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TapKit is designed to give you full control over real iPhones while being transparent about how everything works. This page covers the architecture, permissions, data handling, and security model.

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How it works

TapKit uses Apple’s built-in accessibility features to control your iPhone:
  1. The Mac app connects to your iPhone over USB and Switch Control
  2. It streams the phone’s screen so AI agents can see what’s happening
  3. AI agents send commands (tap, swipe, type) which the Mac app translates into Switch Control gestures
  4. The gestures execute on the phone just like a human would perform them
No jailbreaking. No modified iOS. No sideloaded apps. Everything runs through Apple’s native accessibility APIs.

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Why we need each permission

The Mac app requests three macOS permissions during setup. Here’s exactly what each one does — and what it doesn’t do.

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Accessibility

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Automation

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Camera

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Shortcut security

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Setup Shortcut

During Phone Setup, the setup Shortcut changes a few Switch Control settings on your iPhone — things like setting the scanning mode to gliding cursor, adjusting cursor speed, and reordering menu items so TapKit can perform gestures. None of these affect your phone in any meaningful way outside of accessibility, and they’re all irrelevant when you turn off Switch Control. The shortcut is fully inspectable — you can tap the three-dot menu on it in the Shortcuts app to see exactly what it does.

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Use TapKit shortcut (runtime)

The runtime shortcut handles clipboard-based data transfer and automation actions during phone control. It uses:
  • Clipboard access for text transfer
  • Wi-Fi information for device discovery
  • Automation actions for executing commands
This shortcut is also fully inspectable in the Shortcuts app.

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Shortcut token

The Shortcut token you paste during phone setup is a restricted API key with limited access. It:
  • Can read device status and receive commands
  • Cannot modify account settings
  • Cannot access billing or payment information
  • Cannot create or revoke API keys
  • Cannot access other phones on your account
It’s scoped to the specific phone it’s configured for.

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Your phone’s safety

  • No jailbreaking or iOS modifications required
  • Uses only Apple’s built-in accessibility APIs (Switch Control)
  • Phone can be disconnected at any time — unplug the USB cable or close the Mac app
  • All changes are reversible — Switch Control settings can be reset, Shortcuts can be deleted
  • TapKit cannot access your phone when the Mac app isn’t running