There are many situations where you may need to manage your PC from an android. For example, this is useful to you if the mouse or keyboard suddenly breaks, or you are simply too lazy to get up off the couch, and the next episode of your favorite series has ended in vain. In general, these, as well as many other problems can be solved if you have a smartphone at hand.
In this article, you will learn about which programs will help you in a particular case. In addition, it will consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of the applications and provide other useful information about them.
Remotedroid
This is a real veteran among programs that allow you to remotely control your PC via android. The application does not require any complex manipulations from you to establish a connection. All that is needed is to install the client on your mobile device, and the server part on the computer.
In RemoteDroid, managing a PC from an android is similar to a laptop’s touchpad. The smartphone screen is divided into three parts, one of which is responsible for moving the cursor on the screen, and the other two for the left and right mouse buttons, respectively. In addition, you can call up the virtual keyboard and type using it. Among the shortcomings, perhaps, we can distinguish only the inconvenient adjustment of the sensor sensitivity. For your changes to take effect, you will need to reconnect your smartphone to the computer each time.
Wifi mouse
Many users believe that this program for managing PCs from android is the best of its kind. The connection here is via Wi-Fi, and setting it up is quite simple. If you wish, you can generally make the smartphone connect to the computer automatically.
The Wi-Fi Mouse interface emulates a standard laptop touchpad and does not have any features. But the program will please you with its additional features. For example, you can use it as a keyboard that supports a full set of standard commands and hotkeys. In addition, the application has hot keys for controlling the multimedia player and other useful features.
The lack of Wi-Fi Mouse is expressed in the fact that after a certain time an annoying tablet will start appearing with an offer to purchase a paid version of the program. Not critical, but still annoying sometimes.
Monect portable
This program will allow you not only to control your PC from the android, but also replace a gamepad and trackball (work with a multimedia player). All in all, the perfect choice for gamers and music lovers. The application is very simple to configure, and then to understand its main functions.
If we talk about standard features, here Monext Portable is practically no different from a conventional touchpad. But as soon as you begin to understand the program in depth, you will immediately find such useful features as support for shortcuts, simple macros, as well as the ability to change the layout of the virtual keyboard if necessary. The minus of the application is advertising, now and then an eye-catching one. The problem is solved by purchasing a paid version that not every user can afford.
Microsoft Remote Desktop
A proprietary program from Microsoft, which allows you to set up PC control from an Android phone. The advantage of the utility is that you do not need to install the server part on the computer, and all the connection settings are reduced to enabling the remote access mode.
The program fully emulates the desktop of your PC, which gives you access not only to primitive functions such as typing or launching files, but also allows you to perform complex operations with folders. In addition, PC control via android can be done without having to look at the monitor, and not every application can afford it. Unfortunately, Windows Remote Desktop only works with computers running Windows 7 or higher. In some cases, this restriction will be critical, since many users still use XP or even prefer non-Microsoft OS.
Teamviewer
This is a very popular program. PC control via android is installed via Wi-Fi here, and setting up a connection with the proper skill will take you no more than a minute. The application fully emulates the computer desktop on the screen of your smartphone and allows you to access any files stored on your hard drive.
It is impossible not to mention such features of the program as built-in chat and video calling. In addition, through TeamViewer, you can easily transfer files both from a computer to a smartphone and vice versa. Simply put, the application not only allows you to remotely control your PC from the android, but also has a wide range of additional tools. The disadvantage of TeamViewer is the difficulty in mastering all the functions for an unprepared user. However, most of them you may never need.
Splashtop 2
This is another useful program, the main purpose of which is to control a PC via an Android phone. The advantages of this application include simplicity, as well as high speed. Splashtop 2 displays the computer desktop on the phone screen in real time. This allows you to work with files, watch videos or listen to music, and in some cases even play simple games. Another unique feature of the program is the transfer of high-quality video from a computer to a phone online. True, not every device can handle this, but still the function is very useful.
It is also worth mentioning that there is a premium version of the program with advanced functionality. For example, in it you can control your computer not only through Wi-Fi, but also through 3G or 4G. The downside of Splashtop 2 is the limit on the number of computers you can connect to. The problem exists only in the free version of the application and is solved by purchasing a premium subscription.
Pocketcloud
This is another free program that implements remote control of a PC from an android. The application allows you to independently select the type of connection, and then projects the computer desktop onto the screen of your smartphone. By the way, the easiest way to connect using your Google account.
Of the features of the program, you can highlight the presence of a special navigation wheel. It presents all kinds of functions that allow you to access media files in one click, zoom in or out a certain area on the screen, minimize the window and much more. In addition, the application supports a number of settings that can improve or, conversely, degrade image quality on the virtual desktop.
PocketCloud has several drawbacks. First of all, the program works only with Mac and Windows operating systems, so it will not work for users who prefer Linux. In addition, the free version of the application allows you to connect to only one computer.
Jump desktop
This is an interesting application, not inferior in functionality to the aforementioned TeamViewer. Here, control of the PC from the android phone is via Wi-Fi, so you can access the desktop from any place where there is Internet access. The program supports various gestures for quick access to certain folders, can work with multiple monitors, and also allows you to freely watch video in high resolution. Another interesting feature of the application is the support for the mouse and keyboard connected to your Android device.
The disadvantage of Jump Desktop is that the program is paid, and the trial version simply does not exist. It is possible that precisely because of this, the utility is not widely used.
Unified remote
The program allows you to control your PC from the android, but still more suitable for using your smartphone as a remote control. The application provides several modes that allow you to work with video files (start, pause, rewind), images (zoom), audio files (rewind, play), as well as adjust the volume.
To get started with Unified Remote, you will need to first install the server part on the computer. Otherwise, the process of setting up the program is simple and does not take you much time. Please note that there are two versions of Unified Remote. Paid, unlike free, supports voice control. The disadvantages of the program include perhaps a poor set of functions, compared with the closest analogues.
Thinvnc
This is an interesting program with an unusual way to implement remote control. The peculiarity of the application is that you will not need to install it on your smartphone. Just start the server part on the computer and enter a special address in the phone’s browser. After that, you will get full access to the desktop of your PC.
The advantage of the program is that its performance does not depend on the version of the Android OS installed on your smartphone. All actions are performed in a browser window, and the speed of work depends entirely on the quality of the Internet connection. The drawback of ThinVNC, oddly enough, is the management of the computer through a browser. On devices with small displays it is not very convenient to do this, and there are no special features that facilitate interaction with files and folders.