How to use your Android phone as a remote control. It also means that it can control a whole lot more than just your TV. It's free to download, though to unlock all the features and remove the. Mar 22, 2018 Use Your Android to Remote Control Your TV. We will talk about Android applications for TVs of the following brands: Samsung, Sony Bravia, LG, Panasonic; and universal TV Remote Control application. You can use these apps to control your home TV set. 12 Best Free IR Universal Remote Control Apps for Android. Looking for the best IR universal remote apps for Android but don’t know which one you should go for? With an IR universal remote app, you can control everything from controlling your TV to your projector.
- Android Download For Samsung Tv Remote Control For Pn51e450 Windows 10
- Android Download For Samsung Tv Remote Control For Pn51e450 Computer
I, like countless others, use my Android phone to make calls, send and receive messages, manage my daily tasks, check the calendar, do banking, send emails, check my schedule, and… phew, got tired! Android phones are a powerhouse but I also use my PC a lot.
This presents a situation. How to manage two devices with very different OS and mechanism together? While there are ways to control desktop from your Android, I will be talking about some apps that you can use to control your Android phone from Windows computer.
Remote Control Android Phone from PC
1. DeskDock
One of the main reasons why I simply love working on my PC or laptop is because I can use a mouse and a keyboard. Ah, the beauty and the simplicity of these two input devices never ceases to amaze me. Just point and click away.
You will need a USB cable to connect to your Android and PC, which will turn your Android into a second screen. The app worked on my Windows PC, macOS, and my Linux powered Lenovo laptop. Though I didn’t try, you can connect multiple Android devices to a single PC. Here is complete guide on how to use and setup Deskdock.
DeskDock will help you use your PC’s mouse and keyboard on your Android. You can now click on the Phone app and make a call with your mouse. Type and send a text message using your keyboard. Copy paste long, meaningless URLs.
There are two downside of using Deskdock. One it does not stream video like a you get in Google Remote Desktop or any VNC type application. Two, in order to run the app, you need to install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on your PC, which might open security loopholes in your system.
The free version will only work with the mouse while the paid version, priced at $5.49, will add keyboard functionality, remove ads, and add a drag and drop feature.
DeskDock is cool but limited in several ways as you will find out how.
Download DeskDock (Freemium)
2. AirDroid
I use AirDroid on a very consistent basis. It helps me manage and transfer images and photos, use a mouse or a keyboard, offer a clipboard, and see all notifications. Unlike DeskDock, where you have to use a USB cable and install a bunch of drivers and softwares, AirDroid offers a simple approach to remote control Android phone from PC.
Airdroid works like WhatsApp Web. You begin with the installation of the app from Google Play Store. Once done, open the app. You’ll see three options, choose AirDroid Web. Now, open web.airdroid.com in your browser. You can either sign in or scan the QR code with your Android phone. I can now see my Android home screen in the browser will all the apps and files easily accessible.
This really simplifies life for me as it will for you. Here is a sneaky tip. Place the mobile with the front or back camera towards your kid’s room and use AirDroid to see what they are up to. You can also mirror your Android screen on your computer using Airdroid by clicking on the screenshot icon on Airdroid web UI.
While you can partly control your Android using Airdroid (like access SMS, File system, device camera, Mirror screen etc) there is not way to simulate mouse click or even use computer keyboard on Android, like we did in DeskDock. In the past, Airdroid also had some security vulnerabilities.
Airdroid follows a freemium model. For most part, the app is free to use, however, there is a monthly subscription plan starting at $1.99 that will remove 30 MB file size limit (100 MB for pro users), remove ads, offer priority support, and allow remote call and camera access.
The main difference is that the free plan comes with 200 MB data transfer limit while the pro version will offer unlimited data transfer. There is also a desktop client available to download.
Download AirDroid (Freemium)
3. Vysor (Chrome Addon)
Vysor is a popular Chrome addond solution to access and use Android apps and services on your PC. Chrome is available on pretty much every OS there is. Recently, vysor also released their desktop client.
You can install the addon in under a minute. Alternatively, you can also use the Android app for which you will need to install the PC client. I will be testing the Chrome addon because I love stuff that works in browser. Enable USB debugging on your Android phone in developer options. Download ADB drivers for Windows. Install the drivers and launch it to connect to your Android phone. Note that you will need a USB cable for Vysor to work.
