Mobile & Remote Access - Kantivo Help Center

The Simple Truth

Your main PC runs Kantivo and stores your data. Any other device - phone, tablet, laptop - can access it through a web browser. No app install needed on mobile devices!

🔗 Quick Connect Tool →

How It Works

     ┌─────────────────────────────────┐
     │      YOUR MAIN PC (Server)      │
     │  ✓ Kantivo installed       │
     │  ✓ Database stored here         │
     │  ✓ Always running               │
     └───────────────┬─────────────────┘
                     │
          Your Network (Local or Tailscale)
                     │
     ┌───────┬───────┼───────┬───────┐
     │       │       │       │       │
   Phone   Tablet  Laptop  Another  Chromebook
     │       │       │      PC       │
     └───────┴───────┴───────┴───────┘
           All use WEB BROWSER

Supported Devices

📱

iPhone

Safari or Chrome browser

📱

iPad

Safari or Chrome browser

🤖

Android

Chrome browser

💻

Chromebook

Chrome browser

Setup Options

Option 1: Same Network (Home/Office WiFi)

If your phone/tablet is on the same WiFi as your Kantivo PC:

Find your PC's IP address

On your Kantivo PC, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. Look for "IPv4 Address" (e.g., 192.168.1.100)

Open browser on your mobile device

Safari, Chrome, or any browser

Go to your PC's address

Type: http://192.168.1.100:3000 (use your actual IP)

Log in and start working!

You'll see the full Kantivo interface

Option 2: Remote Access with Tailscale (Anywhere)

Access your Kantivo from anywhere in the world - coffee shop, client site, vacation:

Install Tailscale on your PC

Download from tailscale.com/download and sign in

Install Tailscale on your mobile device

Get it from App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Play Store (Android/Chromebook)

Sign in with same account

Use the same Tailscale account on both devices

Get your Tailscale IP

Open Tailscale on your PC - note the IP (starts with 100.x.x.x)

Connect from anywhere

Open browser, go to http://100.x.x.x:3000

💡 Tip: Tailscale is free for personal use and creates a secure, private connection. Your data never goes through public servers.

Option 3: Accountant Access (Different People)

If an accountant or bookkeeper needs to access your Kantivo (or vice versa), they use Tailscale Sharing between different accounts:

Both parties install Tailscale

Each person signs in with their own Tailscale account

Client shares their device

Go to login.tailscale.com → Click your device → Share

Accountant accepts the share

Click the link in the invitation email

Use Kantivo invitation

Client creates invitation in Kantivo → Accountant receives email with IP + code → Enters both in their Kantivo

→ Full Accountant Access Setup Guide

Summary: Which Option Do I Need?

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SCENARIO                           │  SOLUTION                 │
├─────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│  Same WiFi/network                  │  Option 1: Local Network  │
│  (home, office)                     │  Just use IP address      │
├─────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│  Your own devices, anywhere         │  Option 2: Tailscale      │
│  (your phone, your laptop)          │  Same account on devices  │
├─────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│  Different person needs access      │  Option 3: Tailscale +    │
│  (accountant, bookkeeper, partner)  │  Share + Invitation Code  │
└─────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┘

Add to Home Screen (App-Like Experience)

Make Kantivo feel like a native app on your mobile device:

🍎 iPhone / iPad

Open Safari and go to your Kantivo address
Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
Name it "Kantivo" and tap Add

Now you'll have a Kantivo icon on your home screen!

🤖 Android

Open Chrome and go to your Kantivo address
Tap the ⋮ menu (three dots)
Tap "Add to Home screen"
Name it "Kantivo" and tap Add

💻 Chromebook

Open Chrome and go to your Kantivo address
Click the ⋮ menu (three dots)
Click "Install Kantivo..." or "Create shortcut"
Check "Open as window" for an app-like experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install an app on my phone?

No! You just use your web browser. The only app you might want is Tailscale (free) for remote access outside your home/office network.

Is my data secure?

Yes. Your data stays on your PC - it's never uploaded to the cloud. When using Tailscale, the connection is encrypted end-to-end.

Does my PC need to be turned on?

Yes, your main PC with Kantivo needs to be running for other devices to connect. Consider leaving it on during work hours, or set it to sleep only at night.

Can multiple people connect at once?

Yes! Multiple users can access Kantivo simultaneously from different devices. Each person logs in with their own account.

What about a laptop at a client site?

You have two options:
A) Use browser + Tailscale (connects to your main PC)
B) Install Kantivo on the laptop in "client mode" (connects to your main PC's database)

Need Help?

If you're having trouble connecting, check that:

Your main PC is turned on and Kantivo is running
Both devices are on the same network (or both have Tailscale connected)
You're using the correct IP address and port (3000)
Your firewall allows connections on port 3000

Still stuck? Email us at support@kantivo.app