So it’s the Linux equivalent of Phone Link/Link to Windows?
Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
171–180 of 231 posts
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#172Mega-kudos to the author for chipping away at the wall around Apple’s garden. I have had a iPhone for 15 years, and I have only ever been able to back it up with iTunes on windows (as I will never buy a Mac). Apple’s refusal to provide interoperability borders on criminal. I wish there was a better option.
Since you are dead-set against getting a Mac, why don't you move to Android? It seems like a better fit as Apple's whole thing is about continuity between their own devices, which obviously will not work for you.
> why don't you move to Android?
Because I trust Google even less than Apple (and a de-Googled phone would not be useful to me).
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#173I installed this and spent a reasonable amount of time trying to get it to work. It didn't.
* GTK interface is buggy on hyprland (could only click buttons when app was on its own screen and not set to fullscreen)
* docs are vibe slop and incorrect:
~ tether pair
[2026-08-30 11:33:26.084] [ERR] Unknown action. Run tether --help for options
~ tether --pair
[2026-08-30 11:33:29.949] [ERR] Pairing requires a TCP+TLS connection. Use --host to specify a target.
* installation requires sudo escalation to configure bluetooth settings with a vague warning but no real explanation of what the risks are.
* couldn't get it to reliably connect - the feedback from linux and ios apps were vague and didn't help with what was broken or what was required to fix it.
Promising project, I'd love a solution like this but not worth my time for now.
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#174I installed this and spent a reasonable amount of time trying to get it to work. It didn't. * GTK interface is buggy on hyprland (could only click buttons when app was on its own screen and not set to fullscreen) * docs are vibe slop and incorrect: ~ tether pair [2026-08-30 11:33:26.084] [ERR] Unknown action. Run tether --help for options ~ tether --pair [2026-08-30 11:33:29.949] [ERR] Pairing requires a TCP+TLS conn…
I ran into similar issues on a mostly stock Ubuntu 24.
When I start the gtk app, it has a scan devices button but it never finds my phone even though I've paired via bluetooth and its on same LAN.
The iOS app just has a spinning icon that goes forever even though it sees my computer name in the 'discovered devices' list.
I tried pairing from CLI and GTK app and no go on Wifi or Bluetooth.
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
Lol. Someone liking this change is stupid for letting it lift their outlook, right? How stupid is it then to let this comment rob your hope.
:) Alternative reply to lighten mood in odd thread: Not to be Debbie Downer but making one small corner of the world a little bit better has no effect on what matters to billions of people. We are facing very real global and societal issues that people are actively exacerbating. If a dude explaining that there’s not much use in complaining robs you of hope for the world, then please broaden your perspective.
You understand I'm on your side here, right?
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#176I installed this and spent a reasonable amount of time trying to get it to work. It didn't. * GTK interface is buggy on hyprland (could only click buttons when app was on its own screen and not set to fullscreen) * docs are vibe slop and incorrect: ~ tether pair [2026-08-30 11:33:26.084] [ERR] Unknown action. Run tether --help for options ~ tether --pair [2026-08-30 11:33:29.949] [ERR] Pairing requires a TCP+TLS conn…
Heh, I wrote all of the docs, hence the typos :)
* This is troubling as I've tested it extensively in Hyprland on different machines.
* You are right that the root installation requirements need more clarification. I was so focused on making it as easy as possible for the user that I buried important details.
* The failures to connect are an endless battle given the crazy inconsistencies in bt controllers. ~/.local/state/tether/tetherd.log should have the details I need to debug it, if you are inclined to open an issue.
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#177Earlier quoted context omitted.
People are concerned about having homes to live in and having food to eat. They aren't concerned about 'device lockdown'. Try to see the bigger picture.
Device lockdown is why our biggest billionaires are billionaires. It's how they made their money and still make it.
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Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#178This guy did a nice thing for people, let's keep it positive.
Thank you very much for this! KDEConnect is great, but it's a little awkward to use with iOS (because of Apple, not the great developers), so this is a nice project to see.
I don't see references to contributions, do you have a patreon or something?
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#179The website is so hard to read for me. The font weight should be more :(
Re: Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
#180Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you think AGPL is going to stop a crawler from incorporating your work into their training set? I don’t. There are zero meaningful consequences atm. That being said, I’m with you in spirit and in action, but realistically it’s pointless outside of living in accordance with your values. Edit: Re-reading that, i just told you that your principles are pointless, and thats fucked up and wrong. I’m going to live in acc…
That's kinda how I'm thinking about this in terms of licenzing my upcoming projects. The code is just going to be laundered anyways, so why bother putting on a license like AGPL that might just hinder adoption?
Then just not publish it I think.