if you ever wanted Manage your Android mobile from your PC for more comfortable workWhether you want to record tutorials or create presentations without constantly touching your phone, scrcpy is one of those tools worth having on hand. It's lightweight, free, doesn't clutter your phone with apps, and runs surprisingly smoothly even on modest devices.
In this guide we will look at it in detail How to use scrcpy from Windows to control and record your Android screenBut we'll also review how it works on macOS and Linux, the requirements, how to enable USB debugging, connect via USB and Wi-Fi, adjust resolution and FPS, record videos, take screenshots, drag and drop files, and even some advanced options that are only available on Linux.
What is scrcpy and how does it actually work?
Scrcpy (Screen Copy) is a Open source tool that mirrors your Android screen on your computer in real time And it lets you control it with your keyboard and mouse. It's not an emulator: what you see is your physical device, with its apps, notifications, and settings, just as you have them in your pocket.
The trick is that, when you connect the mobile phone to the PC, scrcpy launches a small temporary server on the device using ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This server is responsible for capturing the screen video and sending it to the computer using a highly optimized protocol to ensure low latency and good image quality.
On the PC side, the scrcpy client It receives and decodes video frames on the fly. It displays them in a window, while simultaneously forwarding your clicks, mouse movements, and keystrokes to your mobile device. Alternatively, you can also use it over a network (Wi-Fi or TCP/IP), without needing to keep your phone plugged in with a cable all the time.
One of the most interesting things is that scrcpy does not require root access and does not install permanent apps on the deviceThe server is copied and run temporarily, and when you close the window, everything disappears. This makes it very convenient for work environments, demos, technical support, or training where you don't want to leave anything installed on clients' or students' mobile devices.
Minimum requirements to use scrcpy on Android and PC
Before you get started, it's important to be clear about the following: what you need on both your mobile and computer so that scrcpy works correctly with a good user experience.
On the phone side, scrcpy is supported from Android 5.0 (API 21) onwardsSo virtually any relatively modern mobile phone or tablet supports it. It doesn't matter the brand (Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, Pixel, etc.), as long as you can enable the famous "USB Debugging" feature.
On the computer, scrcpy works in Windows, macOS and Linux It's straightforward. ADB is included in many Windows packages, while on Mac and Linux it's usually installed through the package manager. Ideally, you should use a PC with a decent CPU and, if possible, a stable USB connection or a good Wi-Fi network if you're going to work wirelessly.
You will also need A good quality USB cable if you're going to use wired modeBecause if the cable makes poor contact and disconnects when you move the phone even slightly, the scrcpy session will end abruptly. And if you plan to use a network connection, make sure your phone and PC are on the same local network and that port 5555 is not blocked.
With these minimums covered, scrcpy is able to offer Low latency, good video quality, and smooth device controlwithout the feeling of "lag" that other improvised screen sharing solutions give.
Download and install scrcpy on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Scrcpy is completely free and open source, and is distributed primarily from its Genymobile's official GitHub repositoryThe installation process varies slightly depending on your operating system, but in all cases it is quite straightforward.
In Windows, the most common thing is Download the corresponding ZIP file (32 or 64 bits) from GitHubOnce you have it, simply extract it to a folder you can easily access (for example, Desktop or C:\Tools\scrcpy). The ZIP file contains the scrcpy.exe executable, the version without a console, the ADB binaries, and some support files.
On macOS, you have two main paths: Use Homebrew with the command “brew install scrcpy” Alternatively, you can use MacPorts with “sudo port install scrcpy”. The package manager will download both scrcpy and ADB, along with all necessary dependencies, so you can then run “scrcpy” directly from the terminal.
In Linux distributions, installation is also simple, because scrcpy is available in the repositories of many of them and it works like a mirror mode on your computerFor example, on Debian or Ubuntu you can install it with “sudo apt install scrcpy”In Arch Linux, the typical command is “sudo pacman -S scrcpy”. Once installed, the program is accessible from the terminal without any unusual configurations.
The advantage of this multi-platform approach is that In virtually any environment, you can have scrcpy ready in a matter of minutes., without pushy assistants or installers bombarded with advertising, which is precisely one of its great strengths compared to other commercial solutions.
