TetherShot: A Native macOS App for Pixel-Perfect iPhone Screenshots

Research context and background

TetherShot is a lightweight, native macOS application designed to streamline the process of capturing high-resolution iPhone screenshots for documentation and design reviews. It replaces the cumbersome traditional workflow of connecting via USB, opening QuickTime, recording the screen, and cropping the result with a simple menu-bar button.

Benefits

TetherShot offers several key advantages for users who need precise images from their iPhones. The application captures the actual iPhone framebuffer at full resolution, ensuring pixel-perfect images without the need for post-processing cropping. This means users get exactly what they see on their screen without losing quality. The app supports two distinct methods for capturing screenshots. Users can connect via USB for instant, full-resolution captures with zero setup. Alternatively, they can use a Wi-Fi connection for cable-free capturing over Apple's developer-services RemoteXPC tunnel. This method ensures that captures require no sudo privileges and function even when the iPhone is locked. The workflow is highly efficient because the app is accessible directly from the macOS menu bar. Users can choose a specific folder to save the image and simultaneously copy it to the clipboard. The application operates entirely locally without requiring user accounts or cloud synchronization. There is no telemetry or data collection, which ensures user privacy. The software is released under the MIT license.

Use Cases

TetherShot is ideal for professionals who need high-quality images from their iPhones for work. Designers can use it to capture exact details of mobile interfaces for design reviews without worrying about image quality loss. Developers can utilize the app to document bugs or features by taking pixel-perfect screenshots of their applications. The ability to capture images even when the iPhone is locked makes it useful for quick documentation on the go. The menu-bar integration allows users to access the tool quickly without navigating through multiple menus. The local-first approach makes it suitable for users who prioritize privacy and do not want their data sent to the cloud.

Pricing

TetherShot is distributed as a Swift application via npm. The installation process builds the app from source, which eliminates the macOS quarantine attribute and prevents Gatekeeper warnings. Users can install it globally via npm by running the command npm install -g tethershot followed by tethershot install.

Vibes

The developer initially attempted to mirror the iPhone screen over AirPlay and capture using ScreenCaptureKit. However, this approach proved unreliable on macOS Tahoe, where the mirrored window would black out whenever a capture context became active. Consequently, the project was pivoted to the current framebuffer-based approach for stability and reliability. This shows a commitment to providing a stable and reliable tool for users.

Additional Information

The application operates entirely locally without requiring user accounts or cloud synchronization. There is no telemetry or data collection. The software is released under the MIT license.