeck on Private networks. On the PC, make sure your home network is set to Private, not Public, in Windows Settings → Network & internet.
The camera doesn't recognise the QR code.
Make the SofaDeck window larger, turn your screen brightness up, and hold the phone about 20–30 cm away. On older Android phones, use Google Lens or the QR scanner in Quick Settings.
Voice doesn't work on my phone.
Update to SofaDeck 1.0.8 or later: when something blocks the microphone it now shows the exact setting to change. The usual fixes: open the secure (https) link from the pairing page; on Android tap the icon left of the address bar → Permissions → Microphone → Allow, and in Android Settings → Apps → Google → Permissions allow the microphone (Chrome uses Google's speech service); on iPhone turn on Settings → General → Keyboard → Enable Dictation and allow the microphone for Safari (aA → Website Settings). iPhone home-screen web apps can't use speech recognition — open the page in Safari, or let your Windows PC recognise the speech offline. On the PC itself, turn on Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone → Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone and Let desktop apps access your microphone.
The deck disconnects when my phone sleeps.
That's normal — the browser pauses when the screen turns off. SofaDeck reconnects as soon as you wake the phone. For a phone that lives on a stand, set a longer auto-lock time while charging.
Still stuck? Email support@dixonappstudio.com with your Windows version, phone model and browser, and what you see.