Mobile Control
Using Your Laptop as a Wi-Fi Hotspot for DMXDesktop Remote Control
DMXDesktop includes a built-in webserver that lets you control your lights from a phone or tablet. You don't need an internet connection - your laptop can create its own local Wi-Fi hotspot. Once connected, your mobile device can access DMXDesktop's web interface in any browser. Below you'll find simple steps for both Windows and macOS.
What You Can Control
Once your phone or tablet is connected, the web remote gives you the parts of DMXDesktop you are most likely to want while you are away from the laptop.
- • QuickShow effects, presets and colour themes, plus the strobe, blinder, blackout, freeze and fog buttons.
- • Live Controls faders and group flash, so you can punch a section of the rig by hand from the floor.
- • Live Edits, including any raised automatically as a standby look, which now show as lit rather than off.
- • Effect cues, and console cue stacks: step, back, hold, stop and the stack level, with the step the stack has reached.
- • Programmer executor buttons and cue faders, which stay in step with the desk however they were triggered.
- • Moving head position, including fan, light up and reset.
- • DJ Mode decks, playlists and tracks, and which DJ application is driving the show.
- • Live Wire mode and Hold, so one press takes you from silence to a running rig in Band, DJ or Ambient.
Remote features follow your plan
The remote itself is not restricted, and neither are the general live controls or effect stacks. Two areas do follow your plan: DJ Mode deck, playlist and track control, along with Live Wire mode and Hold, needs Standard or Pro, and console cue stacks and cue faders, which belong to the Programmer, need Pro. Anything your plan does not cover is hidden rather than offered and then refused. If you upgrade while the app is open, the new controls appear straight away instead of waiting for a reconnect. See Pricing.
Everything stays in step. Change a control on the phone and the desk and any other connected app update to match, and the same the other way round. There is also a native app for iOS and Android with a larger control surface: see DMXDesktop Mobile.
Windows Setup
1. Enable Hotspot
- • Open Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile hotspot.
- • Turn Mobile hotspot = On.
- • Click Edit, then set a Network name (SSID) and Password.
- • Your laptop now broadcasts its own Wi-Fi network. (It works even if the laptop has no internet connection.)
2. Start DMXDesktop Webserver
- • Open DMXDesktop → Settings → General.
- • Enable Webserver.
- • The software will display the IP address and port it is bound to (e.g. http://192.168.1.1:8080).
3. Connect Phone/Tablet
- • On your phone or tablet, join the laptop's hotspot Wi-Fi using the SSID and password you set.
- • Open a browser and enter the address shown in DMXDesktop.
- • You now have remote control of DMXDesktop from your device.
Tip: If the page does not load, make sure Windows Firewall allows DMXDesktop to communicate on private networks.
macOS Setup
1. Enable Hotspot
- • Open System Settings → Network → Internet Sharing.
- • Select the network interface you want to share (e.g. Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- • Choose Wi-Fi as the sharing method and set a Network name (SSID) and Password.
- • Tick Internet Sharing to turn it on.
- • Your Mac now broadcasts its own Wi-Fi network.
2. Start DMXDesktop Webserver
- • Open DMXDesktop → Settings → General.
- • Enable Webserver.
- • The software will display the IP address and port it is bound to (e.g. http://192.168.2.1:8080).
3. Connect Phone/Tablet
- • On your phone or tablet, join the Mac's Wi-Fi hotspot with the SSID and password you set.
- • Open a browser and enter the address shown in DMXDesktop.
- • You now have remote control of DMXDesktop from your device.
That's It!
With just a few clicks, your laptop becomes a self-contained control hub. Whether you're on Windows or macOS, you can create a local hotspot, connect your phone or tablet, and access DMXDesktop's web interface, no internet connection required.
