How to use Android desktop mode

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. Assuming you have a compatible phone, using desktop mode is shockingly easy. The most difficult part of the process is connecting your phone to an external monitor. The best way to do this is with an HDMI to USB-C or DisplayPort to USB-C adapter.

From there, it’s a simple as plug and play. Connect your phone to the external monitor with the cable and accept the pop-up message that appears on your phone. You’ll see a desktop environment populate on your monitor.

Congratulations, you’ve entered desktop mode. The next thing to figure out is how to control the interface. The most desktop-like solution is to connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. You’ll be surprised by how much that makes it feel like a true “computer”.

The less involved method is to use your phone as a touchpad and keyboard. Samsung makes this super simple by putting a notification on your phone that opens a touchpad when selected. It supports multi-touch gestures and text input. Pixel owners will need to get more creative. This third-party “Touchpad for LG Dual Screen” app works (no LG required), but it’s a bit buggy.

Next, you can dive into the desktop-specific options. Open the Settings and go to Connected Devices (> Samsung DeX). Look for “External displays” or “Connected display” to adjust monitor settings. Samsung includes mouse and keyboard options in this same area. On a Pixel phone, you can search for “mouse” and “keyboard” to find those settings.