Use the keyboard¶
Jump Desktop sends what you type to the remote computer. These controls send the keys your keyboard lacks and the shortcuts your own computer would otherwise keep. For example, send Ctrl+Alt+Delete to a Windows computer, use Cmd shortcuts from a Mac on a Windows computer, or type function keys on an iPad keyboard.
Applies to¶
- Jump Desktop on Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
- Web browser: see Connect from a web browser.
Shortcuts on Windows and Mac¶
In Jump Desktop for Windows and Jump Desktop for Mac, if a shortcut goes to the wrong computer or sends the wrong keys:
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Alt+Tab, the Windows key, Cmd+Tab, or Spotlight acts on your own computer instead of the remote one | Turn on Remote > Windows Shortcuts (Ctrl+Alt+Left Arrow) or Remote > macOS Shortcuts (Ctrl+Cmd+Left Arrow). See Send system shortcuts to the remote computer. |
| You want a different key combination sent than the one you press, such as Ctrl+C when you press Cmd+C | Add or change a key conversion. |
| A shortcut, such as Cmd+W, acts on Jump Desktop instead of the remote computer | Turn off that Jump Desktop shortcut. |
| You want to watch without sending any keyboard or mouse input | Choose Remote > Observe. See Observe mode. |
Key conversions, Jump Desktop shortcuts, and the system shortcuts setting are saved in a keyboard and mouse profile: a named set of settings. Each computer can use its own profile (in Jump Desktop for Windows, only computers that connect with Fluid). See Keyboard and mouse profiles.
Send special keys from a menu (Windows and Mac)¶
In a session in Jump Desktop for Windows or Mac, choose Remote > Send via Keyboard:
| Item | Sends |
|---|---|
| Keys | Home, End, Forward Delete, Num Lock, Scroll Lock, Print Scrn, Pause, Break, Insert, and F1 to F16 |
| Ctrl-Alt-Del | Ctrl+Alt+Delete |
| Password > Password | The computer's saved password, typed as keystrokes, then Return |
| Clipboard Text | Your clipboard text, typed as keystrokes, up to 1 KB. A Typing clipboard text... message confirms it. |
To send Ctrl+Alt+Delete from the keyboard instead, press Ctrl+Alt+End in Jump Desktop for Windows or Ctrl+Option+Delete in Jump Desktop for Mac (default key conversions when connected to a computer that isn't a Mac).
In Observe mode, these items don't send anything.
Function keys on a Mac¶
In Jump Desktop for Mac, hold fn and press a top-row key to send F1, F2, and so on. To send them without fn, turn on Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys in macOS keyboard settings.
On-screen keys (iPhone, iPad, and Android)¶
- iPhone and iPad: tap the keyboard button in the session toolbar.
- Android: tap the floating keyboard button at the bottom edge of the screen.
The extra keys row has Esc, Tab, and sticky Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and Win (Shift, Ctrl, Opt, and Cmd when connected to a Mac). Swipe the row for more keys: function keys, Ctrl+Alt+Delete, a key that types your clipboard text, and a key that types the saved password and presses Return (hold it until the ring fills).
iPhone, iPad, and Android have no Send via Keyboard menu. On iPhone and iPad, the wrench button in the session toolbar opens a menu with Clipboard Text. On an iPad with iPadOS 26 or later, the Remote menu in the menu bar also has Keys, Ctrl-Alt-Del, and Password.
For touch gestures, see Controls and gestures.
Hardware keyboards on iPhone and iPad¶
A keyboard connected to an iPhone or iPad sends shortcuts, arrow keys, and Esc to the remote computer.
- Win key: press Cmd when connected to a Windows computer.
- Function keys: on keyboards with fn, hold fn and press a top-row key.
Macros¶
On iPhone and iPad, macros (on by default) add keys compact keyboards lack. To turn them off, in Jump Desktop settings tap Keyboard and turn off Macros. For the full list, hold Cmd while connected.
| Press | To send |
|---|---|
| Cmd+Shift+1 or Cmd+. (period) | Esc |
| Shift+Option+1 to 0, Shift+Option+- (minus), Shift+Option+= | F1 to F10, F11, F12 |
| Ctrl+Option+Delete | Ctrl+Alt+Delete |
| Cmd+Shift+Delete | Insert |
| Shift+Delete | Forward Delete |
| Ctrl+Up / Down / Left / Right | Page Up / Page Down / Home / End (Ctrl+Shift+arrow when connected to a Mac) |
| Cmd+C, Cmd+X, Cmd+V, Cmd+A, Cmd+Z | Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+A, Ctrl+Z (not when connected to a Mac) |
| Cmd+Option+W | Disconnect |
International keyboards¶
On iPhone and iPad, if your layout uses Left Alt (Option) to type characters, use these settings in Jump Desktop settings > Keyboard:
- Ignore Left Alt: Left Alt no longer sends shortcuts. Use Right Alt for shortcuts like Alt+F.
- Left Alt Is Right Alt: Left Alt acts as Right Alt. Windows and Linux computers only.
Hardware keyboards on Android¶
Tap the floating keyboard button, then type on the connected keyboard. Esc, Tab, arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Insert, Forward Delete, F1 to F12, and Ctrl and Alt shortcuts go to the remote computer.