Frequently Asked Questions

I can't connect to my server. What should I check?

1. SSH must be enabled on the remote machine. On macOS, go to System Settings > General > Sharing > Remote Login. On Linux, ensure sshd is running (sudo systemctl start sshd).
2. Firewall: Port 22 (or your custom SSH port) must be open on the server and any routers between your phone and the server.
3. Same network: If connecting on your local network, make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the server. If connecting remotely, you'll need port forwarding or a VPN.
4. Correct credentials: Double-check the hostname/IP, username, and password. Typos in any field will prevent connection.

Can I connect over the internet, not just my local network?

Yes. Günther works with any SSH-accessible machine. If your server has a public IP or you've set up port forwarding on your router, enter the public IP and port. You can also connect through a VPN.

What SSH authentication methods are supported?

Password authentication, keyboard-interactive authentication, and key-based authentication (Ed25519, RSA, and ECDSA). Keyboard-interactive is particularly common on macOS servers. You can generate an Ed25519 key pair in Settings > SSH Keys and install it on your server with one tap.

How do I set up key-based authentication?

After connecting with your password, Günther will offer to install an SSH key on your server. Tap "Add Key to Server" and you're done — future connections will use key-based auth automatically. You can also generate and manage keys manually in Settings > SSH Keys.

What do I need to use Claude Code with Günther?

Claude Code must be installed and authenticated on your remote server — either with an Anthropic API key or a Claude Pro/Max subscription. Günther connects to your server over SSH and runs Claude Code there — it does not include its own credentials or subscription.

How do I install Claude Code on my server?

Visit claude.ai/claude-code for installation instructions. Once installed, make sure you can run claude from the terminal on your server before using it from Günther.

Does Günther send my code to any third-party servers?

No. Günther connects directly to your server over SSH. When you use Claude Code, your prompts go from your server to Anthropic's API — the same as running Claude Code in a terminal. Günther never transmits your code or API communications to Emberbright.

Can I choose which Claude model to use?

Yes. You can select between Sonnet, Opus, and Haiku models when starting a Claude Code session. You can also enter a custom model identifier if you have access to other models.

Does Claude run commands without asking?

No. Every shell command, file edit, and file write requires your explicit approval. Günther shows you a preview of what Claude wants to do, and you approve or deny each action. You can also grant session-level approval to trust a specific tool for the duration of the session.

Can I resume a previous Claude Code conversation?

Yes. Günther saves your sessions and lets you resume previous conversations from the session picker. Messages are cached locally so sessions load instantly.

What is extended thinking?

Extended thinking lets you see Claude's reasoning process as it works through a problem. You can enable it per-connection in the session settings. Thinking blocks appear as collapsible sections in the chat so they don't clutter the conversation.

Can I use local models like Llama via Ollama?

Claude Code CLI supports alternative model providers including Ollama. If you have Ollama running on your server, you can configure it by setting environment variables (ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN) on the server before starting Claude Code. Since Günther communicates with Claude CLI over SSH, local model support may work without any app changes. However, this is currently untested with Günther — tool calling quality and streaming behavior may vary by model. We're actively testing compatibility and will update this FAQ with confirmed results.

Can Claude run commands without asking me every time?

Yes. The "Auto" mode chip above the input bar controls auto-approval. Tap it to toggle, or long-press to choose which tool categories auto-approve — Bash, Edit, Write, and more. When enabled for a category, Claude can use those tools without prompting. This is per-connection and persisted across sessions.

What are slash commands?

Type / in the input bar to open the slash command menu. Built-in commands include /compact (free up context), /context (show context usage), /cost (see session cost), /model (switch models), and /clear (reset conversation). The menu also discovers and lists any skills installed on your server — both global (~/.claude/skills/) and project-level (.claude/skills/).

How do I track API costs?

Use the /cost command to see cumulative cost for the current CLI process. Cost metadata also appears under individual messages for API accounts or subscription overage users. Günther does not calculate, estimate, or process cost data — it displays exactly what Claude Code CLI reports. All billing is between you and Anthropic.

What is the context window indicator?

