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Version: 10

Connect with the MoveIt Pro Desktop App

Required Version
This feature will not be released until MoveIt Pro version 10.0.

The MoveIt Pro desktop app is installed separately from the Runtime. The app can run on macOS, Windows, or Linux and connect to a Runtime on any supported Runtime host operating system.

Install the App​

  1. Download the signed installer for your operating system from the MoveIt Pro installation guide.
  2. Run the installer and open MoveIt Pro.
  3. Install the MoveIt Pro Runtime on the computer that will control the robot.

MoveIt Pro 10.0 requires the desktop app and Runtime to have the same release version. If the versions do not match, the app explains the problem before connecting.

You can keep multiple desktop-app releases installed side by side. This is useful when your Runtimes do not all use the same release: open the app release that matches the Runtime you want to connect to. Each app release can save connections to multiple Runtimes that use its matching release.

The desktop app does not update automatically. Download and install a new app release when you update a Runtime, and keep older app releases for any Runtimes that have not been updated yet.

Connect to a Runtime​

  1. Start the Runtime on its host computer:

    moveit_pro run -c lab_sim

  2. Open the desktop app. It searches the local computer, your saved connections, and the local network for running Runtimes. Select Rescan to search again.

    On macOS, allow Local Network access when prompted to enable automatic discovery. If access is denied or the Runtime is on another network, use Add Connection and enter its hostname or IP address.

    A discovered MoveIt Pro Runtime ready for setup

  3. Select Set Up. The app fills in the discovered name, address, and connection settings. If it fills in a local hostname that you cannot use remotely, either:

    • replace the primary address with the remote hostname or IP address; or
    • keep the local address as primary and enter the remote route under Alternate remote address.

    The app tries the primary address first and uses the alternate only when the primary is unavailable. Both addresses must lead to the same Runtime.

    Set up a Runtime with an optional alternate remote address

  4. Enter the active frontend key, then select Save & Connect. For a same-account local Runtime, the app may fill in the key automatically. Otherwise, display it on the Runtime computer with:

    moveit_pro frontend-key

    Treat the key like a password. The desktop app saves it securely with the operating system credential store and does not display it again.

    The app also checks the Runtime's TLS certificate automatically before it sends the key. You do not need to install the certificate or change TLS settings on the desktop computer.

  5. The Runtime now appears under Saved Connections. Select Connect when returning to this screen.

    A saved MoveIt Pro Runtime connection

If the Runtime is not discovered automatically, select Add Connection and enter the hostname or IP address that you normally use to reach it as the primary address. Add an alternate only when you also want to keep a different local or remote route for the same Runtime.

For firewall rules, discovery details, and direct connections, see Network Discovery. See Endpoint Security for frontend-key and certificate details.

Switch or Recover a Connection​

  • Open the settings menu and select Connections to switch Runtimes.
  • To use multiple Runtimes at the same time, select File > New Window and connect each window to a different Runtime.
  • If a Runtime restarts, leave the app open. It reconnects when the Runtime is available again.
  • Select Choose Another Runtime during reconnection, or Connections after recovery stops, to return to the connection picker.
  • Edit a saved connection to replace its frontend key, addresses, or service ports. Changing the primary address or ports requires entering the key again.

If the desktop app and Runtime are incompatible, the app explains the problem before connecting. For MoveIt Pro 10.0, install the desktop app and Runtime from the same release.

Runtime Ownership​

The desktop app does not start, stop, or store the Runtime workspace. Run moveit_pro run, moveit_pro down, build, backup, and migration commands on the Runtime computer. The user workspace remains there when the desktop app closes or is reinstalled.

Run the Runtime in Parallels on macOS​

macOS remains supported by running the MoveIt Pro Runtime in an Ubuntu virtual machine under Parallels and running the desktop app on macOS.

For the simplest connection:

  1. Start the Runtime inside the Ubuntu VM.
  2. Find the VM's hostname or IP address in its Parallels network settings.
  3. Open the desktop app on macOS, select Add Connection, and enter that hostname or IP address.

The Mac must be able to reach discovery port 3204 and Runtime ports 3200–3203 and 3205 in the VM. If the Parallels network does not provide that direct access but SSH works, create a tunnel from a macOS terminal:

ssh -N \
  -L 3200:127.0.0.1:3200 \
  -L 3201:127.0.0.1:3201 \
  -L 3202:127.0.0.1:3202 \
  -L 3203:127.0.0.1:3203 \
  -L 3204:127.0.0.1:3204 \
  -L 3205:127.0.0.1:3205 \
  <vm-user>@<vm-hostname-or-ip>

Keep that terminal open, then add 127.0.0.1 as the connection in the desktop app. The command is expected to remain open without showing a prompt. Port 3203 uses the Runtime's TCP fallback for camera media when connected through the SSH tunnel.

Port 80 is not required. It belonged to the former Compose-hosted browser interface, which the desktop app replaces for self-hosted MoveIt Pro 10.0.

MoveIt Pro Cloud remains available through its browser interface. Self-hosted MoveIt Pro 10.0 Runtime deployments use the desktop app.