Support
Questions, bug reports or ideas: [email protected].
Common questions
How do I stop a server?
The menu-bar app runs in Apple's app sandbox, and macOS doesn't let sandboxed apps end other programs, so it hands stops to the Companion, which comes in the same free download: install it and open it once. From a terminal, the portabella command line tool does the same: portabella kill <port>.
It won't let me stop a program.
Portabella never stops system programs, root-owned programs, programs belonging to another user, or itself, and it can't stop what it can't inspect. The card tells you which rule applied. This protection can't be switched off.
I stopped a server and it came back.
Something is restarting it: a file watcher, a supervisor, or a launch agent. Portabella detects this and says so. Stop the thing that restarts it.
How do I pair my iPhone?
Open Portabella on the Mac, go to Settings → iPhone → Add iPhone. Open Portabella on your iPhone (same Wi-Fi), choose your Mac, and check that both screens show the same six digits. Confirm on both. If the digits differ, say they don't match and nothing is paired.
My iPhone can't find my Mac.
Check both are on the same network, Portabella is running on the Mac with Add iPhone open, and that you allowed Local Network access when your iPhone asked (Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network).
Why can't I open some servers from my iPhone?
A server that only listens on its own Mac (localhost) can't be reached from another device. Servers marked as reachable from other devices can be opened.
How do I open a server that only runs on my Mac (localhost) from my iPhone?
On the Mac: Portabella → Settings → iPhone → Share servers with your iPhone, and turn on that server. On the iPhone, open the server's details and choose Open on this iPhone, then confirm with Face ID. The page opens through an encrypted tunnel to your Mac for 30 minutes, and the Mac shows who is viewing it and lets you stop sharing at any time. Only web servers can be shared, and nothing is shared until you turn it on.
The widget looks out of date.
Widgets aren't live: they show what Portabella last received and say how old it is. Open the app to refresh. On iPhone, new data arrives when the app has run or synced.
Which Shortcuts actions are there?
On the Mac: list servers, is a port in use, open a server, copy an address, stop a server (with a confirmation). On iPhone: list, is a port in use, copy, open and stop (with Face ID).
Where is it available?
The Mac app is a free download from this site: signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple, for macOS 26 or later. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Is anything sent to you?
No. See Privacy.
Command line
Run portabella help for every command and exit code. Exit codes: 0 ok · 1 failure or not found · 2 declined or no confirmation possible · 3 blocked by the safety rules · 4 still running · 5 stopped but restarted · 64 usage · 130 interrupted.