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How to remotely control my Android?

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I had a Windows OS earlier and could use TeamViewer to connect to my Samsung phone and execute actions.

However that was not only very slow but also very slow in response.

Is there any other way to sort of open a RDP session to the phone from my Ubuntu 13.10?

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Droid VNC Server

Allows you to remote control your android within your computer.

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

Note: Your phone must be ROOTED!

Note: Will not work on Tegra3 Devices

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

On your android Phone:

  • Install Droid VNC Server from playstore.

  • Open the app and click on START.

  • It shows the IP-address and port number. Please note it down.

On your Ubuntu PC:

  • Install xtightvncviewer by running the below command:

    sudo apt-get install xtightvncviewer

  • After installing xtightvncviewer run the below command to view your phone's screen:

    vncviewer xxx.xx.xx.xx:xxxx

    xxx.xx.xx.xx:xxxx - already noted ipaddress:port

WebKey

Using this application you can control your phone from any browser.

Note: Your phone must be ROOTED!

On your android Phone:

  • Install WebKey app from Play store.

  • Open the WebKey app and select start service.

  • Note down the https link generated.

  • On that same application, go to settings->User settings->Click on Create new user to create a new user with login credentials.

On your Ubuntu PC:

  • Open any browser. I prefer Firefox. Then paste the noted link on the address bar. It display like connection is not secure. Trust the connection and allow it to load.

  • After that a page will open and ask you to give the username and password. Login with the same username and password.

  • After loged into your account, you can view your phone and operate your android phone from there.

Team Viewer

Note: Will not work on all Galaxy devices

  • Install teamviewer on both Ubuntu PC and android phone to control your phone from PC.
  • How to install Teamviewer on an 64 bit Ubuntu PC.
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A solution I found recently is scrcpy (scrcpy github page). It lets your pc connect to your phone and you can control your phone through it. It works through adb without any need to install an apk on your android phone beforehand. It streams your phone's screen to your pc, taking into account the rotation, and it allows to send clicks and touches with the mouse and write in text fields directly through your pc's keyboard, although you can only write ascii characters that way.

Since this only needs adb, it works as long as you achieve an adb connection with your phone, so that includes USB cable and Wifi connection for truly remote control. I don't know how you could do it over the network without being on the same LAN, though.

If you would like something simple (i.e. Your phone's screen broke like me...) then you can use AndroidScreencast. Take the jar from here and make sure you have adb working properly then java -jar androidscreencast-*.jar. Lastly, connect your device through the usb and start the client.

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You can use VMLite VNC Server

It's a combination of an Android app, desktop app plus VNC viewer app that will allow you to control an Android phone or tablet from a computer or another Android device!

Features:

  • Control your Android phone or tablet from your computer or laptop!
  • Works in a desktop program or web browser!
  • Possible to project your phone onto a larger screen!
  • Works on non-rooted devices as well as rooted!

How to Setup VMLite VNC Server

  • Install the desktop app from developer’s site here. Learn how to install. Hint: be sure to allow this app through your firewall.
  • Install the Android app.
  • Install a VNC viewer app of your choice.
  • Run the VMLite VNC Server app.
  • Run your VNC viewer app and enter the IP address information from your phone then click “Connect”.

Official and source for further information

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You can use VNC

  1. On your android Phone install Droid VNC Server

  2. On your Ubuntu PC you have to add a Remmina VNC Connection. In instance, watch this video.

    There are a lot of apps similar to this.

TeamViewer do the job as well.

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Airdroid is what I use, maybe it's what you're looking for, maybe not. You don't need to install anything on the OS you're using, you don't need to create accounts, it's free.

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You can use the open-source androidVNC. It is also available for installation from F-Droid.

See and control your computer's desktop from your phone, from anywhere. androidVNC is the Open Source (GPL) remote desktop program for Android devices. Connects to most VNC servers: incl TightVNC, RealVNC on Win and Linux, x11vnc, and Apple Remote Desktop on OS/X.

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