5 ways to Screen Mirror Android to PC or Laptop
Many times, you may have thought, if it is possible to screen mirror android to PC to view videos, apps, games on larger screen without need of TV.
For the developers and instructors screen recording of mobile and sharing with their team and students is very useful. This could be done using screen recording apps such as OBS studio or Camtasia app.
Further many people want to watch some online video content like YouTube, Netflix or Prime Video over laptop or want to play games on Laptop screen using their mobile.
In some another scenario like in a meeting or presentation, it is also a great idea to directly cast mobile screen on laptop.
Screen mirroring can also help teachers during online classes to demonstrate something directly from their mobile to the students.
On TVs, either it is smart or non-smart you can cast android mobile screen using Chromecast or using Miracast supported dongle like Microsoft Miracast dongle. In our previous post you can see various options to connect Laptop to TV wirelessly.
If your TV already supported Wi-Di that is Wi-Fi direct technology, it means you can cast android mobile screen on TV without need of any extra dongle i.e. Chromecast / Amazon Fire Stick.
Table of Contents
What is Screen Mirroring Android and Casting
Using screen mirroring function, you can replicate your mobile or laptop screen as it is on the Miracast Supported displays like Smart TVs or Laptop or wireless display supported devices.
There are mainly three wireless display technology one is Miracast, another is Chromecast and third one is Apple Airplay. Using Miracast you can screen mirror your laptop and android mobiles to supported Miracast TVs and displays, even on Laptops.
While casting is something different than mirroring, when you tap on cast icon on supported apps in your mobile or laptop, the same app or content directly played by the casting or streaming device such as Chromecast or by Android TV.
In this feature the role of your mobile is only up to searching the content over the apps such as on YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime. After casting starts, the link of content directly picked up by Chromecast or streaming device from internet via Wi-Fi router and streaming started.
In this post we will tell you various option to screen mirror android to PC. For some of the options you may require Wi-Fi router, in some options working internet connection required on both the devices e.g. for you mobile and laptop.
In some methods you may need to connect mobile to laptop using USB cable to enable wireless projection on Laptop, this method not requires Wi-Fi router or working internet connection.
If you want to learn how to screen mirror iPhone or iPad to PC or Laptops, you can visit here.
Method -1 Screen mirror android to PC using window 10 projecting to this PC feature
To support this feature, your laptop should be on the latest windows 10 version. To convert your laptop as wireless display you need to open “Connect” app in your Windows 10 laptop. This app was rolled out in Windows 10 anniversary update in November 2016 (version 1607).
To mirror android screen on PC wirelessly using Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Search “Connect” app in taskbar Cortana search console
- Open the connect app and you are ready to go
Alternatively, you can search the same in Computer settings
- Go to system settings
- Now click over “Launch the Connect App to project to this PC”
- Now using Mobile cast feature search for laptop name showing on the screen and connect to cast the Android mobile Screen
- If any PIN is displaying on the connect app type the same pin when prompted on connecting mobile to Laptop
If this option is greyed out in your Laptop, same was happened to me, then you have to follow these steps:
- Open settings and search for apps and features
- Now click over “optional feature”
- Click on + button to add feature
- Now select wireless display and install, that’s it
After installing wireless display optional app, this option will come in your laptop. Further if your laptop wireless card did not support this feature than it may also possible that this option will be greyed out in your Laptop.
You may also not able to add Wireless display app, if your Wi-Fi card is not supported to Miracast feature.
Depends on mobile manufacturer cast button name may be different in settings or quick access setting icons in notification bar. In Oneplus phones it is shown as “Screen Cast”, in Huawei devices is shown as “wireless projection” in Some mobile it may be shown as screen mirroring. You have read mobile manual to check this icon details.
When tap over this icon you can see your laptop name in the list of supported casting devices, tap over the same on laptop as shown in connect app to start screen mirroring. When prompted in mobile type the PIN shown on the connect app screen and tap over Start Now.
You can now watch your entire mobile screen on laptop. Further using laptop keyboard and mouse you can also navigate in mobile screen.
