How to Mirror Android Device to PC or Laptop

With so many devices people use on a daily basis, connecting them seems like the most natural thing to do. Depending on the combination of devices you have, this process can be a relatively simple task. Unfortunately, some device combinations may require more effort.

Such is the case if you want to mirror your Android device to a computer. Although this may seem like an important feature, it is not. Luckily, there are ways to do this, and once you've installed all the necessary apps, the process becomes a breeze.

Prepare your Android device for mirroring to PC or laptop

Before you start mirroring your Android to desktop or laptop, you need to set a few options on your mobile device. You may want to read the rest of the procedures in this article before doing anything. This way, you can determine if this process suits your needs and works for you. Anyway, here's how to enable developer mode and USB debugging in Android.

Notes: If you plan to use the Wi-Fi option, you can follow the "USB debugging" steps to use it for "wireless debugging" as well. Both options are available in the same area on your Android device.

Enable Android Developer Options

1. Open " Settings " on your Android device.
   
2. Scroll down and press “About the phone. »
   
3. Press "Build number" five times in a row. You may need to confirm this action by entering your preferred security method. It can be a PIN, pattern or fingerprint.
   
4. You will see the notification that you have successfully enabled "Developer Mode" on your device.
   

Enable USB debugging (or wireless debugging for Wi-Fi connection)

1. Open " Settings " on your Android device.
   
2. Press “System Updates. »
   
3. Scroll to the bottom and select “Developer options. »
   
4. Scroll down to the "Debugging" section and toggle “USB Debugging” ouch
   
5. Android will now ask you if you are sure you want to allow USB trimming. Confirm by pressing " OKAY. »
   

You are now ready to proceed with setting up the mirroring feature for your computer.

Mirror Android Phone to Windows PC

Mirroring your Android device to a Windows computer is possible through various dedicated apps. Although Windows 10 has an option that lets you do this, it doesn't work with all Android smartphones or tablets.

How to use scrcpy to mirror Android to Windows PC

By far the best and easiest application to use is “scrcpy”. This application allows wired or wireless connection, and it is super easy to use, however the configuration is quite complex. You can download it from GitHub, one of the most popular online services for developers. To do this, follow the steps below.

1. Open a web browser on your computer, then navigate to the scrcpy page on GitHub.
   
2. Scroll down to the "Get the app" section.
   
3. In the “Windows” subsection, click on the download link for the « .Zip *: to langue » archive. It looks something like this: scrcpy-win64-v1.16.zip. Of course, the final figures will depend on the version currently available.
   
4. Click on the link to download the “.zip” file.
   
5. Once the file is downloaded, it's time to extract it. Open the folder where you downloaded the “srcpy .zip” file.
   
6. Right-click the file, then choose “Extract files…”
   
7. The “Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders” window appears. Click on " Browse " to choose the destination of the extracted files. Once you have chosen the location, you can optionally check the box "Show extracted files when finished" check box. Click on " OKAY " to extract the files.
   
8. Now you can navigate to where the extracted files appear.
   
9. Double click on the « adb.exe » file to install “Android ADB Tools”. This process is done in the background, so you won't see any on-screen feedback after the installation is complete. It usually takes Windows about a second or two to perform this action.
10. With your Android device ready for mirroring and after installing scrcpy on your PC, it's time to connect the two. Connect your Android device and computer using a « Cable USB, » or for Wi-Fi setup, go to "Step 15."
    
11. Double click on the « csrcpy.exe » file from the scrcpy folder to start it.
    
12. Depending on your security settings, Windows may notify you that you are about to run an unrecognized application. To continue, first click " More information, " then choose “Run anyway. »
13. If your mobile device asks if you should allow USB debugging, tap " To allow. » To prevent this pop-up from appearing in the future, you can also tap “Always authorize from this computer. »
    
14. That's it! The scrcpy window appears, displaying the screen of your Android device via USB. For Wi-Fi, read on.
15. For Wi-Fi connections, make sure your Android device has "Developer Mode" activated and “USB Debugging” on (see the instructions at the beginning of this article.). “Wireless Debugging” (not USB) must also be enabled.
16. Connect Android and your PC or laptop to the same Wi-Fi network.
17. On PC, open the « scrcpy » unzipped folder and launch « adb.exe. »
18. Connect your Android device to your PC via USB so you can enter commands.
19. On Android, get your IP address by going to "Settings -> About Phone" Where " … -> About Phone -> Status » and look for the " IP adress " section, or just type the following in the command line:
    adb shell ip route | awk '{print $9}'
20. On PC, enable adb over TCP/IP by typing the following in the command line:
    adb tcpip 5555.
21. Disconnect USB from device and PC. You no longer need a USB connection.
22. On the PC, connect wirelessly to your device by typing the code below in the command line:
    adb connect DEVICE_IP_HERE:5555 (replace DEVICE_IP with your).
23. Launch Scrcpy.exe from the unzipped folder on your PC, and you are now done! You should see your Android screen on your PC or laptop.