How to enable USB debugging on Android step by step
The essential requirement on the device for scrcpy to be able to talk to your mobile is to have the active USB Debugging option in Developer OptionsIt sounds technical, but the process is simple and reversible, so there's nothing to worry about.
To start, you will have to Enable Developer Options on your device. On most phones, this is done by going to Settings > About phone (or Software information) and tapping 7 times in a row on the “Build number” until you see a message indicating that you are now a developer.
Once you've done this, go back and you'll see a new section called “Developer options” or similar within the system menuGo there, find the "USB Debugging" option, and enable it. The system will display a message explaining that it will allow debugging connections from the computer.
The first time you connect your mobile phone to your PC using scrcpy or ADB, A dialog box will appear on your phone screen asking you to authorize USB debugging for that computer.It's important to accept, and if you're going to use it often you can also check the box "Always allow from this computer" so you don't have to confirm every time.
After this small adjustment, your mobile is now ready for scrcpy can connect and mirror the screen via both USB and Wi-FiThere's no need to root the device, install anything from Google Play, or modify the system.
Using scrcpy with a USB connection in Windows
Wired mode is the most stable and least troublesome at first, especially if your goal is Control Android from Windows and record the screen with the best possible qualityOnce you have scrcpy downloaded and USB debugging enabled, the process is very straightforward.
Firstly, Connect your phone to your PC using a USB cable.In many cases, the classic notification to choose the connection mode (charge only, file transfer, etc.) will appear on Android, but scrcpy will work as long as USB debugging is enabled and the PC has ADB access to the device.
On Windows, open the folder where you extracted scrcpy and locate the main executables: “scrcpy.exe” and “scrcpy-noconsole.exe” (or scrcpy-noconsole.vbs)If you run the first one, you'll also see the command console in case you want to see error messages; the second one directly launches the window with the mobile screen without showing the console.
When you run scrcpy for the first time, the program It will detect the device connected via USB, upload the small server to the phone, and open a new window with your Android screen.If at that moment your phone asks you for debugging permission, grant it and from then on you should be able to navigate the device with a mouse and keyboard.
In this mode, you will notice that The latency is very low and the image is very sharp.This makes scrcpy perfect for showcasing apps, giving a demo in a meeting, teaching a class, or simply using your mobile phone from your PC as if it were an emulator, but with your real device.
Connect scrcpy wirelessly via Wi-Fi (TCP/IP)
If you find it inconvenient to use the cable or need to move around with the device while displaying it on screen, scrcpy can also be used over the local network using ADB over TCP/IPIt's a bit more technical, but once you set it up, it's very convenient.
The typical procedure is as follows: first, with the mobile phone and PC connected via USB, open a terminal or command prompt on the computer and Run the command “adb tcpip 5555”This restarts the mobile's ADB server to accept incoming connections on port 5555 on the network.
Then you need Find the local IP address of your Android phoneYou can find it in Settings > Wi-Fi > Network information or Connection details. With that IP address in hand, on your PC run “adb connect MOBILE_IP:5555”, for example, “adb connect 192.168.1.50:5555”. If everything is working correctly, ADB will respond that the connection has been established.
From there, you can close the cable, leave the phone free and launch scrcpy without a physical connectionSimply type “scrcpy” in the terminal or open the executable in Windows. The tool will detect the network-connected device and open the window as before, but this time via Wi-Fi.
Another possibility is to use the parameter directly. “scrcpy –tcpip=MOBILE_IP:5555”, which attempts to establish the ADB connection and open the window in one step, saving you some commands if you're already familiar with the tool.
Controlling Android from your PC: mouse, keyboard, and shortcuts
With the connection already established, both by cable and Wi-Fi, scrcpy opens a window that displays your Android screen in real timeFrom there, you can operate exactly as if you had the phone in your hand, but with the advantages of a keyboard and mouse.
The basic operation is intuitive: Left click is equivalent to a tap on the screenWhile dragging the mouse with the button pressed simulates a swipe gesture, the scroll wheel allows you to scroll up and down as if you were using touch scrolling on your phone.