After a recent update, Vysor also support WiFi, however you’ll need a pro version for it.
Price: The free plan will allow you to mirror and control your phone and also take screenshots. You have to pay to get the most from it, thankfully the paid plan is pretty cheap, priced at $10/y, which will add wireless functionality, full-screen mode, and add drag and drop feature.
I know, the process is a little complicated when compared to something like AirDroid, but its an option you can consider.
Download: Android | Chrome
4. ApowerMirror
ApowerSoft is a well-known developer responsible for developing multiple apps and solutions for both individuals and businesses. ApowerMirror will simply allow you to mirror your Android screen on your PC. This will allow you to work with your mouse and keyboard, take screenshots, copy to clipboard and more.
The app supports both WiFi and USB option. There is no need to install additional drivers or softwares which is why this app made the list. Just scan a QR code. There is a desktop client available though. There is also an option to record screen and capture screenshots remotely.
Note that when you are mirroring your Android phone screen to your PC, the sound will be lost. There is visual support but no audio support.
The free version offers everything including mouse and keyboard support and screen recording but will add watermark, and not for commercial purposes. The personal version removes watermarks and the commercial version is for, well, commercial uses.
Download ApowerMirror
5. Scrcpy
Scrcpy, pronounced scrapy I think, is a new open source Android app that will allow you to mirror and control your Android phone via your PC using ADB tunnel and socket. This is for pretty advanced users or people who like tinkering around with tech until they get it right.
Available on GitHub, Scrcpy was built with speed, latency, performance, and lightness in mind. It works by creating a server on the host PC and allows the client to connect and communicate using and ADB tunnel. There is a detailed documentation available on GitHub.
You begin the installation process by download and installing the Windows package. You will now add the location of the adb.exe file inside the folder where you extracted the windows package above to the path variable. Still with me? Cool.
Note: For Windows 10 users, you can locate path variable at System Properties-Environment Variables-Path. This is where you click on Edit and New to enter the actual path to your adb.exe file. Click ‘Enter’ after entering the path.
Enable adb on your Android phone and connect. Now, enter ‘scrcpy’ in the command line in the extracted folder. And, you are done.
Scrcpy is open source and built from scratch and is completely free. The app is quick and offers a number of features like screen mirror, taking screenshots, and recording. I believe more will be added as the project takes off.
Download Scrcpy
Wrapping Up: Remote Control Android Phone from PC
There are many ways to remote control Android phone using your PC. If you are looking for a web-based tool that can work with Chrome, Vysor is for you.
If you want a web-based tool that works with any browser, AirDroid is a cool app.
If you need a desktop client then ApowersoftMirror is a really good alternative.
For open source, I would recommend Scrcpy. It is the new kid on the block.
Also, you should note that wireless offers convenience but at the cost of speed. USB offers speed and reliability but at the cost of convenience. So, it really depends on what you want to do.
Read: Top 5 Android to Android Remote Access App
Looking for the best IR universal remote apps for Android but don’t know which one you should go for? With an IR universal remote app, you can control everything from controlling your TV to your projector. The possibilities are endless, and your Android phone’s IR transmitter can do the job for you. However, not all IR remote apps are good, and you might want to save time choosing the right one for you.
Also Read: How to Mirror Android Screen to TV Wirelessly or with Cable
Why pay when you can get it for free? Here are nine of the coolest apps for you to try out.
1. SURE Universal
SURE Universal has provided software that can help you embrace IoT which can be fully integrated into your home. You can download the universal remote control app on your Android device. It gives you the power to control any appliance in your home.
The SURE Universal remote can support any protocol in common use due to the combination with the standard OCF. Therefore it can connect with various smart home technologies such as RF like Z-wave and ZigBee. Moreover, it can also connect on network technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi.
The best thing about this Android remote control app is that it allows you to send all your photos from your Android device to the TV. You can move the photos manually and even create a presentation. All this power is in your hand, and you can integrate Amazon Alexa Voice to do all these.
