Compatibility
Computer running Macro Deck
Section titled “Computer running Macro Deck”| Operating system | Architecture | Packages |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | x64 | Installer (.exe) |
| macOS 11 or later | Apple silicon | App |
| Debian, Ubuntu | x64 | APT repository, .deb |
| Other Linux distributions | x64 | .rpm, AppImage |
See Installation for how to install each one.
Devices you control it from
Section titled “Devices you control it from”There are two ways to use a device as your deck:
- Web client: opens in a browser on your network, with nothing to install. It also works in browser-based game overlays. With HTTPS enabled, you can install it as an app (PWA).
- Companion app: the native app for Android 6 or later and iOS 15 or later. See Companion app for what it adds over the web client.
Looking for specific devices? See Recommended devices.
🟢 works well · 🟡 works, with limitations · 🔴 does not work
| OS | Web client | Companion app | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android 6 or later | 🟢 | 🟢 | |
| Android 4.4 to 5.1 | 🟡 | 🔴 | Some visual effects are missing. |
| Android 4.3 or earlier | 🔴 | 🔴 | The built-in Android browser cannot keep a connection to Macro Deck. |
| iOS 16 or later | 🟢 | 🟢 | |
| iOS 15 | 🟢 | 🟡 | Fine if you already have one. Do not buy one for Macro Deck: the app keeps supporting iOS 15 only as long as Kotlin Multiplatform does and it can still be built for iOS 15 on a current Mac. |
| iOS 9 to 14 | 🟡 | 🔴 | Some visual effects are missing, and on older versions dates and times show as digits. |
| iOS 8 or earlier | 🔴 | 🔴 | |
| Windows, macOS, Linux | 🟢 | Any current browser. |
Limitations
Section titled “Limitations”The web client is slower than the companion app
Section titled “The web client is slower than the companion app”The companion app draws the deck natively: the operating system paints each widget directly. The web client has to build every widget out of web page elements, and the browser then works out styles, layout and painting for all of them whenever something changes. On a fast computer you will hardly notice, but on an older phone or tablet the web client reacts noticeably slower and uses more battery.
If the web client feels sluggish, set Rendering to Simple in its settings. That drops shadows, animations and the history graph, and hides the forecast bars. On devices that support it, the companion app is the better choice.
Icon resolution in the same settings decides how sharp the icons on the deck are loaded. Automatic picks 128, 256 or 512 px from how large each icon is shown and says which size it is using. A phone usually gets 128 px, a tablet 256 px. Choose a fixed size if icons look blurry or a slow network loads them too slowly. The desktop app always uses 256 px.
HTTPS is needed for some web client features
Section titled “HTTPS is needed for some web client features”Installing the web client as an app (PWA) and Keep display awake only work when the web client
is opened at its https:// address. Turn on HTTPS in Settings > Network. Macro Deck signs its
certificate with its own authority, so install and trust that authority once on every device you
use.
Keeping the display awake
Section titled “Keeping the display awake”Keep display awake needs a browser that supports it. Many older browsers do not, and the setting then says so. Even where it is supported, battery saver can refuse it, and the browser pauses it while the screen is off.
USB connections
Section titled “USB connections”Android devices can connect over USB with ADB, with the companion app or with the web client at
http://127.0.0.1 in the device’s browser. ADB is turned on in Settings > ADB and uses the official
Android platform-tools from Google, about 15 MB. With the Macro Deck app, Android phones and tablets, iPhone and iPad
can also connect over USB without debugging, set up in Settings > USB connections; the web client
cannot. See Connect over USB for the full setup.
Older browsers
Section titled “Older browsers”On the older systems marked 🟡 above, the web client runs in a reduced mode: some visual effects, such as animated widget borders, are missing. Up to iOS 12, clocks use the device’s time zone, and dates and times are shown as digits.
Computer requirements
Section titled “Computer requirements”Macro Deck is built for x64 Windows and Linux and for Apple silicon Macs. There are no builds for Intel Macs or for ARM versions of Windows and Linux. Actions do not run while the computer is locked, see Troubleshooting.