Control Your Android Phone with scrcpy

What is scrcpy?

scrcpy (pronounced "screen copy") is a free, open-source tool that mirrors your Android phone's screen to your computer and lets you control it with your mouse and keyboard. Developed by Genymobile, it's used by developers for testing and by anyone who wants to use their phone from their desktop.

Unlike TeamViewer or remote desktop apps, scrcpy doesn't require installing anything on your phone — it uses Android's built-in developer tools. It's fast (30-120 fps), lightweight, and works over USB (lowest latency) or Wi-Fi. You can type with your keyboard, use your mouse as a finger, copy-paste between devices, and even record your screen.

It's also useful for remote support — combined with a tool like RustDesk or Tailscale, you can share your phone screen with someone helping you remotely. See our remote support safety guide.

Step 1. Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging

This is the only phone-side setup needed — one time, takes 2 minutes:

1. 1.Open Settings on your Android phone.
2. 2.Go to About Phone (or About Device).
3. 3.Find Build Number and tap it 7 times. You'll see a countdown and then "You are now a developer!"
4. 4.Go back to Settings, find the new Developer Options menu (usually under System or Additional Settings).
5. 5.Toggle USB Debugging ON. Confirm the popup.

That's it on the phone side. You only need to do this once. If you plan to use Wi-Fi mode later, also enable Wireless Debugging in the same menu (Android 11+).

Step 2. Install scrcpy on Your Computer

• •Windows — download the latest release from the scrcpy GitHub page (look for the .zip file under Releases). Extract it to a folder like C:\scrcpy. No installer needed — it runs from the folder.
• •Mac — install via Homebrew: brew install scrcpy. You'll also need adb (Android Debug Bridge), which Homebrew can install: brew install android-platform-tools.
• •Linux — install from your package manager:

  sudo apt install scrcpy

Step 3. Connect and Mirror (USB Mode)

1. 1.Plug your phone into your computer with a USB cable.
2. 2.On your phone, you'll see a popup: "Allow USB debugging?" Check Always allow from this computer and tap Allow.
3. 3.On your computer, open a terminal and run:

A window opens showing your phone screen. You can now click to tap, type with your keyboard, and use your mouse scroll wheel. The phone stays unlocked while connected.

Useful launch options:

Step 4. Connect Over Wi-Fi (No Cable)

Once USB debugging is enabled, you can connect wirelessly:

1. 1.Connect via USB first (one time), then run:

2. 2.Find your phone's IP address (Settings → About Phone → Status or Wi-Fi → tap connected network).
3. 3.Connect to it:

4. 4.Unplug the USB cable and run scrcpy as normal. It now works wirelessly.

Wi-Fi mode has slightly higher latency than USB. For watching videos or fast typing, stick with USB. For casual browsing or showing someone something, Wi-Fi is fine.

Step 5. Keyboard Shortcuts and Tips

• •Right-click = Back button. Middle-click = Home. This is the shortcut you'll use most.
• •Ctrl+V pastes from computer clipboard to the phone. Works both directions — copy on phone, paste on computer.
• •Ctrl+Shift+V copies from computer and pastes to phone in one action.
• •Drag and drop .apk files onto the scrcpy window to install apps directly.
• •Ctrl+F toggles fullscreen. Works great for presentations or demoing apps.

Step 6. Security Considerations

• •Turn off USB Debugging when not in use. It's a powerful permission. Toggle it off in Developer Options when you don't need it — especially on a phone you carry around.
• •Only allow debugging from trusted computers. When the "Allow USB debugging?" popup appears, only check "Always allow" on your own machines. On public or shared computers, leave it unchecked and revoke after the session.
• •Wi-Fi debugging is visible on your network. Anyone on the same Wi-Fi who knows the port (5555) could potentially connect. Use Wi-Fi mode on trusted networks only, and disconnect when done: adb disconnect.
• •scrcpy doesn't require root or install anything on the phone. It uses Android's built-in developer bridge. When you close the window, the connection ends. Nothing persists.