No display adapter
A headless Mac gets a complete macOS desktop without an HDMI dummy plug or a permanently attached monitor.
Headless Mac remote access
A real Mac desktop, even with no monitor attached.
Screen Ferry creates a Virtual Display for every connection. It mirrors the connected monitor when one is present, operates independently on a headless Mac, and is disposed when you disconnect.
The connection owns the desktop it serves.
stateDiagram-v2
[*] --> Disconnected
Disconnected --> Connected: Client connects
state Connected {
[*] --> CreateVD: Host creates Virtual Display
CreateVD --> MirrorMonitor: Physical monitor connected
CreateVD --> HeadlessDesktop: No physical monitor
MirrorMonitor --> Serving
HeadlessDesktop --> Serving
}
Connected --> DisposeVD: Connection disconnects
DisposeVD --> Disconnected: Virtual Display disposed
A desktop, not a stretched canvas
macOS lays out windows and text on the served display geometry before capture, giving Screen Ferry native pixels to encode rather than a stub desktop to enlarge.
Scoped to the connection
The Virtual Display belongs to the active remote session. Disconnecting removes that session's display instead of leaving a permanent virtual monitor behind.
Retina-oriented presentation
Sharp text starts before capture.
The Virtual Display path supports a Retina-oriented HiDPI surface and verifies that macOS published a usable mode before adopting it. If the requested mode is unavailable, Screen Ferry uses the ordinary display mode rather than serving a broken desktop.
The Client communicates its viewport so the Host can choose an appropriate served mode and let macOS lay out the desktop legibly at the source.
Designed for unattended Macs
Mac mini. Studio. Lab. Build machine. Remote office.
No inbound ports
Host and Client both dial outward to establish the encrypted relay session. No port forwarding or VPN is required.
P2P mode
Turn on P2P mode to let Screen Ferry qualify a faster direct route while retaining relay fallback.
Active-session readiness
The Host prevents display sleep while a session is active and exposes the display, connection, media, and route diagnostics behind the session.
Use it your way
Windowed beside local work, or full screen.
The native Client can keep a remote Mac in a window or take it full screen. Clipboard synchronization carries UTF-8 text, rich text, PNG, and TIFF in both directions with size bounds and echo-loop suppression.