Robin - Remote Packet Capture
Servers & routers over SSH
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Robin turns your iPhone into a control panel for remote packet capture.
It connects over SSH to your own OpenWrt router or Linux host, runs tcpdump remotely, and sends a standard pcap straight back to your iPhone.
Robin offers two capture sources:
• Air capture — use monitor mode on a compatible Wi-Fi radio to capture 802.11 frames. Robin can scan nearby access points and configure the radio, channel, and width.
• Interface capture — capture packets visible to an existing Linux interface such as br-lan or eth0. Monitor-mode support is not required, and Robin does not change the interface state.
Robin does not require jailbreaking your iPhone or attaching a USB Wi-Fi adapter to it. The capture runs on the remote host; your iPhone handles connection, detection, configuration, control, and download.
Robin is not a generic SSH client. It is a guided workflow built for remote packet capture:
• Connect — securely over SSH with password or Ed25519/RSA key authentication. Passphrase-protected private keys are supported, and host keys are pinned on first use.
• Detect — check whether air and interface capture are available, including radios, Linux interfaces, required tools, and permissions.
• Configure — choose a capture source, channel, or network interface, then add an optional BPF filter, stop timer, and output directory.
• Filter — get basic BPF validation as you type, with common examples, a combination builder, and a syntax reference.
• Capture — start a detached tcpdump task that keeps running if SSH disconnects. Interface capture excludes the current SSH control connection by default and has a protective file-size limit.
• Download — pull the .pcap to your iPhone and open it in Wireshark or your tool of choice.
WORKS WITH:
• OpenWrt routers, usually with root login
• Regular Linux hosts using an existing active network interface
• A monitor-mode-compatible Wi-Fi radio for air capture; interface capture does not require one
• Root, file capabilities, passwordless sudo, or password-based sudo
• Standard Dropbear / OpenSSH targets, with no SFTP required
BUILT FOR:
Network engineers, Wi-Fi troubleshooters, and security researchers who need a fast, portable way to collect pcaps from infrastructure they own or are authorized to test.
GOOD TO KNOW:
• Robin requires an SSH-accessible remote device with tcpdump. Only air capture requires Wi-Fi monitor mode.
• Captures survive SSH disconnects and can be resumed after reconnecting.
• Credentials are stored in the iOS Keychain, never on the remote device.
• Air capture on a single-radio router may drop your Wi-Fi control link. Interface capture does not switch the radio mode, and Robin warns you when the air-capture risk applies.
Robin is a capture and transfer tool. Use it only on networks you own or have explicit permission to test. Capturing traffic on networks without authorization may be illegal in your jurisdiction.
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
This update brings more flexible remote packet capture:
• Capture packets visible to an existing Linux interface such as br-lan or eth0, with no Wi-Fi monitor-mode requirement.
• Switch between air and interface capture; Health Check now reports availability for each source.
• Interface capture excludes the current SSH control connection by default, applies a protective file-size limit, and never changes the selected interface state.
• BPF filters now include input validation, common examples, condition building, and a syntax reference.
• Fixed stale capture state after navigating between screens, with additional Settings, Pro status, and appearance refinements.
The developer, 博 邢, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- 博 邢
- Size
- 12.4 MB
- Category
- Utilities
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 17.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 17.0 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 17.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 14.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
English and 6 more
- English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- In-App Purchases
Yes
- Robin Pro $4.99
- Copyright
- © 2026 Bo Xing
