You lot've probably wished you could command your Android device from your PC at times. Maybe your telephone is at the bottom of your purse, or you're in course and desire a subtle mode to message someone. Or mayhap you need to type a lot of text or look at something on a bigger screen.

Fortunately, it's easy to access your Android phone from a computer. Here are the all-time options, from one that's already built into Windows to a full-screen mirroring app.

one. Command Your Android Phone From Windows 10

If you're using Windows, and then yous've already got a basic way to access your telephone from your computer. This works through the Your Phone app in Windows 10.

Your Phone is a built-in app that enables you to see your 25 most recent photos, send and receive text messages, and manage calls on your PC. Microsoft also provides a screen-mirroring characteristic, which supports a limited number of devices.

To set upward Your Telephone:

  1. Update the Your Phone app in Windows, and install Your Telephone Companion on Android.
  2. Log into your Microsoft account on both devices.
  3. Launch the app on your phone and PC, then follow the on-screen instructions to link the 2.

The setup process can be a lilliputian temperamental, but once it'southward going information technology works pretty well. If you only demand a quick way to reply texts on your laptop, it'south worth trying.

2. Access Your Phone From a Calculator With AirDroid

AirDroid is like a much more powerful version of Your Telephone. It gives you desktop access to nearly of the important features on your telephone, and you lot don't even need to create an business relationship to use it. While AirDroid is free, you can subscribe to the premium version for even more than features.

The service offers a desktop app for Windows and Mac, but yous don't need those since it works in any major spider web browser on any platform. This is super easy, and makes information technology safe to apply on a shared computer.

AirDroid lets you lot control your Android telephone from a PC over the internet, or via Wi-Fi if both devices are connected to the aforementioned network.

To go started with AirDroid:

  1. Install AirDroid on your phone. Have the permissions requests when prompted.
  2. Open a browser on your desktop or laptop and get to web.airdroid.com. A page will load showing a QR lawmaking.
  3. Launch AirDroid on your telephone and tap the Scan icon at the tiptop of the screen alongside AirDroid Web.
  4. Scan the QR code.
  5. Tap Sign In (even if you haven't created an account).
  6. You're now continued. Your telephone's features are attainable in the browser window.

The AirDroid Spider web interface resembles a desktop and looks great if you switch to total-screen way. You tin can see your available apps and functions on the left, with tools and info about your phone on the correct. At the top is a panel that you can apply to search for apps, make calls, set alarms, and so on.

AirDroid Features

AirDroid doesn't work with 3rd-political party apps, so you can't employ Snapchat on your laptop. Simply that'southward the just major limitation. It packs a ton of functionality elsewhere.

Y'all can brand calls, plus ship and read text messages. It besides provides access to the photos and videos stored on your telephone, every bit well as locally saved music.

In addition, at that place are lots of tools that seamlessly link your phone and desktop. You lot can wirelessly motility information from your PC to your telephone, enter a URL on the desktop and take the webpage open up on your telephone, and install APK files remotely.

You do demand an business relationship for a few features, and some are express with the gratuitous version. The upgrade to AirDroid Premium costs $iii.99 per month, or $29.99 for a year, but all aside from the most advanced users should discover the gratis choice sufficient.

Download: AirDroid (Free, subscription available)

3. Remotely Access Android From a PC With AirDroid Cast

AirDroid supports a bones mirroring feature, only for more command you tin use AirDroid Cast, which lets you control your phone from your desktop.

To get started, you demand to download AirDroid Cast for Windows or Mac, also as the Android AirDroid Cast app on your telephone.

Now launch the apps on both devices. In your desktop app y'all'll see a QR code; tap the Scan icon, scan the code, then tap Commencement Casting. For security purposes, you'll be prompted to Permit on your desktop and Outset at present on your telephone.

Later on this, you'll be connected. AirDroid Bandage but allows basic mirroring in the free version, but if yous desire full bear on control via your Windows PC or Mac you tin can upgrade for $iii.49 a month. At that place's a free trial too, so you lot can make sure it fits your needs.

Different AirDroid, you can work with third-party apps in Cast, and you tin can also motility files to and from your phone. Because the app mirrors your telephone'due south screen, yous need to proceed the screen turned on in gild to use information technology.

Download: AirDroid Bandage for Android | Windows | Mac (Free, subscription available)

4. Control an Android Phone From a PC With Vysor

Vysor works in a similar way to AirDroid Cast. It's available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS. Information technology comes in complimentary and paid versions. The free version is skillful enough to give you a taste of what's on offer, but information technology'due south express—it includes ads and y'all tin only use a wired connection.

Simply what makes Vysor great is that there's virtually no setup or configuration procedure. You must enable USB Debugging, only that'south all. But install Vysor on your computer and connect your phone. Everything happens automatically.

An app is pushed to your Android device forth the mode. If you ever want to uninstall this, you can do and so by going to Settings > Apps & notifications on your Android device.

Vysor Features

In one case installation is complete, you'll run across your phone's screen mirrored in a window on your desktop. There are handy buttons to accept screenshots, record your screen, and control the volume. You can do everything else with your mouse on the virtual touchscreen.

Because Vysor is a screen-mirroring service, at that place's no concern about app compatibility. Annihilation that runs on your telephone volition be useable on the desktop. This includes gaming, though lag will be an issue in games that need fast reactions.

Download: Vysor for Windows | Mac | Linux (Gratuitous, subscription available)

Other Ways to Command Your Phone From a PC

In that location are a few other apps y'all tin can look at for the purpose of accessing your phone from a estimator. MightyText is built mostly around messaging, similar to Your Telephone. Meanwhile, Pushbullet is closer to AirDroid, albeit a more expensive option.

In improver, there'southward ApowerMirror, a screen mirroring app similar to Vysor. It comes with a standalone app for Windows and Mac, with limitations on the free version. The upgrade to the full app is pricier than Vysor.

In that location'south also a free, open source app chosen Scrcpy, which offers like features to those yous'd have to pay for in Vysor. This sounds perfect, only unfortunately it's far from user-friendly. The setup procedure is more involved, and you can only adjust the app's settings through the control line. Still, it'southward worth looking into if you're a more advanced user.

Utilize Android on a Desktop With an Emulator

Now you know the all-time options for using your Android telephone from a laptop or desktop. They let you handle your devices from whatever works all-time at the moment.

One other selection is to not control your telephone directly, simply to utilize an emulator instead. This lets you to utilise your favorite mobile apps or play smartphone games on your laptop by running Android inside an app.

Paradigm Credit: Denys Prykhodov/Shutterstock

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