GuideLinux · From a terminal

Set up Naytto on a Linux computer from a terminal

For an Ubuntu 24.04 computer you set up from a terminal, at the computer itself or over SSH, even a server with no desktop. One command installs Naytto, and a desktop if the computer has none. You approve the computer in a browser, type yes in the terminal, then connect from a browser on another device. It takes about 20 minutes, most of it installing the desktop.

Before you start

A computer with Ubuntu 24.04, on x86-64 or ARM64, with or without a desktop, and a user on it who can use sudo. It needs no monitor.
About 4 GB of free disk space if it has no desktop yet.
A terminal on the computer: at the computer itself, or over SSH from another computer.
An email address. If you don’t have a Naytto account yet, your first sign-in creates one and starts your free 14-day trial.
A passkey or an authenticator app for your account. If you have neither, your browser offers to save a passkey when you approve the computer.
Another device with a browser, such as a laptop, tablet or phone, to approve the computer and to connect from.

The same command is on the download page. Sitting at an Ubuntu computer with a desktop and rather not use a terminal? Follow Set up Naytto on a Linux computer instead.

Install Naytto

One command downloads Naytto, installs it with what it needs, offers a desktop if the computer has none, then starts adding the computer to your account.

01Connect to the computer

Open a terminal on your laptop and connect to the computer you’re adding, here named studio:

ssh sam@studio

Use your own user name and the computer’s name or address, and sign in as yourself, not root: Naytto runs as the user who installs it. The first time, ssh asks you to confirm the computer’s fingerprint (type yes), then asks for your password unless you use a key. Once you see the computer’s prompt, everything that follows runs there. Sitting at the computer instead? Sign in and use its terminal.

02Run the install command

Paste this line and press Enter. When sudo asks, type your password for the computer.

curl -fsSL https://naytto.com/install.sh | sh

Downloading https://download.naytto.com/linux/production/naytto_arm64.deb
Installing Naytto. It may ask for your password.
[sudo] password for sam:

Ubuntu then installs Naytto and what it needs, 176 packages on a server with no desktop, and their lines scroll past for a few minutes. It ends with packages have been installed but needrestart is suspended, which is expected.

The terminal after the install command, showing Downloading the Naytto package, Installing Naytto. It may ask for your password. and sudo asking for sam’s password. — These screenshots come from an ARM computer, so the package is naytto_arm64.deb. On x86-64 it’s naytto_amd64.deb.

The terminal filling with Ubuntu’s package lines, Selecting, Preparing to unpack and Unpacking, as Naytto and what it needs install.

03Install a desktop

Naytto shows a desktop, so on a computer without one the installer offers Ubuntu’s minimal desktop. Type yes, or press Enter, to install it.

Naytto shows a desktop, and this computer doesn't have one installed. It needs no monitor: Naytto runs the desktop itself.
Install Ubuntu's minimal desktop now? [Y/n] yes

It’s 713 packages plus the Firefox snap and the runtimes it needs: about 1.7 GB to download and 3 GB of disk. Here it took about 11 minutes. If it takes longer than 15 minutes, sudo asks for your password once more at the end. A computer that already has a desktop skips this question.

The terminal after Naytto installs, saying this computer doesn't have a desktop installed and asking Install Ubuntu's minimal desktop now? [Y/n], answered yes.

The terminal filling with more package lines as Ubuntu’s minimal desktop installs.

Add it to your account

The installer carries straight on: you approve a code in a browser, then allow your account in the terminal.

04Open the address it shows

Once the desktop is in, the installer shows Naytto’s status, with Account Not added, then an address and a code:

On any device signed in to Naytto, open:

  https://app.naytto.com/device?user_code=6F2NDFRV

and approve code 6F2N-DFRV. Only approve a code you started yourself.
⌘-click or Ctrl-click the link to open it.
Waiting for approval… (Ctrl+C cancels)

Over SSH, the link opens in your laptop’s browser: ⌘-click it on a Mac, or Ctrl-click it elsewhere. You can also type the address on your phone. Leave the terminal open while it waits; the code works for 10 minutes.

