MiniControl
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The server app for macOS

Your Mac,
as a server.

MiniControl sets your Mac up to run around the clock, then keeps the whole server in your menu bar. Like this one.

Get early accessSee how it works

The panel is live. Switch Plex on.

mac-miniTailscale · up 41 days
Disk48% used
Memory11.2 GB
CPU6% used

ServicesAll 7 ›

  • Jellyfin2 streamsRunning
  • Ollama1 model loadedRunning
  • NavidromeRunning
  • Plex Media ServerStopped

Settings…⌘,

mac-mini · last 90 days99.98% up · 1 power cut, back in 2 min

Set it up once. Then it just runs.

Set up

One checklist makes any Mac a proper server, and asks for its password once.

Never sleeps
pmset sleep 0
Back after a power cut
autorestart 1
SSH
keys only

Watch

Disk, memory and CPU at a glance. A banner the moment something breaks, a notification if it lasts.

Disk
48% used
Memory
11.2 GB
Problems
none

Control

Every service gets a switch, a restart and its web page, next to Screen Sharing, Terminal and Files. Restart the Mac and it waits until everything’s back.

Jellyfin
running
Ollama
running
Restart
back in 1 min 40 s

24 hours on mac-mini

A day with your server.

  1. Everything's fine. You can tell at a glance.

    The icon in your menu bar gets a badge only when something needs you.

  2. Your editor, straight into the server.

    One click opens a repo on the server in VS Code, Cursor or Windsurf, over Remote-SSH.

  3. A new app in one click.

    Pick Ollama in the catalog. It installs with Homebrew, runs under launchd and joins your panel.

  4. Film night, from anywhere.

    Jellyfin plays on the TV at home and on your phone across town, over Tailscale. No ports opened.

  5. The backup runs by itself.

    Each app's settings and library go to iCloud Drive every night, kept for 14 days.

  6. Pro · coming

    Power cut. Back by itself, and you're told.

    It turns on when the power returns, Tailscale first. With Pro, an email when it stops checking in, and another when it’s back.

Server Setup

One checklist. A proper server.

Server Setup checks the Mac live and fixes what you pick in one Terminal session, asking for its password once. The steps that cost something, like logging in by itself, stay off until you choose them.

Every step, in the docs

Server Setup on mac-mini9 of 9 set up

  • Never sleepsA sleeping Mac stops serving.
    pmset sleep 0
  • Back after a power cutOn again as soon as power returns.
    pmset autorestart 1
  • Wakes for the networkWakes when something on the network needs it.
    pmset womp 1
  • Tailscale, built inReachable from anywhere, before anyone logs in.
    tailscaled · system
  • SSH with keys onlyGuessing passwords gets nowhere.
    keys only
  • Screen and File SharingThe panel's launchers work from day one.
    on
  • Restart without a passwordSo the panel can restart it for you.
    shutdown -r only
  • HomebrewWhat the catalog installs with.
    /opt/homebrew
  • A short nameWhat Tailscale and your network show.
    mac-mini

Pairing takes six digits.

Your server shows up on its own, at home or over Tailscale. Both screens show the same code; you click Allow on the server. No passwords, no ssh keys, no config files.

On your MacBook Pro

Pair with mac-mini?Check this code matches the one on mac-mini.418 207Waiting for mac-mini to allow it…

On mac-mini

MacBook Pro wants to pair.Allow it if this code matches the one on your MacBook Pro.418 207

Add an app in one click.

Installed with Homebrew, kept running by launchd, and in your panel straight away. The whole catalog is free.

See all 7 apps

For developers

A dev box, one click away.

Builds, agents and dev servers run on the server around the clock, while your laptop stays cool and quiet.

Open a repo on the server Free

The editor tile lists the git repos on your server. One click opens one in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf or VSCodium over Remote-SSH, so the build runs on the server.

Dev Hosts Pro · free in beta

Point localhost.* names at the server or at this Mac with one click. A small helper rewrites one managed block in /etc/hosts, and refuses real domains.

Your own actions Pro · free in beta

A shell command or a launchd job, one click from the menu bar. Each keeps its last result and speaks up when a run fails or is late.

The command line Free

The app doubles as a command-line tool, for scripts and cron jobs. Every command

$ MiniControl --dump
$ MiniControl --restart Jellyfin
$ MiniControl --install ollama

No cloud in the middle.

Your Mac and your server talk directly, over your home network or Tailscale, with your own ssh. Our servers handle accounts, licences and Pro’s check-in, never commands or data.

Free never talks to us except to check for updates.

How it’s kept safe
Your Mac
ssh · home network or Tailscale
mac-mini

minicontrol.app

  • Your account and licencePro
  • A check-in each minute: the server’s name and the timePro · coming
  • Never: commands, files, service names, stats
Your Mac reaches your server directly over ssh. Only Pro’s account, licence and the server’s check-in reach MiniControl’s servers; commands and data never do.

Free runs your server. Pro watches it for you.

Free

Runs your server. $0, for good. No account.

  • Server Setup, Free up memory, and a restart that waits for your services
  • Tailscale built in, pairing, and every Mac that uses the server
  • Disk, memory and CPU, the problems banner, notifications on your Mac
  • Launchers: Screen Sharing, Terminal, Files and your code editor
  • The whole app catalog
  • A nightly backup to iCloud Drive and weekly app updates
  • One server, and one service of your own

Pro free in beta

Watches it for you. At launch: $4 a month, $36 a year, or $99 once.

  • Offline alerts coming
  • A weekly report coming
  • Any number of servers free in beta
  • Any number of services of your own free in beta
  • Your own actions free in beta
  • Detail lines you write free in beta
  • Dev Hosts free in beta
mac-mini · last 90 days99.98% up · 1 power cut, back in 2 min coming

Prices and questions

Early access

Always on.

Early access opens with the first signed build. Leave your email: one message when it's ready, nothing else.