Editor basics
Deskless uses native mobile editing technology on each platform, with syntax highlighting, project navigation, and touch-friendly controls designed for real source files.
Open a project
Start from one of these paths:
| Method | Use it for |
|---|---|
| New project | A local folder or scratch project |
| Open folder | Existing files already on your device |
| Recent project | Returning to work already in progress |
| Clone repository | Bringing down a remote Git project |
Manage files
Use the file browser to create, rename, duplicate, move, and delete files or folders. Long-press an item for contextual actions. Destructive actions ask for confirmation where recovery is not guaranteed.
Deskless detects common text encodings, refuses binary content in the code editor, and saves edits atomically to reduce the risk of a partial write.
Adaptive layout
- On a phone: the workspace keeps one task in focus and moves navigation into compact screens and sheets.
- On a tablet: the file browser, editor, Git, and review surfaces take advantage of the wider canvas.
- On Android foldables and in multiple windows: layouts adapt as you fold, unfold, and resize, preserving selection, scroll position, search state, and undo history.
- With an external keyboard: use the platform’s standard shortcuts and keep touch controls available.
Mobile editing controls
The coding bar above the software keyboard gives quick access to symbols such as { } ( ) [ ] < > ; : = /, plus indentation, cursor movement, newline, undo, and redo. Controls are labeled for screen readers and sized for touch.
Tabs, search, and previews
Deskless Pro adds multi-file tabs, find and replace, custom themes, auto-save, and rendered previews. HTML previews run in a restricted viewer rather than a general-purpose browser context.
On Android, live HTML previews render as you edit. The symbol bar keeps brackets, indentation, and cursor controls close to the keyboard.
New tools in iOS 2.0
- Run JavaScript on your device and view its output.
- Preview images, PDFs, and other supported files with Quick Look.
- Access workspaces and cloned repositories directly from the Files app.
- Start a scratchpad from Control Center.
- On iOS 27, the editor toolbar minimizes as you scroll to make more room for code.
Syntax highlighting
Common web, mobile, systems, scripting, configuration, and data formats are recognized from their file extension. Unknown formats open as plain text, so the file remains accessible even without a language definition.
Save and recover
Save from the toolbar or an external keyboard. If a session is interrupted, reopen the project and inspect the restored editor state before continuing. Deskless also preserves resumable Agent Mode reviews separately from ordinary editor tabs.
See Keyboard Shortcuts for the shared Command/Ctrl mappings.