SSH Tunnel Changelog

Release notes for the SSH Tunnel app for iPhone and iPad. Last updated: 2026-08-29.

Background connections: fixed in 3.0.0

For years the app could not keep a tunnel alive in the background. Our own 2.0.0 release notes warned: “WARNING: The app can't work in the background due to the App Store limitations.”

Version 3.0.0 (August 2026) removes that limitation. The new VPN engine runs the tunnel in an Apple Network Extension (NEPacketTunnelProvider), so the connection keeps working while the app is in the background, while the screen is locked, and even after the app is closed. VPN On Demand reconnects automatically after a reboot.

The classic proxy engine still behaves like 2.x (foreground-only on iOS) by design: pick the VPN engine when you need background operation.

3.0.0 · iOS · August 24, 2026

Background connections fixed. The new VPN engine routes device traffic through your SSH server via a Network Extension: it works in the background and with the screen locked, survives the app being closed, and VPN On Demand restores the tunnel after a reboot.
Complete rewrite as a native Swift app. The old Cordova/WebView stack is gone; the app is faster and lighter.
The proxy engine keeps every 2.x capability: SOCKS5 proxy, static port forwarding, PAC file server, sharing the proxy with other devices on your Wi-Fi network.
Modern SSH crypto: ed25519, rsa-sha2-256/512, chacha20-poly1305, AES-GCM. Fixes authentication failures against OpenSSH 8.8+ servers.
Passwords, private keys, and passphrases are now stored in the device Keychain. Profiles migrate automatically from 2.x on first launch.

2.1.0 · iOS · September 2020

Customizable in-app browser URL.
iOS 14 compatibility.

2.0.2 · iOS · October 2019

Various UI fixes.
Fixed the PAC file help popup.

2.0.1 · iOS · October 2019

Added the in-app browser (globe icon on the active connection screen).
Shows the Wi-Fi IP address on the active connection screen when the bind address is 0.0.0.0.

2.0.0 · iOS · 2019

Added the keyboard-interactive authentication method.
Added support for ED25519 and ECDSA private keys.
Added support for PuTTY (.ppk) private keys.
NFC OTP support (YubiKey).
iOS 13 compatibility, UI fixes, performance improvements.

This version shipped with the background-operation warning quoted at the top of this page.

First released on the App Store in July 2017.