[BUG] iPadOS VNC session cannot zoom below 1.0x / remote desktop does not fit screen

Title

iPadOS VNC session cannot zoom below 1.0x / remote desktop does not fit screen

Platform

Mobile App - iOS

Server Installation Method

Docker

Version

2.7.1

CLI Installation Method

None

CLI Version

No response

Troubleshooting

• I have examined logs and tried to find the issue
• I have reviewed opened and closed issues
• I have tried restarting the application
• I have checked open issues and ensured this is not a duplicate

The Problem

When connecting to a macOS host via VNC using the Termix iPadOS app, the remote desktop is displayed larger than the available screen area.

The VNC connection itself works correctly, but the full macOS desktop cannot be displayed or accessed.

In Remote Settings, Termix shows:

Zoom: 1.0x — pinch anywhere to zoom

Pinch-to-zoom works when zooming IN above 1.0x. However, it is not possible to zoom OUT below 1.0x. Therefore, the remote desktop cannot be scaled down to fit the iPad display.

Additionally, I cannot pan/scroll far enough to reach all areas of the remote desktop. For example, parts of the lower area of the macOS desktop remain inaccessible.

I already tested the following VNC host settings:

• Width: Auto / Height: Auto
• Resize Method: Auto
• Resize Method: Display Update
• Fixed Width/Height: 1280 x 800
• Touch mouse mode
• Trackpad mouse mode
• Closing and reopening the VNC session after changing settings

None of these settings changed the behavior.

The macOS host uses the built-in Apple Screen Sharing/VNC server. VNC itself works correctly; the issue appears to be the client-side scaling/viewport behavior in the Termix iPadOS app.

Expected behavior:

The iPadOS VNC client should allow the remote framebuffer to be scaled below 1.0x so that the entire remote desktop fits inside the available viewport.

A "Fit to Screen" option would also solve the problem. Ideally, Termix could automatically calculate an initial scale factor that fits the complete remote framebuffer into the available screen area while preserving the aspect ratio.

After fitting the screen, pinch-to-zoom could still be used to zoom in when needed.

How to Reproduce

1. Configure a macOS host in Termix using VNC and connect to it using the Termix iPadOS app.
2. Open the VNC session and notice that the remote macOS desktop is larger than the available iPad viewport.
3. Open Remote Settings. The zoom level shows 1.0x. Pinch outward to zoom in works, but pinching inward cannot reduce the zoom below 1.0x.
4. Try to pan/scroll to the parts of the remote desktop outside the viewport. Some areas, especially the lower part of the desktop, cannot be reached.
5. Close and reconnect the VNC session. The behavior remains the same.

Additional Context

Remote host:

• macOS
• Built-in Apple Screen Sharing / VNC server
• VNC connection itself works correctly

Troubleshooting performed:

• VNC Width/Height: Auto
• Resize Method: Auto
• Resize Method: Display Update
• Fixed Width/Height: 1280 x 800
• Touch mouse mode
• Trackpad mouse mode
• VNC session completely closed and reconnected after changing settings

None of these tests changed the scaling behavior.

The issue appears to be related to client-side scaling/viewport handling in the iPadOS app. Remote Settings shows Zoom: 1.0x, and zooming in above 1.0x works, but zooming out below 1.0x does not.

A "Fit to Screen" option or support for zoom levels below 1.0x would solve the issue.

Start by reproducing the issue in the iPadOS VNC session and inspect the Remote Settings zoom control and viewport handling entry points. Verify the behavior with the listed macOS VNC configurations, then confirm that the remote framebuffer can fit within the iPad viewport and that all desktop areas remain reachable while zooming in still works.