Install Spike
Spike for iPhone and iPad requires iOS or iPadOS 17 or newer.
Open the App Store
Use the official Spike App Store page, then tap Get or the download icon.
Launch Spike
Open the app after installation. Spike asks for permissions only when a feature needs them, so you can begin with ordinary text chat immediately.
Keep it current
Install updates from the App Store. Newer app versions can include model, Runtime and account-sync improvements.
Sign in and sync
Use the same Spike account as on Web, Mac or CLI so the app can discover your connected Runtimes and synchronize supported chats and preferences.
- Open the side menu in Spike.
- Tap Settings, then Spike Account.
- Choose Sign In. If you are new to Spike, choose Create Account and complete email verification.
- If Spike shows Unlock Chat Sync, unlock it with your passkey or account password.
Private sync: Runtime provider addresses and API keys are not copied into your Spike account. Your account is used for identity, encrypted sync and Runtime discovery.
Choose where the model runs
Open Settings → Server. The sources available to your account are shown there.
Spike Cloud
The simplest option. Spike hosts the model; availability depends on your current account entitlement.
Your connected Spike Runtime
Select the named Runtime shown as Online. The model runs on your Mac, PC or server while the iPhone or iPad acts as the client.
Direct Server
For an advanced local or offline connection, choose Direct Server, enter the server URL and optional API key, then select a model after Spike loads the server catalogue. The phone must be able to reach that server, usually over the same Wi-Fi or a private network.
On-Device MLX
For a model that runs directly on compatible Apple hardware, open Settings → On-Device MLX. Model availability and performance depend on device memory and model support.
Use Chat and Agent
Chat
Use Chat for questions, writing, research, images and everyday tool-assisted work. Open the side menu, switch to Chat, choose New chat, enter a message and send it.
Agent
Use Agent for longer work that can call tools and continue across multiple steps. Switch the side-menu workspace from Chat to Agent, then open a new or existing Agent session.
Important: iPhone and iPad can control durable Agent work, but they do not host the Spike Agent CLI or Spike Runtime themselves. Agent execution needs an available remote host or Runtime.
Your Projects, recent chats and Agent sessions appear in the side menu when they are available for the selected account and workspace.
Add photos, files and voice
- Tap the plus inside the message bar to add a photo, use the camera or choose a file.
- Use the microphone control for dictation or voice input when it is available for the selected mode.
- From another iOS app, use its Share sheet and choose Spike to hand supported text, links, images or documents to the app.
- Tool and media support can vary with the selected model. A text-only model cannot inspect an image or video.
Use your own model through Runtime
Runtime lets your iPhone or iPad use a model hosted on another machine without putting the provider directly on the public internet.
Host the Runtime
Set up Runtime in Spike for Mac or Spike Agent CLI and sign the host into your Spike account.
Use the same account on iOS
Open Settings → Spike Account and verify that the iPhone or iPad uses the host’s account.
Select the Runtime
Open Settings → Server, tap the named Runtime, choose one of its advertised models and send a short test message.
If a Runtime becomes unavailable, Spike keeps the selection and marks it Offline. Start the host again rather than replacing it with Direct Server unless you intentionally want the local fallback.
Run a model on the device
On-Device MLX is separate from Spike Runtime: it runs a compatible model for this iPhone or iPad only and does not publish that model to your other Spike clients.
- Open Settings → On-Device MLX.
- Browse for a compatible model and check its download size.
- Download the model while connected to reliable Wi-Fi and power.
- Select the downloaded model, return to Chat and send a short test prompt.
Larger models can exceed the memory available on a phone or tablet. Start with a model the app marks as suitable for your device.
Manage iOS permissions
Spike requests access at the point of use. You remain in control of each permission.
- Microphone: needed for voice input and recording.
- Camera and Photos: needed only when you capture or attach media.
- Notifications: allow Spike to tell you when supported background work is ready.
- Location, Calendar, Reminders and Home: requested only when you enable and use the corresponding tools.
To change a decision later, open the iOS Settings app, find Spike and adjust the permission.
Troubleshooting
My Runtime is offline
Confirm that Spike for Mac or spike runtime serve is still running, that the host is signed into the same account, and that the selected provider is reachable from the host.
My chats are not appearing
Verify the account under Settings → Spike Account. If the app shows Unlock Chat Sync, unlock it before expecting encrypted history to appear.
I get a 429 error
A 429 means the selected path is rate limited. If you intended to use your own model, open Settings → Server and confirm that your Runtime—not Spike Cloud—is selected and online.
A photo, file or voice feature is unavailable
Check the app permission in iOS Settings, then confirm that the selected model supports the requested input or tool.