X11 forwarding

X11 forwarding across desktop, mobile and tablets

Launch graphical Linux applications remotely over SSH and interact with them seamlessly on any device. From your Mac, Windows PC, or Linux laptop to your iPad and Android phone, Tempest brings remote X11 windows directly to your fingertips.

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Windows, macOS, Linux, Android & iOS/iPadOS.

Tempest X11 forwarding running remote GUI applications across desktop and mobile devices

Truly cross-platform

X11 on your phone and tablet, not just your PC

Unlike traditional Windows-only terminal tools, Tempest brings native X11 forwarding capabilities to all platforms. Monitor graphical tools, inspect graphs, or trigger administrative GUI dialogs on the go.

Full support across macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, and Android.
Touch-friendly controls and responsive window management on tablets and mobile devices.
One-click toggle in host settings with custom DISPLAY and socket configuration. X11 forwarding setup guide

Secure networking

Encrypted tunnels, jump hosts and zero-trust bastions

Never expose raw X11 ports to untrusted networks. Tempest routes all graphical traffic through authenticated, encrypted SSH channels with full support for recursive jump hosts.

Recursive jump host routing lets you forward X11 through private bastions with zero friction. Jump host chaining guide
Combine with SSH connection multiplexing for instant, lightweight additional windows. Connection multiplexing guide
End-to-end encrypted profile sync keeps your X11 configurations synchronized across all your devices. How E2EE sync works
Encrypted X11 channel routed securely through SSH jump hosts

Unified workspace

Run remote GUI tools right alongside your terminal

Launch Wireshark, virt-manager, GIMP, or custom diagnostic tools directly from your shell without configuring heavy VNC or remote desktop services.

Seamless multi-session tabs and split screens combine terminal shells, files, and GUI workflows. Split screen productivity
Command-line integration via 'tempest ssh -X' in the Tempest CLI.
Handoff and collaborate: pick up your session on another machine or share with teammates. Handoff & live collaboration
Remote GUI applications side by side with terminal tabs

Frequently asked questions

Can I use X11 forwarding on mobile phones and tablets?
Yes. Tempest supports X11 forwarding on Android, iOS, and iPadOS as well as Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing you to access remote GUI applications from any device.
How do I enable X11 forwarding in Tempest?
Edit your saved SSH host, toggle 'X11 Forwarding' to ON, optionally specify an X11 socket or display if required, and connect. Remote GUI programs will forward to your local display. Step-by-step X11 forwarding guide
Does Tempest require a separate VNC server to display remote GUI apps?
No. X11 forwarding tunnels individual application windows over your SSH connection, avoiding the need to install or configure a separate VNC server on the remote machine.
Can X11 forwarding route through an SSH bastion or jump host?
Yes. Tempest's jump host chaining transparently tunnels the SSH session and X11 forwarding through any number of intermediate bastions.

Keep exploring

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Remote GUI applications on every platform you use.

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