Use cell phone as PC keyboard, wireless mouse (not USB)

The concept is simple: that the screen of the Android device becomes a touchpad, where moving your finger means moving the computer cursor (or tapping on it has the same effect as a left or right click) and where a virtual keyboard where everything that is typed on the cell phone is entered in a text field on the PC.

To use a Android cell phone as wireless mouse and keyboard for PC You just have to do two simple things: install on the computer a program that receives the data sent by the mobile phone (server) and on Android the application that will send that data (client).

There are currently several free solutions For this, they offer both the server and the client and do not require complex configurations to start using the screen of the Android device as a trackpad and as a virtual keyboard for the PC.

Super complete application that not only offers the mouse and keyboard function, but also has a function joystick that emulates a video game controller on the Android screen and use the motion sensors on the device to control PC games. It even allows browse files on PC hard drives and duplicating the computer screen on the mobile, something that is offered by independent programs such as Chrome’s Remote Desktop and Microsoft’s Remote Desktop.

Monect is free. To use it, you just have to install the server on the PC (Windows only) and the client on Android. Both are opened and voila. No configuration is necessary. This app works under Wifi (PC and Android must be on the same network) or Bluetooth.

One of my favorite alternatives that I use to turn on, turn off and view or control my PC from my cell phone. Offers many functions: wireless mouse and keyboard both via wifi as via internet, command to multimedia control and turning the computer on and off, PC file manager and special controls for control apps like Spotify, VLC, Windows Media Player and others 70 more programs.

In the same way, the server is installed on the PC (Windows, Linux, Mac, Raspberry Pi or Arduino Yún) and the client on Android. If both computers are on the same Wi-Fi network, the application can be used immediately. For the control via internet it is necessary to configure the server, from the Android application, something that may require the redirection of ports.

Another fantastic application that in addition to offering a touchpad and virtual keyboard, also offers multimedia buttons which, for example, allow turn up the PC volume O change song and / or video. It also offers controls for shutting down or hibernating the computer.

It is completely free and does not require any additional configuration. All you have to do is install the server on the PC (Windows or Mac) and the client on Android. It is necessary that the PC and the mobile are on the same Wifi network. Remote Mouse too works with mobile data, although you will have to configure remote access on your PC.

Other alternatives

Wifi Mouse Pro ($4.00)

In addition to keyboard and mouse, it has interesting functions such as specific buttons for scroll up and down, specific buttons for the browser and to shut down, suspend or restart the computer. It also offers a virtual keyboard identical to that of the PC, support for control PowerPoint slides, view the desktop of the PC, among other functions. It is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac.

Remote Droid

In remotedroid.net we found a open source software («Open Source«) That only focused on offering mouse and keyboard functionality. Had a great reputation. Unfortunately, it has not been in development for several years and its website no longer exists, although it can be found all information and in files on GitHub.

You simply run the server on your PC (Windows, Linux or Mac) and install a client on Android. The file is executed on the computer RemoteDroidServer.jar. It will show an IP address (four groups of numbers separated by dots), which must be entered in the Android application and click on the “Connect” button to finish.

Another old alternative that also stopped being developed was myControl, from developer skynetsoftware.com. However, you will surely find its server (host) and app on Google. It was compatible with Windows and Linux, and ran under Wifi or bluetooth. One of its interesting features is that it offered the option of screenshot of the PC from the cell phone, in addition to the keyboard and mouse function.

Which to choose?

If you only need to use Android as a wireless mouse and keyboard for your PC, it is best to use “light” applications such as RemoteDroid or Remote Mouse. Feature-rich apps like Monect PC Remote or Unified Remote I’d recommend just in case you’re going to take advantage of everything they offer.

How to use your PC keyboard and mouse on Android

5 APPS to control Android from your PC

Write on your cell phone with the PC keyboard through this website and APK