The terminal after the desktop installs, showing Naytto’s status with Account Not added, the address to open, the code 6F2N-DFRV and Waiting for approval… — Your code and address are different each time.

05Sign in with your email

If that browser isn’t signed in to Naytto, it asks you to. Type your email address and choose Email me a code. The button reads Checking this browser… for a moment first; if a Verify you are human box appears, tick it. New to Naytto? The same code creates your account and starts your free 14-day trial. A browser that’s already signed in goes straight to step 07.

The Sign in or create an account page on app.naytto.com, saying Sign in to add your computer to your account, with an empty Email field and the button reading Checking this browser…

06Enter the code from the email

Naytto emails you a six-digit code; the subject line starts with it. Type it in Sign-in code and choose Sign in. The code expires in 10 minutes. If you don’t see the email, check your spam folder.

The Enter your code page for sam.rivera@example.com, with a six-digit code typed into Sign-in code above the Sign in button.

07Check the code and add the computer

The page asks Add this computer? and names the computer, here studio. Check that its code matches the one in the terminal, then choose Add computer. Only approve a code you started yourself.

The Add this computer? page naming studio, a Linux computer, with the code 6F2N-DFRV and the Add computer and Don’t add buttons.

08Confirm it’s you

Unless you signed in with your passkey or authenticator app in the last 10 minutes, the page then asks you to confirm it’s you. Choose Add a passkey to confirm: your browser asks to save a passkey, then to use it. Accept both, and the page says Computer added.

Already have a passkey? The button reads Confirm with your passkey, and your browser only asks you to use it. With an authenticator app, you can choose Sign in again with your authenticator app instead.

The Add this computer? page with a red notice, Confirm it’s you first, and the button now reading Confirm with your passkey.

The Computer added page saying studio is on your account now, with a Go to your computers button.

09Type yes in the terminal

Back in the terminal, Naytto says who approved the computer and asks Allow this account to control this computer? Check that the email address is yours, then type yes and press Enter. The web page says to answer y, which works too. For a new account, Naytto waits a few seconds before it asks, so you read the warning.

Allow? Type yes, no, or report: yes

Added. studio is now reachable from https://app.naytto.com while Naytto is running.

Done. naytto status shows how Naytto is doing, and naytto help lists everything it can do.

The terminal saying sam.rivera@example.com approved adding this computer, asking Allow this account to control this computer? with a scam warning, and ending in Allow? Type yes, no, or report:

The terminal after yes, saying Added. studio is now reachable from https://app.naytto.com while Naytto is running. then Done. and the prompt again.

Only add your own computer. If the email address isn’t yours, or someone called, texted or messaged you and asked you to install Naytto, it’s a scam: type no, or report to have Naytto review the account.

10Check its status

Run this whenever you want to know how Naytto is doing:

naytto status

Status says Reachable from your browser. Desktop says Naytto's own desktop: the Ubuntu desktop Naytto runs on a screen that exists only in memory, so the computer needs no monitor and no one signed in. Starts itself On means Naytto starts when the computer does, and it keeps running after you close SSH.

Connect from your browser

From here on, all you need is a browser.

11Choose Connect

On another device, sign in at app.naytto.com, or choose Go to your computers on the page you’re on. Your computers lists the computer as Available: Naytto is open on it and answering. Choose Connect.

Your computers on app.naytto.com listing studio, Linux, added Sep 29, Available, with a Connect button in its row and the selected computer’s panel with Connect and Test connection.

12Use its desktop

The computer’s Ubuntu desktop fills the tab, sized to your browser window. It keeps running between sessions, so apps you leave open are still there next time. Hold Esc to take the keyboard and pointer back from the computer. The pill at the top of the tab opens the session controls, including Disconnect.

The first time, Ubuntu’s welcome window opens, and Ubuntu may put System program problem detected on top of it. Choose Cancel, then Next to go through the welcome window’s pages.

A session in the browser filled with the computer’s Ubuntu desktop, the session bar at the top and Ubuntu’s welcome window reading Welcome to Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS! with an orange Next button.

13Test the connection

In your computers, select the computer and choose Test connection, then Start test. A short session checks sign-in, the private relay, the screen and the keyboard and mouse, then ends; nothing is typed or clicked. The Clipboard and File transfer checks are optional. After a few seconds it says Ready to connect from another browser, with a check beside each of its five lines.

