Physical control surface on mobile
The iPhone or iPad app provides keys, a dial, a joystick, and a touch panel, letting the controller feel more like a physical deck than a standard remote app.
CTRL Micro
CTRL Micro is an iPhone or iPad controller for a Mac Host app that can control your Mac, Codex, Claude, Cursor, and custom clients. It focuses on local pairing, local dictation, and one-time purchase options rather than a subscription.
Overview
CTRL Micro is a haptic control deck for an iPhone or iPad paired with a Mac Host app. It is designed to let you control your Mac and supported AI clients from a mobile controller with keys, a dial, a joystick, and a touch panel.
According to the site, the controller sends neutral input to the Mac Host rather than talking directly to desktop apps or AI providers. The Host then routes that input to the selected client, which can be your Mac, Codex, Claude, Cursor, or a custom client you build yourself.
The product emphasizes local operation: pairing happens between the controller and Host, dictation is transcribed on the Mac, and no account is required for use. The download page also separates Mac controls from paid options for local, nearby, and outside-network access.
Core capabilities
Host-based command handling
The Mac Host receives controller input, maps it to the selected client, performs the action on the Mac, and reports what happened back to the controller.
Client switching
The product can switch between clients such as your Mac, Codex, Claude, Cursor, or a custom client, with only one selected client active at a time.
Local dictation on Mac
Voice input is handled on the Mac, where the audio is transcribed locally and sent either to the selected client or to the field that was focused when dictation began.
Custom client support
Custom clients can use live items, commands, the dial, the joystick, the wide key, and the pixel panel to match a workflow built by the user.
Local pairing and background notifications
Pairing is local and one-to-one between the controller and an active Host, with optional encrypted background notifications for task completion, attention, or failure.
Practical use cases
Mobile control for Mac and AI clients
Use the controller to keep Mac controls and supported AI clients within reach on your phone, especially when you want tactile buttons and a dial instead of switching back to the keyboard and trackpad.
Local dictation and prompt entry
Use voice dictation when you want text entered on the Mac without cloud transcription, since the site says audio stays on the Mac and is transcribed locally.
Custom workflow control
Build a custom board for notes, jobs, devices, or other changing items when you want the six acrylic keys and the rest of the controls mapped to a specific workflow.
Single-Mac active control
Pair a Mac and then select exactly one active Host when you need the controller to target a single machine rather than every paired device at once.
Optional background task updates
Use encrypted background notifications if you want optional status updates for task completion, attention, or failure without sending task content in the notification itself.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Combines iPhone or iPad input with haptics, sound, light, and multitouch for a more tactile control experience.
- Routes controls through a Mac Host instead of sending commands directly to apps, which gives the Mac a clear role in handling actions and reporting results.
- Supports both built-in clients such as Codex, Claude, and Cursor and custom clients created with common languages like Swift, Python, Rust, or JavaScript.
- Uses local pairing and local dictation, and the site says no account is required to use the product.
- Offers a free Mac controls option plus one-time purchase tiers for Local, Anywhere, and Anywhere Max instead of a subscription.
Cons
- The pricing page was not available, so purchase details have to be read from the download page rather than a dedicated pricing page.
- Some capabilities depend on a Mac Host, macOS 14 or later, and specific permissions such as Accessibility, Microphone, or Speech Recognition.
- Outside-network access and support for multiple Macs or virtual machines are limited to higher-priced plans on the download page.
FAQ
How does CTRL Micro work?
CTRL Micro uses an iPhone or iPad controller paired with a Mac Host app. The controller sends neutral input to the Host, and the Host decides what the selected client should do.
What devices and operating systems does it support?
The download page says the controller requires iOS 17 or later, and the Mac Host requires macOS 14 or later. The docs also state that custom clients need macOS 14 or later plus the Host app.
What can it control?
The docs describe Codex, Claude, Cursor, your Mac, and custom clients you build yourself as supported clients. The download page also lists Mac controls, Codex, Claude, Cursor, custom clients, and local or nearby connections for the Local plan.
How is CTRL Micro priced?
The download page says Mac controls are free with no account or payment required, and it offers separate one-time purchases for Local, Anywhere, and Anywhere Max. The pricing page itself was not available.
What does setup and trust look like?
The docs say the controller and Host pair locally with a one-time pairing code, and notifications are optional. For custom clients, CTRL Micro shows a full-trust warning before enabling a client and requires approval again if the installed bundle changes.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Haptic control deck / productivity
- Platform
- iPhone or iPad controller plus Mac Host
- Supported clients
- Mac, Codex, Claude, Cursor, and custom clients
- System requirements
- iOS 17 or later; macOS 14 or later
- Pricing shape
- Free Mac controls; one-time purchases for Local, Anywhere, and Anywhere Max; no subscription
- Source domain
- ctrlmicro.com
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