Linux and iPhone Continuity (iMessage / SMS)
After switching to 100% Linux a couple of years ago there was basically only one thing I missed about macOS and that was what Apple calls "Continuity". It's where you get texts, notifications, clipboard sync, file transfer (to/from) the iPhone from the Mac desktop. Especially that thing where OTP codes via text autofilled into the browser form I was waiting on. It took about 4 months of work: - reverse-engineering Apple/iOS Bluetooth behavior - MAP / OBEX - Bluetooth LE + Wi-Fi working together - iMessage through the iPhone's own cellular/iMessage stack - iOS app, Linux…
In plain words
Tether enables Linux users to access iPhone features like iMessage, SMS, notifications, clipboard sync, and file transfer directly from their desktop, mimicking Apple's Continuity feature. The project includes an iOS app, Linux daemon, GTK application, and browser extensions for Firefox and Thunderbird. It works through reverse-engineered Bluetooth and iMessage protocols without requiring a Mac, allowing automatic OTP code autofill in web forms.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Linux + iPhone Continuity / iMessage / SMS. Contribute to zackb/tether development by creating an account on GitHub.
In the maker’s words, at launch
After switching to 100% Linux a couple of years ago there was basically only one thing I missed about macOS and that was what Apple calls "Continuity". It's where you get texts, notifications, clipboard sync, file transfer (to/from) the iPhone from the Mac desktop. Especially that thing where OTP codes via text autofilled into the browser form I was waiting on. It took about 4 months of work: - reverse-engineering Apple/iOS Bluetooth behavior - MAP / OBEX - Bluetooth LE + Wi-Fi working together - iMessage through the iPhone's own cellular/iMessage stack - iOS app, Linux daemon, GTK app, Thunderbird/Firefox extension - no Mac involved But it is now something I'd love to show people. Contributions/bugs/feedback welcome!
Does the same job
all alternatives →- BMBeeper Mini – iMessage client for Android2023 · beeper.com · ▲1,521
Hi HN! I’m proud to share that we have built a real 3rd party iMessage client for Android. We did it by reverse engineering the iMessage protocol and encryption system. It's available to download today (no waitlist): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beeper.ima and there's a technical writeup here: https://blog.beeper.com/p/how-beeper-mini-works. Unlike every other attempt to build an iMessage app for Android (including our first gen app), Beeper Mini does not use a Mac server relay in the cloud. The app connects directly to Apple…
AndroMeldAug 2026 · andromeld.catchingnow.com · ▲94Bring a continuity-style experience to Android and Mac
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