Learn how to set up your Android tablet as a second screen with the help of this guide.
Short answer:
- Get Spacedesk for your Windows PC and set it up.
- Spacedesk is available in the Google Play store, so you can easily download it on your Android tablet.
- If you have an Android tablet, open Spacedesk and choose the computer you want to share a screen with.
Tutorial for Using Your Tablet as a Second Screen
Warning: Spacedesk is an external programme. While it is reliable, it’s important to keep in mind that any programme with screen-sharing capabilities might potentially spy on your activity. A third-party screen sharing tool is not something we advise utilising for sensitive work.
If you want to use your tablet as a secondary screen, simply follow these easy instructions!
The technique relies on a third-party programme called Spacedesk, which works with any recent Android handset. All you need is an Android tablet and a Windows PC running Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11.
- Launch your web browser and go to the Spacedesk homepage.
- Select your version of Windows from the drop-down menu, then click Download to get the Spacedesk driver software. Choose between a 64-bit or 32-bit installation, depending on your computer’s architecture. Nowadays, a 64-bit installation is necessary for most Windows machines.
- Once the download is complete, run the Spacedesk driver installation.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete setting up Spacedesk.
- On your tablet, launch your Android app store (Google Play Store).
- Search for Spacedesk. When it comes up in the search results on Google Play Store, click on it.
- Spacedesk can be downloaded by clicking on Install on the app page.
- Double-check that both your Windows machine and Android tablet are linked to the same wireless network.
- To access Spacedesk on your tablet, start it from the Android app drawer.
- The computers on your network will be seen using the Spacedesk app. Select the laptop or desktop that will serve as your tablet’s companion.
- Your Android tablet should now be able to act as a second monitor for your Windows machine. This might take a few of seconds to activate and your Android device and Windows machine may experience a brief display glitch in the process.
You should now see the Windows desktop displayed on your Android devices. Because it is similar to a secondary screen, it may be used in the same way — Spacedesk works with Android tablets and their touch screen functionality. Windows Display Settings allow for even more personalisation.
FAQ
Yes. But while Windows offers screen-sharing and Apple has Sidecar for macOS and iPadOS, Android does not have a corresponding built-in functionality. So in order to use a desktop computer with an Android device, you can only use a third-party programme like Spacedesk.
There are a few different cables and adapters that will allow you to connect your Android tablet to a monitor and mirror its display. It’s simplest if the second monitor has an HDMI port that can handle both video and audio, which is also perfect for watching Netflix. However, the specific cables you’ll need may vary depending on the Android device you’re connecting with. Adapters that convert signals from USB-C to HDMI can be found at most major electronics shops.
There are more apps like Screendesk that allow you to use your Android tablet as a second monitor. Alternatives to the aforementioned include Twomon, Splashtop, SecondScreen, or SuperDisplay. If Screendesk doesn’t run well on your Windows PC, these alternatives are worth a try.
When consumers wish to utilise a TV as an extra monitor, they often connect it to their computer using a lengthy HDMI cable. Simply put, that is the easiest solution. You can also use wireless HDMI or Miracast technology.
If you’re not confident in the stability or speed of the available Wi-Fi network, connecting the additional screen through a USB cable may be the preferable option. A USB cable may also be quicker and less prone to latency if you’re using an older Android device.
You’ll need an Android phone that supports USB tethering in order to link your Windows computer to the secondary display through a USB cable . However, if your Android phone can connect to a cellular data network, you should be able to utilise the USB cable technique.
Connect your Android smartphone to a spare USB port on your Windows computer. If your Android smartphone prompts you to provide permission to view data, choose Allow.
Go to Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering in the settings menu of your Android smartphone and switch on USB tethering. You can’t connect your device via USB if you don’t see the hotspot and tethering area or the USB tethering option.
Launch Spacedesk on your mobile device and choose the connection you want to access from the list that appears. Tap the + button to input your computer’s IP address if you don’t see any connections shown. Look at our tutorial on how to locate your IP address in Windows 10 if you’re unsure. As of the date of publishing, Windows 11 is also still compatible with the instructions in this tutorial.
After a few of seconds, your PC screen will appear on your tablet’s screen. If you right-click on your computer’s desktop and choose Display Settings from the menu, you should be able to configure the secondary monitor to act as an additional working space rather than a carbon duplicate of your primary monitor. Select the option to extend these displays rather than duplicate them by clicking the corresponding button.
A free Linux programme called Deskreen offers a creative remedy to this issue by allowing you to see numerous windows simultaneously across extra screens. In other words, it allows you to use your phone, Android device, laptop, or even smart TV as a wireless, duet display for your computer.
Deskreen utilises the WebRTC protocol to enable duet display on nearby mobile devices via a wired or wireless local area network. As the PC handles most of the processing, even older mobile devices should be compatible. On Android, you’ll need Chrome 28 or later or Firefox 22 or later for your web browser to support WebRTC. A device running iOS 11 or later is required if you want to utilise an older iPhone or iPad.
Setting up your Windows secondary display settings is all it takes to utilise your Android device as an additional monitor. Simply go to the Settings menu in the Control Panel and click on the Display tab. Then, choose Extend These Displays and confirm with OK. Your Android’s screen should now function as an additional monitor.
Access the tablet’s Quick Settings panel by sliding down from the top of the screen.
You should be able to access the second screen by swiping left and then clicking the corresponding icon.
Select either the drawing/gaming mode or the video mode to begin the connection.
The second screen page must be kept open at all times once the connection method has been selected.
Then, after booting up Windows 10, press the Windows and K keys together.
Make your choice from the list of tablets. You can keep your tablet connected to your computer indefinitely by keeping the second screen page open.
Make sure ‘Allow mouse, keyboard, touch, and pen input from this device’ is checked if those methods of input are to be accepted from the device in question.
The display on your tablet will mimic the one on your PC. A mouse or touch screen may be used to traverse the user interface of a personal computer.
The desktop now has a right-click menu where you can adjust the display. You can extend or duplicate the current displays by using the drop-down menu.
With an expanded display, you can rearrange the monitors with a click and a drag, making it as simple as pointing to the appropriate side of the screen to switch between displays. Tablet displays will be identified as Display 2, but if you have more displays attached, you can see their identification numbers by selecting Identify. When you are done making adjustments, click the Apply button.
On both the desktop and the tablet, a toolbar will display at the top. To pin or unpin this toolbar, click on the thumbtack. Once the toolbar has been unpinned, you can have it shown again by moving the mouse to the top of the page.
When you’re done, click Disconnect to cut off the connection. You can also disconnect your tablet in the menus from right-clicking its name in the list of connected devices or pressing the Windows key and the letter K on your computer.
Yes, the same steps used to extend your PC screen to your tablet screen will work on a laptop.
Absolutely! The steps are similar to connecting your tablet as a monitor:
Install Spacedesk on your PC.
Install Spacedesk on your phone.
Connect your phone to your PC.
Use your phone or tablet as a Wireless Second Screen.
Spacedesk is free to use, though there may be in-app purchases for certain functionalities.
To create a new virtual desktop, either hold the Windows Key + Tab or select the Task View icon (it looks like two overlapping rectangles) on the taskbar. A new virtual desktop can be created by selecting New desktop in the Task View section.