Controlling Android Phones using Scrcpy

Scrcpy is among the most popular and free Android screen-mirroring applications. This software allows you to view and control Android devices through USB or TCP.

Prerequisites

To follow along, you need:

1. A USB cable.
2. An Android phone.
3. A computer that runs Windows, Linux, or macOS.

Enabling USB debugging

We need to complete a few tasks before using Scrcpy. The first step is to activate USB debugging on your phone.

Navigate to your phone settings and press the build number several times until a message that says Congratulations, you've now a developer appears.

Once again, you must return to the developer options and turn on USB debugging.

Installation

For Windows, download Scrcpy as a zip file and extract it in your current working directory.

If you are using Linux, use the following command to install Scrcpy.

$ sudo apt-get install scrcpy

For macOS users, utilize the below command:

brew install scrcpy

Using Scrcpy with a USB connection

Scrcpy can be downloaded and extracted at any location or directory.

As soon as you double click on Scrcpy, two windows will pop up. One window shows the connection status while the other displays the phone’s present state.

Use the USB cord to connect it to your computer. Then select OK to continue.

Your phone may not be recognized by the PC because the USB drivers aren’t installed. If this happens, then you should download and install the proper USB drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

Close one of the two Scrcpy windows to exit the application.

Using a wireless connection

Scrcpy can connect with Android devices using (ADB). However, before ADB can establish a TCP/IP connection, the Android device must be linked via USB to the PC.

TCP/IP can be enabled by using the following command:

adb tcpip 3333

You should disconnect your Android smartphone from your PC and then run the above command to establish a TCP/IP connection.

It is recommended that you replace the IP ADDR variable with your device’s IP address.

adb connect IP_ADDR:3333

Mobile modifications in real-time

Scrcpy can be used in several ways to manipulate a mobile device.

Reducing resolution

You can replicate the device’s screen at a reduced resolution, while retaining the aspect ratio using the following command.

scrcpy --max-size 1020

Setting a frame rate limit

You may also alter the recorded screen frame rate.

scrcpy --max-fps 30

Cropping the screen

To display a specific area of the screen, use this command.

scrcpy --crop 1020:1440:0:0

Displaying fullscreen mode

You may launch the program in a full-screen mode right away.

scrcpy --fullscreen

Screen recording

While mirroring, you can also record the screen, as demonstrated below.

scrcpy --record myrecording.mp4

Showing touches

The command below is useful, especially when you need to test the device’s screen.

scrcpy --show-touches

Staying awake

Use the following command to prevent the device from sleeping:

scrcpy --stay-awake

Connecting multiple devices

Users can connect several devices to Scrcpy.

All devices compatible with adb will be displayed once you enable USB debugging.

adb devices

Now, copy the serial number of each device mentioned in the result and execute the command below:

Replace SERIAL_NUM with the device serial number.

scrcpy --serial SERIAL_NUM

Benefits of Scrcpy

With Scrcpy, you get all the capabilities you need for free, including the ability to share files and change resolutions.

Scrcpy is one of the safest Android mirroring applications because it doesn’t require you to install anything on your device.

Scrcpy allows you to install and debug apps via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). It also gives you access to a Unix shell, which you can use to run numerous commands on your device.

ADB is a command-line tool that comes with Google’s Android SDK (Software Development Kit).

As long as the device supports TCP/IP, adb can connect to it.

Note that you need to connect an Android device to your PC using a USB first before accessing it wirelessly.

Conclusion

Scrcpy is among the top free and open-source Android screen mirroring programs.

You can use this software to view and control Android devices connected via USB or TCP. As long as you do not need root access, this is the best option.

Peer Review Contributions by: Monica Masae