Windows How-To

How to share mobile screen on PC

Step-by-step instructions to mirror your Android phone's display on a Windows PC.

Step-by-step instructions to mirror your Android phone’s display on a Windows PC.

by Pallav Pathak

Windows provides built-in tools that let you cast your Android phone’s screen directly onto your PC. This allows you to view smartphone content on a larger display, interact with apps using your mouse and keyboard, and easily manage tasks without switching devices. Below are detailed instructions for the most effective methods to share your mobile screen on a Windows PC.

The Phone Link app (formerly Your Phone) provides a seamless way to mirror your Android screen on your Windows PC wirelessly. Recent devices from the Samsung Galaxy series, Surface Duo, HONOR Magic series, and OnePlus support this feature. However, this method won’t work on other devices, so you will have to try out the other methods mentioned below.

Before starting, ensure your Android device and PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, your PC runs Windows 10 (October 2018 Update or later), and your Android device runs Android 9.0 or newer with the latest version of Link to Windows pre-installed. You can check the full list of supported devices on Microsoft’s official documentation.

On your Windows PC, open the Phone Link app. Navigate to the “Phone screen” section and follow the on-screen setup instructions. You might receive permission requests on your Android device—ensure you grant these permissions to enable proper functionality.
After setup, your Android screen will appear in the Phone Link app window. You can interact directly using your PC mouse, trackpad, or keyboard. Single-clicking simulates taps, right-clicking navigates back, and clicking and dragging allows text selection and scrolling.

Step 3 (Optional): To protect your privacy or save battery, the Phone Link app can show a black screen on your Android device while connected. If you prefer to disable this feature, open Settings in the Phone Link app, navigate to “Phone screen,” and turn off the toggle labeled “Hide my Android device’s screen while it’s connected to my PC.”

Method 2: Mirroring Android Screen Using Windows Wireless Display Feature (Miracast)

If your Android device doesn’t support Phone Link or you prefer another built-in Windows solution, Miracast is a reliable alternative. Miracast technology allows wireless screen mirroring between compatible devices on the same Wi-Fi network. First, ensure your Windows PC supports Miracast by opening Command Prompt and running:

netsh wlan show driver

Look for the line “Wireless Display Supported: Yes.” If supported, follow these steps:

Enable the Wireless Display feature on your Windows PC. Go to Settings (Win + I) > System> Optional features.
Click “Add an optional feature,” search for “Wireless Display,” select it, and click “Install.”
Once installed, navigate to Settings > System > Projecting to this PC. Set the option “Available everywhere on secure networks” to allow Miracast connections.
On your PC, launch the Connect app by searching “Connect app” in the taskbar search box. Keep the app open with a blue background indicating readiness to connect.
On your Android device, swipe down from the top to access the Quick Settings panel. Look for options like “Screen Cast,” “Smart View,” “Screen Mirroring,” or “Cast.” Activate it, select your Windows PC from the available devices list, and confirm the connection.

Your Android screen will now appear on your Windows PC, allowing you to view videos, photos, or presentations wirelessly.

Method 3: Wired Connection via USB Cable (Alternative Method)

If wireless methods aren’t suitable or you encounter connectivity issues, you can share your Android screen using a USB cable and third-party software like Scrcpy, Vysor, or ApowerMirror. Here’s a quick example using Scrcpy, a free and open-source tool:

Download Scrcpy from its official GitHub repository and extract the files on your Windows PC.
Enable USB debugging on your Android device by navigating to Settings > About Phone > tap Build Number seven times to enable Developer Options.
Then, go to Settings > Developer Options and enable “USB debugging.”
Connect your Android device to your PC using a USB cable. Ensure you grant permission prompts on your Android device when asked to allow USB debugging.
Run the Scrcpy executable file from the extracted folder. Your Android screen will appear in a window on your PC, allowing control via mouse and keyboard.

Sharing your mobile screen on your PC simplifies multitasking, presentations, and content management. Try these methods to determine which works best for your setup and preferences.

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