Frequently asked questions
General
Section titled “General”Do I need to install anything on the tablet?
Section titled “Do I need to install anything on the tablet?”No. The tablet opens LibreShard in its browser: any modern browser works, on Android, iPad, a phone or another computer. Only the PC needs LibreShard installed.
Does it need the internet or an account?
Section titled “Does it need the internet or an account?”No. LibreShard has no account, no cloud and no telemetry: the PC and the tablet talk over your own network. Shards can’t reach the internet either.
Can I use several tablets at once?
Section titled “Can I use several tablets at once?”Yes. Pair each one with its own QR code or pairing code; they’re listed in the Devices tab, where you can rename or unpair each one.
Is it free?
Section titled “Is it free?”Yes. LibreShard is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0, with nothing to buy.
Connecting
Section titled “Connecting”The tablet can’t open the QR code’s address
Section titled “The tablet can’t open the QR code’s address”- Same network: the tablet and the PC must be on the same network. The Connect tab shows a QR code for each network the PC is on; only the one the tablet shares will open.
- Guest networks: many guest Wi-Fi networks keep devices from seeing each other. Use your main network.
- Firewall: the PC must let the tablet in. See the firewall question below.
- LibreShard is open: the tablet shows “Couldn’t connect to the PC” when LibreShard isn’t running. With Keep running in the tray when the window is closed on (in Settings), closing the window doesn’t stop it.
The tablet worked yesterday and now asks to pair again
Section titled “The tablet worked yesterday and now asks to pair again”The tablet remembers its pairing for the PC’s address. If the router gave the PC a new address, the tablet sees a new site and asks again: scan the QR code the PC shows now. To avoid it, reserve a fixed address for the PC in your router’s settings (often called a DHCP reservation).
Changing the port in Settings has the same effect.
“This QR was already used or expired”
Section titled ““This QR was already used or expired””Each QR code and pairing code works once and for 10 minutes, then renews itself. Scan the one the PC shows now, or type the code.
Can I use it away from home?
Section titled “Can I use it away from home?”Yes, through a VPN such as Tailscale: LibreShard accepts devices on a VPN like devices on your local network. It doesn’t accept connections from the internet unless you turn on Allow connections from public networks in Settings, which isn’t recommended.
I tap a button and nothing happens
Section titled “I tap a button and nothing happens”The tablet usually says why:
- “Not run. This shard only works in…”: the shard is limited to certain apps and another one is in front. Switch to that app, or change the shard’s apps in the PC window (Apps on the shard’s card). With Allow apps from the tablet on, the tablet offers to add the app in front.
- “LibreShard is paused on the PC”: someone used Pause in the PC window or the tray.
- “Pending permissions”: the shard has new keys that need your approval on the PC.
- “This PC’s keyboard has no … key”: see F13–F24 on Linux.
If the tablet says nothing, the keys were pressed, but something on the PC took them:
- A game or app running as administrator ignores keys from normal programs (see below).
- Another program’s global shortcut uses the same combo and swallows it.
- The shortcut isn’t set in the app: check the app’s own shortcut settings.
Keys don’t reach a game
Section titled “Keys don’t reach a game”Windows doesn’t let normal programs send keys to programs running as administrator, and many games and launchers run that way. Run LibreShard as administrator too.
Some keys don’t work on Linux
Section titled “Some keys don’t work on Linux”Many Linux keyboard maps have no F13–F24 keys. LibreShard refuses to press them there, and the tablet says so, instead of pressing something else. Shards meant for Linux shouldn’t rely on them.
Windows
Section titled “Windows”Windows says “Windows protected your PC”
Section titled “Windows says “Windows protected your PC””LibreShard’s releases aren’t code-signed yet, so SmartScreen warns about them. Click More info →
Run anyway. To check that the file is the official one, compare its checksum with
SHA256SUMS.txt from the same release, shown on the download page:
Get-FileHash .\LibreShard-Setup-0.2.0.exeWe plan to sign the releases through SignPath Foundation.
Windows asks about the firewall: what should I allow?
Section titled “Windows asks about the firewall: what should I allow?”Allow private networks only, so tablets at home can connect but no one on a public network can. The installer offers the same rule, which asks for administrator rights once.
Does it work on Wayland?
Section titled “Does it work on Wayland?”Not yet. Pressing keys and detecting the app in front need an X11 session. If your distribution still offers one, pick it on the login screen (on Ubuntu, the gear icon → Ubuntu on Xorg). Desktops that run on X11, such as XFCE, work as they are.
The firewall blocks the tablet
Section titled “The firewall blocks the tablet”If ufw is enabled, allow LibreShard’s port from your local network only. For example, if your
network is 192.168.1.x:
sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 7878 proto tcp comment 'LibreShard'Use your own network range (ip -4 addr shows it) and port (7878 unless you changed it in
Settings).
How do I check the download?
Section titled “How do I check the download?”In the folder with the download and SHA256SUMS.txt from the same release:
sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.txt --ignore-missingStill stuck?
Section titled “Still stuck?”Search the issues or open a new one, or ask in the discussions. For security problems, write to [email protected] instead.