In this article, you’ll learn how to use your existing smartphone or tablet as a second screen for your Windows PC when needed. Let’s get started.
Use Your Smartphone or Tablet as a Secondary Monitor on Windows
Multitasking is pretty easy on Windows, but it gets even better when you have a secondary display to split up your tasks even better. A second screen opens up a whole new set of possibilities. Believe it or not, these days, there are apps that let you use your existing smartphone or tablet as a second display with your Windows PC. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps, and you are good to go. We have listed the best ways to use your smartphone or tablet as a secondary display with your Windows PC. What’s more, all of these methods are free to use.
Spacedesk
Spacedesk is one of the most popular applications to turn your smartphone or tablet into a secondary display for your Windows PC. You can connect your Windows PC and your smartphone via USB, Wi-Fi, or LAN. The resolution is decent and you also get touch support on your smartphone when it is connected.
To use Spacedesk, you must first install the necessary drivers on your Windows PC. The application is only available for Windows 7 and above. Once the installation is complete, the setup is quite simple. Follow the steps below to connect your phone or tablet to your PC:
- When you open the app, it will automatically detect and display all PCs on the same server that have the drivers installed.
- Simply toggle the “Spacedesk status” switch from off to on.
- Download the app and install it on your phone or tablet.
- Make sure your phone or tablet and your PC are connected to the same network.
- Launch the app on your smartphone and connect it to your PC. The app should automatically detect the IP address and name of your system if you have also launched it on your PC.
- Now go to the display settings of Windows and configure your smartphone or tablet as a secondary screen. You can find the display settings under the “System” option in the settings.
In the “Multiple Display” settings, you can choose between several options, such as “Duplicate” to have the same screen on both displays. “Extend” to make your secondary display an extension of your primary display. There are a few more options available if you want to play around a bit. Spacedesk works pretty well with the wireless option as well, though there may be a slight delay if you don’t have a very fast internet connection. If you switch to a USB connection, the connection will be smoother. Download Spacedesk (Windows) Download Spacedesk (Android) Download Spacedesk (iOS)
Splashtop Wired XDisplay
This particular application requires you to connect your smartphone or tablet to your PC using only a USB cable. Therefore, the only connection mode in this application is the wired mode. The good thing is that by connecting via a wired medium, you get better resolution and frame rates when using your smartphone or tablet as a secondary screen. It also supports FullHD (1080p) resolution at 60 frames per second.
- You only need to download the PC and the smartphone client to the respective devices. Then connect your smartphone or tablet to your PC via a USB cable.
- After you open the client on your phone, you will be prompted to enable USB debugging on your phone. Once you enable it and respond to the prompt on your phone’s screen, you will be directly connected, and the display of the PC will be extended to the display of your phone or tablet.
- You can change the frame rate and quality of the extended display via the PC client, and you can also change the resolution of the extended display via the display settings on your PC.
Splashtop provides a better experience than the wireless alternatives because it is more stable and has almost no lag, so you can interact with your secondary display in real-time. Another advantage is that your smartphone or tablet is connected via the wired medium; it will also keep the battery charging, which in turn will take longer compared to the wireless alternatives. Download Splashtop (Windows) Download Splashtop (Android) Download Splashtop (iOS)
Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop lets you control your PC from your Android or iOS device. You can use your smartphone to run commands on your PC by connecting it wirelessly to your PC. Basically, anything you can do on your desktop, you can do from a smartphone. It’s pretty easy to set up and use. All you need is a working Gmail account. With the Chrome Remote Desktop application, you can remotely control your PC from anywhere.
One drawback of Remote Desktop is that you can not run different applications on both screens, and you can not expand your main screen. These shortcomings make it a little difficult to recommend, but overall it’s a great free option to use your PC from your phone or tablet. Download Chrome Remote Desktop (Windows) Download Chrome Remote Desktop (Android) Download Chrome Remote Desktop (iOS)
Use Your Tablet As Secondary Display on Windows
While you can use all of the above apps to use your smartphone or tablet as a secondary display, these are by no means permanent solutions. If you need and use multiple screens on a regular basis, we recommend getting a proper monitor instead. However, if you are in a pinch and need a second screen for a limited time, you can definitely use your smartphone or tablet as one using the above methods. I hope this has been helpful in some way. Feel free to leave your recommendations for other apps you know of in the comments below.
