Tether Brings Apple-Style Continuity to Linux Desktops

Switching from macOS to Linux usually means leaving your iPhone behind.

Developer Zack Bartel released Tether, an open-source tool that brings Apple Continuity features to Linux desktops. Built with a custom C++ Bluetooth engine and mTLS encryption, it syncs iMessage, SMS, notifications, clipboards, and files directly with an iPhone. It also includes extensions that catch one-time passcode emails and autofill them into browser login screens.

Why it matters: Getting iPhone texts on Linux previously required running a dedicated proxy server on a Mac. Tether talks directly to your iPhone over Bluetooth, giving Linux users native phone-to-desktop sync without needing extra hardware.

If you want to try it, Tether is available under an MIT license. Keep in mind that automatic passcode filling currently requires Zen Browser and Betterbird to work.

Linux desktops just got a whole lot friendlier for iPhone users.