Turn Your Laptop into an SSH Server and Code from Anywhere with IronCode
Step-by-step guide to setting up your laptop (macOS/Linux/Windows) as an SSH server, connecting via IronCode SSH, and running IronCode CLI from your phone.
Overview
The IronCode SSH app + IronCode CLI combo lets you code from your phone anywhere — as long as your laptop is on and connected to the internet. This guide walks you through:
- Enable SSH server on your laptop
- Find your local IP address
- Set up remote access over the internet (Tailscale, ngrok, or Cloudflare Tunnel)
- Install IronCode CLI on your laptop
- Connect via IronCode SSH and start coding
Step 1 — Enable SSH Server on Your Laptop
macOS
macOS ships with a built-in SSH server. Enable it with:
sudo systemsetup -setremotelogin on
Or go to System Settings → General → Sharing → Remote Login and toggle it on.
Linux (Ubuntu / Debian)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install openssh-server -y
sudo systemctl enable --now ssh
Windows 11 / 10
Go to Settings → System → Optional Features → Add a feature, search for OpenSSH Server, and install it. Then in PowerShell (Admin):
Start-Service sshd
Set-Service -Name sshd -StartupType Automatic
Step 2 — Find Your Laptop's Local IP
ipconfig getifaddr en0 # macOS (Wi-Fi)
ip addr show # Linux
ipconfig # Windows
You'll get an address like 192.168.x.x. This works when your phone and laptop are on the same Wi-Fi. For access from anywhere, continue to Step 3.
Step 3 — Remote Access Over the Internet
Tailscale creates a private mesh VPN between your devices — no port forwarding, no public IP needed. Free for personal use.
Install on your laptop:
# macOS
brew install tailscale && sudo tailscale up
# Linux
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh && sudo tailscale up
For Windows, download the installer from tailscale.com/download.
Install on your phone: Download the Tailscale app (App Store / Google Play) and sign in with the same Google or GitHub account.
Once connected, your laptop gets a stable address like 100.x.x.x. Use this as the Host in IronCode SSH.
Step 4 — Install IronCode CLI on Your Laptop
IronCode requires Node.js. If you don't have it:
# Install Node.js via nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash
nvm install --lts
Then install IronCode:
npm install -g ironcode-ai
Step 5 — Connect with IronCode SSH
Open IronCode SSH on your phone, tap +, and fill in:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | 192.168.x.x (local) · 100.x.x.x (Tailscale) · ngrok / Cloudflare hostname |
| Port | 22 (or the ngrok port) |
| Username | Your laptop username |
| Auth | Password or Private Key |
Tap Connect — you're in.
Step 6 — Run IronCode from Your Phone
Once connected:
cd ~/your-project
ironcode
IronCode CLI runs right inside the IronCode SSH terminal. Use the app's AI Assistant to generate shell commands, or save ironcode, git status, and npm run dev as Quick Commands for one-tap access.
What You Can Do Now
- Code from anywhere using just your phone and laptop
- Full CPU & RAM of your laptop — no cloud limits
- Manage files via IronCode SSH's built-in SFTP Browser
- Monitor Docker containers with the built-in Docker Manager