In the landscape mode of mobile e.g. YouTube, you can see videos on laptop also on full screen.
The best benefit of this method is that sound of mobile can also be projected along with video and you can control mouse and keyboard of laptop to control android mobile also.
See the YouTube Video how to screen mirror android to PC using Windows 10 “Projecting to this PC” feature
Method -2 Screen mirror android to PC or laptop using Remote control apps
You can also screen mirror android to pc or laptop using remote control apps such as Team Viewer, Anydesk etc. but all these apps requires data or working internet connection in both the devices i.e. in your mobile and as well as in Laptop.
Another drawback of remote-control apps is that there is no sound alongwith video can be casted as like in above Windows 10 project to this PC option.
Sound is working however in Windows based remote and host but its support for Android is not available right now.
How to screen mirror android to PC or laptop using Team Viewer
Install team viewer app in Laptop and in Android mobile from Play store, you need to install both apps Team Viewer Remote control and Quick Support app. Now in Laptop connect the Android mobile by typing device id of Android mobile shown in Team Viewer app in Android.
In landscape apps screen also get landscaped in Laptop remote app version. Using Team Viewer you can not only screen mirror your mobile on Laptop but can also remote control the mobile from laptop in case any remote assistance to be provided to someone.
How to connect Android to Laptop using Anydesk app
The procedure for connecting Anydek app is also similar to Team Viewer, this app is very lighghter and consume less data compared to team viewer. Install Anydesk on laptop and mobile, now connect the mobile using laptop by typing the device Id of mobile Anydesk app.
Method -3 Cast Android Screen over laptop using screen mirroring supported apps
Some screen mirroring app for PC like Airdroid, ApowerMirror, Mobizen, Reflector, Letsview also supports to screen mirror android to PC.
These apps having options to view phone screen on pc via USB or Wi-Fi. To enable USB interface, you may require enabling USB debugging in Developer options.
How to enable USB debugging in Android mobile:
- In the phone settings, tap over about phone
- Tap seven times over build number (or press upto you see this message “you are developer now”) to enable developer options
- Now in developer options, check this box or toggle “USB debugging”
- Now connect mobile with laptop using USB cable come with mobile
- In the USB settings use transfer file mode
- When prompted on mobile allow USB debugging (this will come when you use the particular app to screen mirror), allow and also check the box “Always allow from this computer”
For more details on how to enable developer mode and USB debugging, refer our previous post.
To work on Wi-Fi interface your mobile and laptop should be connected with same access point of Wi-Fi router. In this Wi-Fi router method no internet data is required, screen mirroring done using router only.
In this section we will discuss in detail about Airdroid method of screen mirroring.
Screen mirror Android to PC using Airdroid app
Using Airdroid you can not only screen mirror the mobile, but can also do following things:
- Accessing of files of Android mobile
- Accessing of Messages, Call history, contacts
- Remote control of mobile using laptop
- Remotely access phone camera over laptop
- Use computer keyboard to type over phone
Follow these steps to screen mirror android to pc or laptop using Airdroid:
- Install Airdroid on Laptop from their website, also install airdroid on Mobile from play store.
- Now login with the same account in the Mobile app and desktop app
- Select your device in desktop platform
- Use screen mirror and remote control to control your device from laptop
In mobile under security and remote features settings enable following options as per your requirement:
- Files
- Camera
- Screen Mirroring
- Remote Control
- Desktop notifications
Same things are also available at Airdroid Web interface.
You can login with scanning QR code or by typing the email and password. Web interface is the easiest way to setup screen mirroring your android mobile over Laptop. But this method requires working internet connection in both the devices, there is also 200 MB limit on web interface in free version. However, on desktop App using Wi-Fi router you can access unlimited screen mirroring and other features of Airdroid.
ApowerMirror App
Using ApowerMirror app you can also mirror android screen over laptop.
Install ApowerMirror on Windows PC, and also install app in Android mobile through play store.
Now in Desktop app select USB interface to connect mobile using USB cable, when connect to laptop choose file transfer mode.
Follow these steps to continue
- Enable USB debugging as explained above in mobile’s developer options
- When prompted on mobile enable debugging by check box and ok button.