The percentage chip on the right side of the input bar shows how much of Claude's context window is in use. It turns red above 80%. You can tap it to see the exact percentage, or long-press to trigger /compact. Auto-compact can be configured in Settings to fire automatically when usage exceeds your threshold.

What are MCP tools?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) tools are third-party integrations configured on your server. When Claude uses an MCP tool, Günther displays it with the server name and a badge so you can distinguish it from built-in tools. Approval works the same as any other tool.

Why do I see "Session limit reached"?

Günther supports up to 5 simultaneous Claude Code sessions per server connection. Sessions are created when you open a chat or switch projects. If you see this error, close unused sessions from the session picker, navigate back to the dashboard, or wait — idle sessions automatically close after 5 minutes of inactivity.

Why don't other Claude Code interfaces show my conversation from Günther?

Claude Code stores conversation history locally on the server. Other interfaces — like the VSCode extension or running claude in a terminal — each have their own view of past conversations. If you start or continue a session in Günther, other interfaces won't see those updates until they are restarted (e.g., quit and reopen VSCode, or close and relaunch the terminal). This is a limitation of how Claude Code manages session state, not something specific to Günther.

What are dashboard commands?

Dashboard commands are customizable cards that run shell commands on your server and display the results. System stat cards (CPU, Memory, Disk, GPU) come pre-installed, and you can add more from a gallery of 90+ templates across 16 categories — Git, Docker, Services, Logs, GitHub CLI, Network, tmux, Deployment, Database, CI/CD, and more — or create your own.

Can I add or remove dashboard cards?

Yes. Tap the "+" card on the dashboard to browse the template gallery. Long-press any command card to edit, delete, or rearrange it. System stat cards can be removed and re-added from the gallery at any time. Terminal and Claude cards cannot be removed.

How often do dashboard cards refresh?

It depends on the card type. System stats like CPU and Memory poll every 5 seconds. Cards like Disk Usage and Uptime fetch once when you connect and can be refreshed manually. Other commands (Git, Docker, etc.) only run when you tap them or trigger a manual refresh.

Why don't I see GPU stats on my Mac?

GPU monitoring uses nvidia-smi, which is only available on machines with NVIDIA GPUs. Macs with Apple Silicon or AMD graphics do not support this. The GPU card will automatically hide when no NVIDIA GPU is detected.

Why don't I see GPU stats on my Linux server?

Make sure the NVIDIA drivers and nvidia-smi are installed. You can verify by running nvidia-smi in your server's terminal. If the command is not found, install the NVIDIA driver package for your distribution.

What is the Bash Libs builder?

A guided command builder — "I want to [action] by running [command] and seeing [output]." Pick what you want to do, choose a command, and select how to display the results. It walks you through three steps with progressive filtering so only compatible options are suggested. Tap "Test Run" to preview the real output before saving.

Can I rearrange the dashboard cards?

Yes. Long-press any card and drag it to reorder. Your layout is saved automatically.

Does the terminal support colors and interactive programs?

Yes. Günther includes a full terminal emulator with PTY support. Arrow keys, tab completion, and full ANSI color output all work.

What is the Smart Terminal?

A threaded terminal view where every command starts a new session card. Tap into a session to see its full output and continue typing. Back out to see the feed of all sessions. You can search across sessions, filter by errors, and sort by newest or oldest. Sessions persist to disk and survive disconnect/reconnect.

Can I browse files on my server?

Yes. Günther includes a file explorer that lets you navigate your server's filesystem from a slide-out drawer. You can sort by name, date, or size, and preview files with syntax highlighting for Markdown, HTML, JSON, YAML, CSV, SVG, and log files.

Can I send files from my phone to the server?

Yes. You can attach photos and files from your device to Claude Code sessions. Files are uploaded to your server's ~/.gunther-uploads/ directory over SSH.

Why does my connection drop when I switch apps?

iOS suspends apps shortly after they move to the background — typically within 30 seconds. When suspended, the SSH connection closes. This is an iOS-level constraint, not a bug. Low Power Mode suspends apps immediately. Battery level, system memory pressure, and thermal state also affect how aggressively iOS suspends.

How do I prevent disconnection?

