The Android Companion

The vord Android companion is the technician companion with a terminal. It connects to a Mac; it does not run an agent locally on the phone.

What to install

Use vord for watching and controlling terminal sessions, typing commands, using special keys, and answering terminal-style questions and permissions.

Android requirements

• Android 8.0 or newer (API 26).
• The app is built against Android 16 (API 36).
• A Mac running vord, with the sessions you want to access.
• The same account and a pairing code from the Mac.

Install the APK

Android distribution is currently by directly installable APK. Download the APK you received, allow your device to install it if Android asks, and open the app. Follow the sign-in screen if it appears, then continue to pair the Android app with your Mac.

The Play Store entry is prepared but not published yet. There is no Play Store link to use at this time. Install only an APK from a source you trust.

Caution

The APK is the current distribution path. Play Store availability is planned, not available. The documentation will be updated when a public listing exists.

Pairing protects the connection

Pairing uses the same security mechanism as the iPhone companion:

1. Start pairing on the Mac.
2. Scan the QR code on the Android phone, or paste the pairing code.
3. Compare the 8-digit verification code shown on both devices.
4. Continue only when the codes match.

The connection is end-to-end encrypted. The relay server passes encrypted traffic between the Mac and phone but never sees your terminal output, prompts, chat messages, images, or answers. See Pairing Your Android Device for the complete flow.

What the companion can do

The Android companion mirrors the corresponding iPhone companion capabilities. You can:

• see sessions across multiple Macs;
• open and control a session;
• answer questions and permission cards;
• open files shown by an agent;
• load older history;
• use the notification inbox; and
• share sessions.

The vord app adds terminal input and special keys. Controlling Sessions from Android lists the controls in detail.

What is different from the iPhone version?

The Android app is a separate native app, but the user-facing companion flows are intended to match the iPhone app. The practical differences today are distribution and offline notifications:

• Android is currently installed from an APK; the Play Store is prepared but not published.
• Offline notifications — notifications while the app is closed — need the Firebase Cloud Messaging integration. That server connection is still outstanding, so do not rely on Android push notifications while the app is closed. The in-app inbox and online connection remain the places to check.
• Android uses its own camera, file, microphone, and notification permissions. Android asks for those permissions in its own system dialogs.

For the notification behavior and its current limit, see Android Notifications. The iPhone flow remains documented separately in The iPhone Companion.