How Phonebay works
Your phone connects by USB to a computer running the worker, a small program that connects your devices to Phonebay. You watch and control those devices in the dashboard, which opens in your browser.
Keep the worker computer on, awake and connected to the internet while you use your phones. The browser can be on another computer. You do not need to install the worker on every computer you use to open the dashboard.
Gather what you need
- Your Android phone or iPhone, unlocked and with its initial setup complete.
- A USB data cable. Some cables only charge and will not connect your phone.
- A computer with a reliable internet connection.
- Your Phonebay account and an active subscription for the hosted service.
Choose the setup that matches your hardware:
| Your computer | Android | iPhone | Setup route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac with macOS 14 or newer | Yes | Yes, with compatible Xcode | Guided installer |
| Windows 10/11 x64 PC | Yes, Windows installer (test release) | Not supported by this worker | Guided installer + tray app |
For iPhones, you also need an Apple account and a version of full Xcode compatible with your Mac and iOS version. Android-only Mac setup does not need Apple signing.
Create your account
- Open Sign in and create your Phonebay account, or sign in if you already have one.
- Choose a plan for the total number of phones you want to connect. Android phones and iPhones share the same allowance.
- Complete payment and return to Phonebay.
- Tell us which phones you will connect. If you only have Android phones, enter 0 iPhones so the Mac installer skips Apple signing.
Use the same email and password for your account and dashboard. Keep your setup codes private.
Using Windows? Choose Windows on the download page, then follow the Windows guide to install and connect with a Windows setup code.
Connect your computer
Follow the Mac worker guide for the guided installer, or the Windows worker guide for Android and the tray app. Install one worker on each computer that has phones plugged into it.
You do not need to install a Phonebay server to use the hosted service.
Prepare one phone
Start with a phone plugged directly into your computer, without a USB hub. Follow the Android guide or iPhone guide to allow the connection.
Then follow Your first session. You are ready to add more phones when you can see the screen changing, tap something and scroll from the dashboard.