Appearance
How to control an Android phone from a PC
In short: You can control an Android phone from a PC in four main ways. Microsoft Phone Link works on Windows, scrcpy is free over USB or Wi-Fi, remote-support apps such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk work over the internet, and BenchFleet handles many phones. scrcpy and BenchFleet need USB debugging, turned on in the phone's Developer options.
There are four good ways to see an Android phone on your computer and use it with your mouse and keyboard. Which one fits depends on whether the phone is next to you, how many phones you have, and whether you need more than a mirror of the screen.
Free for up to 3 phones, with no account. Pro adds workflows, schedules and AI for up to 25 phones from £12 a month + VAT.
The four ways at a glance
| Way | Best for | What it needs | Computers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Phone Link | Your own phone, every day | A supported phone with Android 9 or newer and the Link to Windows app | Windows |
| scrcpy | One phone on your desk, for free | USB debugging or Wireless debugging | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Remote-support apps | Helping someone far away | Their app on the phone and on the computer | Most systems |
| BenchFleet | Many phones, testing and automation | USB debugging or Wireless debugging | Windows, macOS (Apple silicon), Linux |
1. Microsoft Phone Link (Windows)
Phone Link is built into Windows. With the Link to Windows app on the phone, it brings your messages, calls, notifications and photos to the computer. Mirroring the phone's screen, which Microsoft calls Phone screen, works on supported phones with Android 9 or newer, mostly recent Samsung models and a few others; Microsoft keeps the list.
To start, open Phone Link on the computer, choose Android, scan the code it shows with the phone, and allow the permissions it asks for. Phone Link is the easiest choice for your own phone on Windows; it is not made for test phones or for several phones at once.
2. scrcpy (free, open source)
scrcpy mirrors an Android phone to a Windows, macOS or Linux computer and passes your mouse and keyboard to it, over USB or Wi-Fi. It needs no root and no app on the phone, works with Android 5.0 and newer, and forwards sound on Android 11 and newer. Turn on USB debugging (below), connect the phone and start scrcpy.
scrcpy shows one phone per window: for several phones you start one scrcpy for each, choosing each phone by its serial number. scrcpy for many phones covers what to do when that gets unwieldy.
3. Remote-support apps
Apps such as TeamViewer, AnyDesk and AirDroid let you see and control a phone over the internet, for example to help a relative or a customer. They need their app on the phone, and on some phones an extra add-on or permission before they can control the screen. They are built for one support session at a time; for a room full of work phones, see the AirDroid and Vysor alternative.
4. BenchFleet (many phones)
BenchFleet is a desktop app for people who look after many phones: app testers, device labs and support desks. Every connected phone is a live tile on one screen, one click takes control, and the phone's files, apps, logs and a terminal are on the same page. It uses the same debugging connection as scrcpy, and on paid plans it repeats the same steps on many phones with group actions, workflows and AI. See controlling many Android phones from one PC.
Turn on USB debugging (for scrcpy and BenchFleet)
- On the phone, open Settings, then About phone, and tap Build number seven times to show Developer options.
- Open Developer options and turn on USB debugging.
- Connect the phone by cable, unlock it and tap Allow when it asks whether to allow USB debugging.
Without a cable, on Android 11 and newer: turn on Wireless debugging in Developer options and pair the phone with the computer by QR code or pairing code. Connecting phones shows each way in BenchFleet, and ADB over Wi-Fi the adb commands behind it. The ADB guide covers the commands scrcpy and BenchFleet rely on.
Questions
Can I control my Android phone from my PC with a USB cable?
Yes. Turn on USB debugging in the phone's Developer options and connect it by cable. Free tools such as scrcpy then show the screen on your computer and pass your mouse and keyboard to the phone, with no root needed.
Can I do it without a cable?
Yes. On Android 11 and newer, Wireless debugging pairs the phone with your computer over Wi-Fi, which scrcpy and BenchFleet can use. Microsoft Phone Link connects supported phones without a cable, and remote-support apps work over the internet.
Do I need to root my phone?
No. Developer options, which every Android phone has, are enough for scrcpy and BenchFleet. Phone Link and remote-support apps use their own app on the phone instead.
What is the best way to control several phones at once?
Mirroring tools open one window per phone. BenchFleet shows every connected phone on one screen, lets you take control of any of them in one click, and can repeat the same steps on many phones. It is free for 3 phones.
Does this work on a Mac or Linux?
scrcpy runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and BenchFleet on Windows, macOS (Apple silicon) and Linux. Microsoft Phone Link is for Windows only.
Can I use TeamViewer or AnyDesk to control an Android phone?
Yes. Both need their app on the phone, and on some phones an extra add-on or permission before they can control the screen rather than only show it. They are made for helping someone over the internet, one session at a time.
What is the best free way to control an Android phone from a PC?
scrcpy. It is free and open source, works on Windows, macOS and Linux over USB or Wi-Fi, and needs no root and no app on the phone. On Windows, Microsoft Phone Link is free too, on the phones it supports.
Start with the Free plan
Free for up to 3 phones, with no account. Pro adds workflows, schedules and AI for up to 25 phones from £12 a month + VAT.
- A full refund within 14 days of your first payment
- Starts in Local mode, with no telemetry or analytics
- Made by WOODCOMMERCE LTD, a company registered in the UK