Your computers with studio selected and the test result beside it, Ready to connect from another browser, with checks for Signed in, Your computer answered, Private relay connected, Screen showing and Keyboard and mouse ready.

14Connect from your phone

The same page works on a phone or tablet: sign in at app.naytto.com and choose Connect.

Your computers on a phone, with studio Available and its Connect and Test connection buttons.

Every day

Naytto keeps running after you close the terminal and starts itself with the computer. It updates with the computer’s other updates, through sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade or Software Updater, and restarts into the new version once no one is connected. Everything else is a naytto command, run on the computer, over SSH too.

15Pause remote access

naytto pause

It prints the status, now Paused: browsers can't connect. In your computers, the computer shows Remote access paused with no Connect button. Only someone on the computer, at it or over SSH, can pause or resume. To let browsers connect again:

naytto resume

The status goes back to Reachable from your browser.

16End a session from the computer

While a browser is connected, naytto status says who, and roughly where from: sam.rivera@example.com is viewing and controlling this computer from a browser. Location: United States. To end that session:

naytto disconnect

It prints the status, back to Reachable from your browser. The browser says Ended on the computer, with Reconnect and Back to your computers.

The terminal showing naytto status while sam.rivera@example.com is viewing and controlling this computer from a browser, then naytto disconnect, after which the status reads Reachable from your browser.

The browser after the session ends: Connection stopped, studio, Ended on the computer, with Reconnect and Back to your computers buttons.

17Keep the computer reachable

A computer that’s asleep can’t be reached. To stop it sleeping while Naytto runs:

naytto keep-reachable on

The words are on and off. Ubuntu allows it only for someone signed in at the computer’s own screen, so on a server it usually can’t, and the status says This computer doesn't let Naytto keep it awake. Then switch off automatic suspend in the computer’s power settings instead.

18See which desktop it runs

naytto desktop

It lists the desktops installed and stars the one Naytto runs, here Ubuntu on Xorg. To run another, use naytto desktop use with a name from the list. It asks first, because apps open on Naytto’s desktop close.

19See every command

naytto help

It lists each command with a line on what it does. Among them, naytto open-at-login on|off chooses whether Naytto starts with the computer, and after naytto quit browsers can’t connect until Naytto runs again.

20Remove the computer from your account

naytto remove

It asks first, and the default is no. Type y and press Enter. It prints Removed. This computer can't be reached from your account any more. The status below it says Account Not added, and your computers no longer lists it. Naytto stays installed; to add the computer again, run naytto add.

Away from the computer? In your computers, in any browser, choose … next to it, then Remove from account; any session on it ends at once.

The terminal after naytto remove, asking Remove this computer from its account? Browsers won't be able to reach it until it's added again. [y/N]

Your computers on app.naytto.com after the removal, saying No computers yet above a card that begins Start on the computer you want to add.

If something isn’t right

The installer says to run it as the person whose desktop Naytto should show. You ran it as root or with sudo. Sign in as your own user and run the command without sudo; it asks for your password when it needs to.
The connection dropped during the install. Connect again and run the install command again. If apt says dpkg was interrupted, run this first:sudo dpkg --configure -a
The code ran out. It works for 10 minutes. Then the terminal says The code expired. Start again. Run naytto add for a new code. For a sign-in code that expired, choose Use a different email or send a new code.
Desktop not ready. Naytto can’t run its desktop on the computer yet, most often because none is installed, for example if you answered no in step 03. Install one with sudo apt-get install -y ubuntu-desktop-minimal, then choose Check again in your computers. On the computer, naytto status says what’s wrong.
Remote access paused. Someone paused it on the computer. Run naytto resume there.
Asleep, Not responding or Can’t reach. The computer is asleep, off or offline, or Naytto isn’t running on it, and Naytto can’t wake it yet. Wake it or check its network; while Naytto on the computer is offline, naytto status there says Offline: reconnecting. If the status says Naytto starts when you sign in rather than when the computer starts, run the command it shows. To keep it awake, see step 17.

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