FAQ

What platforms are supported?

Platform	Host (Share)	Client (Connect)
Linux	Yes	Yes
macOS 13+ (Apple Silicon / Intel)	No	Yes
Windows 10/11 (x64)	No	Yes

Since v1.0.1, Windows and macOS can connect. The Share button is hidden there. Sharing works on Linux with X11 (tested) and Wayland (best effort).

Hosting requires Linux because the bundled streaming engine depends on Linux-specific APIs for GPU encoding and display capture.

Do I need a GPU?

No. If no compatible GPU is detected, the app falls back to software encoding. However, a dedicated GPU (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) provides significantly better performance and lower latency.

Does it work over the internet?

Only through a VPN. Both machines need to be on the same network, or both signed in to the same Tailscale tailnet (free for small teams). Astral Travel never opens ports on your router or sends traffic through a relay. Built-in internet connections without a VPN are planned.

What does the connection code contain?

The code encodes the host's public IP, port, and a TLS fingerprint. It's not a password — it's the information needed to find and securely connect to the host. The TLS fingerprint ensures the connection can't be intercepted.

Is the connection encrypted?

Yes. Pairing and control traffic use TLS, the video stream is encrypted (AES-GCM), and each share has its own one-time password. Data flows directly between your machines and never passes through a relay server.

What resolution and framerate does it stream at?

The app matches your current display resolution at 60 FPS. Bitrate is set automatically based on resolution (20 Mbps at 1080p, 40 Mbps at 4K). There are no manual controls — the defaults work well for most setups.

Can I host from macOS or Windows?

Not currently. You can connect from macOS or Windows, but sharing needs Linux. Hosting from Windows and macOS is on the roadmap.

The AppImage won't run / sandbox error

Try running with the sandbox disabled:

ELECTRON_DISABLE_SANDBOX=1 ./Astral-Travel-*.AppImage

This is sometimes needed depending on your Linux distribution's security configuration.

Windows says "Windows protected your PC"

The installer isn't signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway.

macOS won't open the app, or says it is damaged

The app isn't notarized yet. Right-click it in Applications and choose Open, or go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. If macOS says the app is damaged, run:

xattr -cr "/Applications/Astral Travel.app"

The first time you connect, macOS asks to allow local network access. Click Allow, or the connection fails.

Where are config files and logs stored?

System	Settings	Log
Linux	~/.config/astraltravel/	~/.config/astraltravel/logs/main.log
Windows	%APPDATA%\astraltravel\	%APPDATA%\astraltravel\logs\main.log
macOS	~/Library/Application Support/astraltravel/	~/Library/Logs/astraltravel/main.log

Everything is managed automatically. You shouldn't need to edit anything here.

Is this open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub.