LibreOffice Impress Remote: control presentations from your smartphone

LibreOffice has released a new feature called Impress Remote, allowing users to control presentations directly from their smartphones or other devices with a modern web browser. This optional add-on enables users to manage their slides remotely, offering greater flexibility during presentations. The update replaces the older Impress-Remote app, which had become outdated and incompatible with many current devices. Users must install the new version separately, and once installed, they can access the remote control function through the “Screen Presentation” menu in the classic toolbar. The new feature works by connecting the user’s device, whether a smartphone or another compatible gadget, to the running instance of LibreOffice via a QR code. Once connected, the presentation begins automatically from the first slide, while the user's mobile device displays a presenter view showing the current slide, additional notes, a timer, and navigation buttons. Some Apple users may find these features familiar, as they were explicitly inspired by the presenter functions in Apple’s Keynote application. For connectivity, the default mode requires both the LibreOffice instance and the external device to be within the same local IPv4 network. In this setup, the two devices communicate directly, and the developers have thoroughly tested this configuration. However, a direct IPv6 connection remains experimental, though it offers potential benefits in environments where IPv6 is widely adopted. As an alternative, users can connect through a relay server, which allows multiple connections and is more suitable for larger installations. This relay server can be run as a lightweight Python service on either a Linux or Windows system, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Another option available is the LocalTunnel service, which provides a fourth method of connection. While still experimental, this approach serves as a fallback solution when the other methods fail. The LibreOffice community has made the extension available for download directly from the LibreOffice extensions page, as well as on GitHub. Upon installation, the add-on automatically adopts the language settings configured in LibreOffice. However, the developer has not yet verified all translations for accuracy. There is also a limitation for users who rely on the Microsoft Office-inspired tabbed interface: they must access the remote control through the Extensions menu, as the functionality does not appear under the “Screen Presentation” option due to restrictions in the UNO extensions API. The release of Impress Remote reflects LibreOffice’s ongoing efforts to enhance user experience and adapt to modern workflows. By integrating remote control capabilities into its core applications, the software continues to compete effectively with proprietary office suites. As the feature gains traction, further refinements and support for additional platforms are likely to follow. For now, users interested in leveraging this functionality can explore the options outlined above and contribute feedback to help improve the tool.