That's it. This super simple app works like a charm. You can now use your keyboard and mouse to control your Android device. This action lets you start apps, type messages, view your photo gallery, and even play mobile games on the big screen. Moreover, by simply dragging and dropping files onto the scrcpy window, you can copy almost anything from your computer to your Android device.

Of course, like any other window, you can also resize, maximize, restore and close the scrcpy application. If you want to see your Android device in full screen, tap « Ctrl + F » on your keyboard at the same time.

How to Mirror Android Phone to Mac

Fortunately, the handy screen mirroring application scrcpy is also available for Mac OS X devices. Unlike Windows computers, where you download a .zip file and unzip it, Mac does it differently. To use scrcpy, you will first need to install the Homebrew app.

1. Open " Searcher " on your Mac.
2. Click on "Applications" from the menu on the left. If this option is not visible, just press “Command + A” On your keyboard.
3. In the list of applications, open “Utilities”.
4. Finally, run the «Terminal» application.
5. Now select the entire command line below and copy/paste it into the « Terminal, » then press " Enter " to run it.
   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
6. Wait 10-15 minutes for Homebrew to install.
7. Once the installation is complete, it's time to install the Android ADB tools. To do this, type or copy/paste the following command below into the « Terminal, » then press " Enter " run.
   brew cask install android-platform-tools
8. Finally, it's time to install the “scrcpy” application. Copy the code below and paste it into the « Terminal, » then press " Enter. »
   brew install scrcpy
9. Now wait for the installation to complete.
10. To establish the connection between Android and Mac OS, connect your Android device using a USB cable.
11. The USB debugging notification appears on the Android screen. Press on “Let continue. » You can also press “Always allow from this computer” to prevent the notification from appearing every time you log in.
12. In the Mac Terminal, type « scrcpy » without quotes to launch the application.

Finally, you can now mirror your Android screen to your Mac OS computer or laptop.

How to Mirror Android Phone to Chromebook

Sadly, Chromebook users do not have the option to use the scrcpy app to mirror their Android devices. Fortunately, there are plenty of other third-party apps that work with Chromebooks. One of the most popular applications of this type is “Reflector 3”. Although it is not a free application, it does the job exceptionally well and well worth the price…and the headache reduction!

To start using "Reflector 3", follow the steps below.

1. Install the “Reflector 3” app from their website on both your Android device and your Chromebook.
2. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Start the app on both devices.
4. On your "Reflector 3" Android app, tap the menu button in the top left corner of the screen.
5. Select « Cast Screen/Audio ».
6. Now you should see the list of devices available for mirroring. Select your Chromebook to continue.
7. Finally, you should see your Android device screen on your Chromebook.

Hope now you know how to mirror your Android devices to Windows 10, Mac or Chromebook computer. When you use the scrcpy app, the process becomes simple. Although the setup may seem cumbersome, the step-by-step instructions in this article give you what you need. For Chromebook devices, the "Reflector 3" app, while not free, only requires two installs to set everything up.

Have you successfully mirrored your Android to computer? Which mirroring app do you find most useful?

Additional FAQ

Should I mirror my entire screen or can only part of my screen be mirrored?

The solutions you will find in this article allow you to mirror the entire screen of your Android device. Essentially any mirroring app will do this, but only without an option to choose which part of the screen appears on your PC. Of course, you can search for apps that allow you to stream content from your Android. This way, you don't have to mirror your phone screen to a computer for others to see. Instead, you can start a video, slideshow, or presentation on your Android device and stream just that content to the computer.

Do I need a Wi-Fi connection to mirror Android to another device?

No, you don't need Wi-Fi to start mirroring. Apps similar to scrcpy allow you to use the mirroring feature by connecting your devices via a USB cable. Therefore, you don't need a Wi-Fi connection at all. Conversely, some apps allow you to mirror your Android to computer via Wi-Fi. in mirror, each application has its particularities. For some, you have to pay if you don't want ads to ruin your experience. Others may have cumbersome interfaces to navigate. Ultimately, nothing beats the scrcpy app for its simplicity and basic functionality, and it's completely free and open source.