SURE Universal lets you control more than a million electronic appliances. However, you need an Android device with an infrared blaster. But for phones with no IR such as Samsung Galaxy S7, S8, S9 and Note 5 you can use a Broadlink WiFi-IR blaster.
2. Anymote – Smart IR Remote
Smart IR Remote is a universal remote that can simulate any device which sends signals through infrared. The universal remote is the only one which you can customize to fit into a smart remote. Thus it becomes versatile. You can:
- Rearrange the buttons.
- Change the colors, positions, texts, and icons.
- Execute commands with a single touch.
- Integrate voice commands using Google Now.
- Float remotes while you are using other apps.
- Touch gestures for eyes-free control.
- Remote control for a TV.
However, the Smart IR Remote only works for devices which have an IR-enabled phone. But if your device can work over WiFi, then you can use the universal remote.
3. Google Home
There are two varieties of Google Home. There is the one which is the Oracle that lets you know your programme for the day. And if you so desire, you can fill your room with whale noises.
Android Download For Samsung Tv Remote Control For Pn51e450 Windows 10
On the other hand, there is another type of Google Home which is more than your answer box. It is an app which sets up, manages and controls your Google Home, Chromecast devices and customizes what you will get from the Google Assistant.
Android Download For Samsung Tv Remote Control For Pn51e450 Computer
Here is a rundown of the key features which Google Home app handles.
- One touch gives you the control of your home. Thus you can control your Google Home and Chrome cast devices plus connected devices such as the TV and the lights.
- Control all the devices in your home with just one touch.
- The Discover tab gives you the chance to discover new features and updates on your compatible devices. For instance, you can find new content from popular streaming sites such as Netflix and YouTube.
4. Unified Remote
Unified Remote is the device which you need if you are an individual who uses the desk computer a lot. You can control your PC from your smartphone as long as they are connected to the same WiFi network.
However, you will need to install the mobile app on your smartphone and the desktop application on your PC where a quick scan from your mobile app will be able to give you the control you need.
Unified Remote has a collection of different commands. Some include:
- Turning your phone screen to a touchpad that works like a mouse on your PC.
- It mirrors your PC screen on your mobile device.
- Powers your PC using WOL.
- The keyboard can support all types of keyboards such as standard, 3rd party and customized.
- Manage files.
- Control media.
5. Twinone TV Remote
Twinone is a free universal TV remote app. It has a friendly interface for your smartphone. The app is easy to use. All you need is to open it and choose the device you want to control either your TV, cable box, satellite or any other appliance. However, for the devices which don’t fit the categories, there is support for some of them.
However the remote only works with mobile devices with IR blasters. The app has a couple of built-in codes that might be useful.
The bad part is the advertising. Twinone is not providing an effective way to get rid of them. A paid feature can really come in handy to accommodate the ads.
6. Roku
If you are a Roku owner, then the Roku app is an excellent universal remote control app for you. It is a free application which you can download either on the Google Play Store or the Apple Store. The mobile app becomes your companion either on Roku TV or for Roku streaming players.
The Roku app requires you to connect to the same network as your Roku platform. However, there are some features which might require you to log into your Roku account, so this should not worry you.
The remote control app lets you control pretty much anything on Roku. The remote comes with fast forward, rewind, play, play, navigation and voice search buttons. The only thing it does not have are the volume buttons thus you will need your actual TV remote.
The app is fully fledged thus it can allow you to:
- Search for all your streaming channels at once.
- Instant replay to hear that dialogue again.
- Get notified about new episodes instantly
- Add hidden channels
- Cast devices from streaming sites to your TV.
7. Yatse
Yatse remote is the most popular XBMC/Kodi app. It can be downloaded for free on Android, iOS and Amazon app store. Once you install it on your phone, it easily configures with your device.
This universal remote control app has a load of features. They include:
- Yates’s widgets come in different sizes and can give you various functions. They will range from notifications to all the remote capabilities.
- Yatse offers natural voice commands in seven different languages.
- Yatse synchronizes your media library over different installations.
- You can access your library offline.
- Themes that you can use to skin your Yatse app.
8. IR Universal TV Remote
The IR Universal TV Remote is the perfect remote you have been looking for your physical TV. For instance, if you are watching a TV with an antenna, it will point the best direction for your DTV antenna.
