Pair your phone and PC
Pair two devices once with a single-use QR code and a matching 6-digit code. After that they recognise each other automatically.
Pairing makes two devices trust each other. It happens once, and it needs both devices on the same network (the same Wi-Fi, or your PC on your phone’s hotspot). Afterwards they can also find each other over the internet.
Steps
Show the QR code on the PC
In the desktop app click Add device in the sidebar (on first start: Show QR code). The code works once and expires after 120 seconds; click New code if it runs out.
Scan it with the phone
Open Personal Bridge on the phone and tap Scan QR code (or Add a computer on the home screen). Allow camera access when asked. No camera? Tap Copy link on the PC, send the link to the phone and use Paste link instead.
Compare the 6-digit codes
Both screens now show a 6-digit code. Tap Allow on both only if the codes are identical. If they differ, tap Deny: something is between the devices.
Done
The PC shows “… is connected” and the device appears under My devices. Set what it may do under Manage devices and permissions.
Pairing two PCs
Two PCs pair with a link instead of the camera: in Add device on the first PC click Copy link, and on the second PC paste it under Paste a link from another device and click Connect. With the command line: pdb serve --pair on one, pdb pair "pdb://pair?d=…" on the other.
Good to know
- The QR code carries a one-time pairing secret, never your device’s private key.
- The phone scans and the PC shows the code. Two phones can’t pair with each other.
- Discovery isn’t trust: devices on your network appear only after you pair them.
- Code didn’t scan, or the devices can’t reach each other? See Pairing doesn’t work.