• Keep Screen Awake (Settings): Prevents your device from sleeping, which keeps the app in the foreground and the connection alive during long tasks.
• Stay in the app: As long as Günther is in the foreground — including Split View and Slide Over — the connection stays open.
• Disable Low Power Mode: Low Power Mode immediately disables all background activity.
• Enable Background App Refresh for Günther in iOS Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

What happens when the connection drops?

Your Claude session is preserved on the server. When you return to Günther, it automatically reconnects and resumes your session — including conversation history and any in-progress work. If auto-reconnect doesn't trigger, tap the orange "Connection Lost" banner to reconnect manually.

Can I work on multiple projects at the same time?

Yes. Save working directories as named projects and swipe from the right edge to switch between them. Each project gets its own Claude Code session. Sessions are independent — one project's session can end without affecting others on the same server.

Does Günther show status on the Lock Screen?

Yes. When Claude is working, a Live Activity appears on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island showing the current tool, elapsed time, and context usage. It turns orange when Claude needs your approval.

Does it work with Split View or Slide Over?

Yes. In Split View or Slide Over, Günther stays in the foreground and the connection remains active.

Where is my data stored?

Your data stays yours. SSH passwords and private keys are encrypted using the iOS Keychain. Connection details and preferences are stored in local app storage. Nothing is sent to Emberbright.

Does Günther sync data across devices?

Günther can optionally sync connection metadata, project shortcuts, and settings via iCloud. Sensitive credentials (passwords and private keys) are never synced. You can disable iCloud sync in Settings.

Does Günther collect analytics or telemetry?

No. Zero analytics, zero tracking, zero telemetry. The app contains no analytics SDKs. What happens between you and your devices is yours.

Will I get notified when Claude needs my approval?

Yes. If Claude requests tool approval while Günther is in the background, you'll receive a local push notification. Notifications are generated on your device and are never sent to any external server.

Can I delete all my data?

Yes. You can remove individual connections and SSH keys in Settings, or uninstall the app to delete everything.

What do the mode chips do? (Think, Auto, Effort)

Tap to toggle each mode on or off. Long-press for advanced options: long-press Think to switch Claude models, long-press Auto to configure which tools auto-approve without prompting, and long-press Effort to pick response depth (low, medium, high).

How do I compact the context window?

Long-press the context percentage chip in the input bar to trigger /compact. You can also type /compact or use the slash command menu. Auto-compact will fire automatically when usage exceeds your configured threshold.

How do I make the input box bigger?

Grab the small drag handle above the text field and pull up. There are three height states: compact (one line), normal (five lines), and tall (up to fifteen lines). Pull down to shrink it back.

Can I switch projects without going back to the dashboard?

Yes. Swipe from the right edge of the chat screen to jump to your next saved project. The projects cycle in order. Swipe from the left edge for standard iOS back navigation.

How do I zoom the terminal font?

Pinch to zoom with two fingers. The font scales from 8pt to 24pt and your preference persists across sessions.

What can I long-press?

Most things. Long-press chat messages to copy, sessions in the picker to delete or rename, files in the explorer for options, dashboard cards to rearrange, and project cards for a context menu.

Does Günther work without Claude Code?

Yes. The dashboard, terminal, and file explorer all work with any SSH server. Claude Code features are optional — they only activate when Claude Code is installed on the connected server.

What happens if Claude Code isn't installed on my server?

Günther will still connect and give you full SSH terminal and dashboard access. Claude Code features simply won't appear until it's installed and authenticated. The app detects whether Claude Code is available on each connection automatically.

Does the purchase include future updates?

Yes. Günther is a one-time purchase with free updates.

What platforms can I connect to?

Any Mac or Linux machine with SSH access — or anything else running a standard Unix shell. Local servers, cloud VMs, Raspberry Pi, headless boxes — if you can ssh into it, Günther can connect to it.

Can I connect to a Windows server?

Not currently supported. Windows is something we're looking at for the future.

Is there an Android version?

Not currently. Android is something we'd like to do — no timeline yet.

Still stuck?

Drop us a line at contact@emberbright.studio — we read every message.