Before you begin
Use a Mac running macOS 14 or newer, with internet access. Keep it plugged into power. Have your Mac administrator password available for software installation prompts.
For Android phones, no Apple developer account is needed. For iPhones, install full Xcode and follow the Apple setup below. Xcode’s own macOS requirements may be newer than Phonebay’s minimum.
1. Get your installer and setup code
- Sign in on the Mac at your Phonebay account.
- Save your phone details. Enter 0 iPhones for an Android-only setup.
- Choose Prepare Mac download, then Download Phonebay for Mac when it is ready.
- Choose Generate setup code and keep the code available.
- Open the downloaded ZIP, then open Phonebay Setup.
Setup codes expire after 24 hours. Generate a separate code for each Mac. If a code has expired, generate a new one from your account.
2. Connect Setup to your account
Paste the setup code into Connect to Phonebay in the installer and verify it. Continue through the tool preparation steps, following the prompts on the Mac.
Setup prepares the worker’s dependencies. Some steps open another app or Terminal and need your approval. Wait for each step to finish before continuing.
If macOS reports that the installer is damaged or cannot be verified, contact support for a verified installer. Do not disable macOS security protections.
Android only? Skip the Apple steps below. Prepare your phone with the Android guide, finish the installer and open your dashboard.
3. Prepare Apple signing for iPhones
Apple requires the Phonebay iPhone driver to be signed before it runs on your phones. This driver lets Phonebay read the screen and send touch actions.
- Install Xcode from the Mac App Store or Apple’s Xcode downloads. Open it once and complete its license and component installation prompts.
- In Xcode → Settings → Accounts, sign in with your Apple account. Enter Apple credentials in Xcode, not in Phonebay.
- Return to Phonebay Setup and detect your signing teams. Choose the team you want to use.
- If no team is found, open Manage Certificates for your account in Xcode and create an Apple Development certificate, then try detection again.
- If Setup asks for a driver bundle identifier, use a unique identifier such as
com.yourcompany.phonebay.driver.
A free Apple account has signing restrictions and can require more frequent maintenance. Ask us about your fleet before choosing an account for ongoing iPhone use.
4. Connect and prepare your phones
Connect each phone by USB and unlock it. For Android, approve USB debugging using the Android steps. For iPhones, follow the iPhone steps for computer trust, Developer Mode and driver trust.
Let Setup build and install the iPhone driver when needed. Keep phones connected and unlocked until it finishes. This first preparation can take longer than later starts.
5. Finish and check the dashboard
Finish the installer, open Phonebay and sign in with your account. Follow Your first session to check video and controls.
The installed worker starts after you log in to your Mac. Keep that Mac logged in, awake and online. If you restart it, log back in before trying to use its phones.
If setup stops partway through
Retry on the same Mac, keeping the existing Phonebay installation files. Setup can reuse saved pairing information. Do not delete the installation or generate a different account to work around an error.
If the Mac is already connected to another account, contact support before replacing the installation. See Troubleshooting for the next checks.