- Tap over Start now in mobile to start screen mirroring
Using Wifi method:
- Connect both the devices in same Wi-Fi access point
- In mobile app tap over big M button
- Now select Wi-Fi option in above
- In the list shown below select your laptop name
- Tap on Mirror phone to PC
- Tap over start now to start screen mirroring
ApowerMirror is also a good app but many features are restricted in trial version. You can purchase their lifetime version in $129.9.
Mobizen app
Mobizen is also a screen mirroring app for Android. Mobizen is a paid app, only some basic features you can use in free version.
How to use Mobizen to screen mirror android:
- Download and install mobizen app in your PC and mobile
- Turn on USB debugging in developer options
- Open the Android app and sign in with your account
- Launch the Mobizen app in Laptop
- Connect the USB cable and start screen mirroring
Method -4 Screen mirror android to PC / Laptop using Google Chrome browser
You can install Allcast receiver and Vysor app for PC in Google Chrome browser for screen mirror your mobile over laptop. On Vysor many options are limited in free version such as full screen, sound over screen mirroring.
How to connect Mobile using Vysor app
- Install Vysor app in from Chrome app store
- Open Chrome apps by typing chrome://apps/ in Chrome address bar
- Now click Vysor to open Vysor chrome app
- In mobile also install Vysor app
- Connect Mobile to USB cable
- Enable USB debugging as mentioned above
- In the Vysor app Choose your mobile name
- And now you are connected with Screen mirroring
Allcast app also works to screen mirror android screen over laptop for that you have to install All cast app in chrome browser and in Android mobile.
How to connect Mobile to PC using AllCast Receiver Chrome app
- Install All cast app in Chrome browser using Chrome app store
- Install all cast in Mobile from play store
- Now open all cast app in Chrome browser
- In mobile app select the Player: Chrome @ (IP address of laptop)
- You can also select stored media files like audio, video, picture to cast on Chrome browser or Chrome Cast connected TV.
This app works very smooth in screen mirroring or casting from Mobile to Laptop with audio feature also, and this is free app.
Drawback of this app is that it not supports screen mirroring, you can only cast media files (like audio, video, images). Documents and other files are not supported.
Some apps also supports screen mirror with sound are letsview and reflector.
How to Cast Android to PC using Letsview app
- Install Letsview in PC and Mobile
- Connect both Mobile and PC on same Wi-Fi network
- Open the Letsview app in PC
- In mobile app select PC in the list to start screen mirroring
If you are not able to detect your device, you can also use pin or QR method to connect mobile to PC.
Cast using reflector app
Reflector is a paid app, you have to buy if you want to use its various options.
Price for Windows version is 1624.51 INR
https://store.airsquirrels.com/
How to connect Mobile using reflector app:
- Install reflector 3 app in desktop or Laptop
- Launch the app in laptop
In the mobile using cast screen feature in settings connect and select the device name shown in laptop reflector app. The connection feature is similar to Windows 10 Connect app as described above.
Method -5 Screen mirror Android on Laptop using Windows Phone companion app
Using phone companion app of Windows 10 you can connect your android mobile with laptop to get notification on mobile, accept calls over laptop, accessing photos on Laptop.
Microsoft is now further extending support of phone app to use screen mirror feature. This feature is right now limited with some Samsung phones, may be in future that can also be extended on other mobiles also.
To connect your android mobile with Windows 10 using phone companion app, you need to install Your Phone Companion app in Android also needs to be sign in with Microsoft Account.
Final Words
We have described various methods to screen mirror android to PC or Laptop. There are some pros and cons in various options and apps. Some apps are paid version only, in some apps additional features are limited in free versions.
Some methods only works with video and no sound is available in some methods sound can also be relayed alongwith video.
We have found Windows 10 inbuilt wireless display method using connect app the best option this supports the sound also alongwith keyboard and mouse supports.
Further Aidroid is a best app that allow mirror android to pc free and having lots of options compared to another apps. Google Chrome All Cast works flawlessly if you want to cast media files on laptop using your Android mobile.