The IR universal remote control app does not only control your physical TV but also the Air Conditioner, Fans and Lights. However, for the application to function, it will need a smartphone device which has an IR blaster.
The IR Universal TV Remote is loaded with features. Some of them.include:
The IR Universal TV Remote is loaded with features. Some of them.include:
- You can customize the remote.
- You can edit almost every aspect of the remote depending on your preference.
- You can easily use the two widgets to control devices from your home screen.
- Set up macros so that you can control multiple devices with a single touch.
- The IR Universal Smart Hub will allow you to control multiple devices from different rooms. Moreover, you can also read infrared codes from other remotes.
9. Peel Universal Remote
Peel Universal Remote app was one of the most popular apps when devices used to have infrared for like two minutes. Once it collaborated with devices such as Samsung, it gained more than 70 million downloads.
The Android remote control app lets you turn your smartphone into a remote where you can control appliances such as the TV, Air Conditioner, Set up boxes and devices like Roku. However, the app only works with smartphones which use an inbuilt IR-blaster.
Some of its features include:
- Rich interface.
- Comprehensive TV guide.
- Customizable remote.
- YouTube live.
- Voice Control.
10. RCA Universal Remote
RCA universal remote is undoubtedly an incredible choice for the users which they can use to control and manage multiple devices instead of only one device. RCA Universal Remote is a relevant option for the users, which is compatible with many devices like CD, DVD player, Blu-ray player and many other streaming devices for the users. RCA Universal Remote can be downloaded on your Android device to control all these devices directly from one place. The overall setup of the RCA Universal Remote is a bit hard because it takes a lot of algorithms and functions to work behind the curtains to manage or control multiple devices. There is a separate list of the tools which are compatible with RCA Universal Remote which can be found on its official website.
RCA Universal remote does require a lot of permissions from the Android administrator to work smoothly. This application from the Google Play Store can be downloaded exclusively for free. Once after installing RCA Universal Remote on your Android device, you have to set up the necessary settings on this app to control the other instruments. The easy to use Graphic user-interface of this Android application is also a nice feature of it. The developers of this Universal Remote tool make regular optimizations in this app, which makes it an ideal choice for the users. It is always proffered to install RCA Universal remote because it offers all the incredible features to its users. You may also take the help of a user manual guide on this application to understand the functions of this Universal remote well.
11. The XBox
The XBox app is another awe-inspiring choice for users who can manage or control multiple devices at once. Xbox app is having one of the cleanest and purest kinds of Graphic user-interface, which is an impressive feature for the users. Users can have quick access to several control buttons like Play or Pause, Rewind or Forward, Volume Up and Volume down, etc. These all are basic controls that every user wants to have in any universal remote. The customized settings on this excellent application will allow you to set up the controls button on this universal remote on your terms and conditions. More controls can also be set up on this application to make things easier and relevant. Once you install this brilliant Universal Remote control, you will become able to access many parts of XBox live.
Any users can get this Universal remote application in his/her Android device by downloading it from Google Play Store. There are millions of reviews and ratings provided by the users to The Xbox application. The overall setup is also very easy to set up which makes it an impressive choice for all users. And as we already mentioned, the graphic user-interface of this app is really very well developed with a lot of attractive features and functions in it. This highly rated Universal remote is having almost every navigation button to make it easier for the users to control the connected devices easily and conveniently. The compatibility of this universal remote will never going to be an issue for the users because it supports more than 1000 devices of several different sections. Users will have to enable the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth support from the settings of this application to get started controlling devices.
12. OEM Specific remote apps
While most of the popular smartphones which are manufactured recently come with an in-built universal remote application. For example, most of the smartphones which are made by Xiaomi comes with pre-installed Universal remote, which can control multiple devices. That’s why there is no need to install a third-party application to control other devices using these applications. Whereas the OEM specific remote apps are a professional kind of Universal remote apps which is having most of the optimized features in it. Basically, OEM which is “Original Equipment Manufacturer” develops those Universal remote applications which can be compatible with thousands of different phones. Moreover, most of the smartphones comes pre-installed with these applications so that you won’t have to buy them.
If you are looking for the best free universal remote apps for Android, try these out today. We are sure you won’t be disappointed.
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