When you need to write, simply place yourself in a text field and Use the PC's physical keyboard to enter text on the mobile device.This is a lifesaver if you do a lot of typing in messaging apps, email, or if you're testing forms in your applications.
Scrcpy also includes several very practical shortcuts, such as the option to copy and paste text between the computer and the device or key combinations for quick actions (for example, combinations to go back, go to home, or lock the screen, depending on the version and settings).
Thanks to all this, the tool becomes ideal for developers who want to debug apps on a real deviceSupport staff who need to see what a customer is doing, or trainers who want to teach how to use an application without having to point a camera at the mobile phone.
Quality options: resolution, FPS, and bitrate in scrcpy
Although scrcpy works very well with the default settings, you'll often want to adjust the resolution, frames per second, or bitrate to adapt it to your equipment, network, or the use you will give it (presentations, streaming, etc.).
If you want to reduce CPU load and network consumption, you can limit the maximum resolution sent from the mobile device using parameters such as “--max-size” or its short form “-m”. For example, “scrcpy -max-size 1024” or “scrcpy -m 1280” ensures that the image does not exceed those pixels in width or height, maintaining the aspect ratio.
The frame rate can also be adjusted with options such as “–max-fps 30” or “-fps 30”This forces scrcpy to not exceed 30 FPS. For presentations, support, or office tasks, this rate is more than sufficient and can significantly improve performance on less powerful computers or networks.
The bitrate, which determines the video compression quality, is usually around 8 Mbps by default, but You can increase or decrease it with “--bit-rate”For example, “scrcpy –bit-rate 12M” prioritizes image quality somewhat more, while lower values save bandwidth.
If you need a more immersive experience, you can also Launch scrcpy in full screen by adding “--fullscreen” to the start command. And if you want to see everything the tool offers in your specific version, you can always invoke “scrcpy –help” to review the complete list of parameters and new features.
Record your Android screen and take screenshots with scrcpy
One of the star uses of scrcpy, especially when using it from Windows, is the recording the mobile screen to a video file without having to install capture apps on the device itself or rely on built-in system functions.
To record, simply add the option to the startup command. “–record filename.mp4”For example, “scrcpy –record demo.mp4” will start duplication and, at the same time, generate an MP4 file with everything that happens in the scrcpy window.
If you prefer to work with lower resolutions or limited FPS during recording, you can combine the “–record” parameter with the size and frames parametersA typical example would be “scrcpy -m 1280 –max-fps 30 –record tutorial.mp4”, which gives very good results for demonstration or training videos.
In addition to video, scrcpy allows take specific screenshots Using keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+S is commonly used on Windows and Linux, while Command+S is typically used on macOS. Each screenshot is saved in the current folder with an automatically generated name.
Between duplication, recording, and capture, scrcpy becomes a very powerful tool for create content, record explainer videos, document errors, or prepare material for clients and students without having to record the mobile phone screen with external cameras.
Additional features: file dragging, advanced Wi-Fi, and HID mode
Beyond the basics, scrcpy hides several advanced features that This makes it more than just a simple screen mirror., especially useful for those who work with apps or material on Android on a daily basis.
One of the most convenient is the possibility of drag files from your PC to the scrcpy window to transfer them to the phone. Depending on the configuration, if you drag a normal file it is copied to the device storage, and if you drag an APK it starts the installation directly, which greatly speeds up the deployment of test apps.
In the realm of wireless connectivity, we've already seen the basic use of ADB over TCP/IP, but you can also Relaunch the session when you change networks or your mobile loses its IP address by repeating the command “adb connect IP:5555” or directly using “scrcpy –tcpip=IP:5555” whenever you need it.
In Linux, scrcpy incorporates additional features such as HID keyboard mode (“–hid-keyboard” or “-K”)This makes your phone see your PC as if it were a real physical keyboard. This is useful in contexts where standard text injection via ADB is limited or behaves differently.
There are also more advanced flows for redirect scrcpy video to virtual camera devices In some distributions, you can use your mobile screen as a source in video calling or live streaming tools, although this usually requires additional components specific to each system.
Thanks to all these options, scrcpy covers scenarios ranging from casual to professional use, which has made it a clear benchmark compared to other heavier or more limited remote control applications.
Controlling and recording your Android device from Windows with scrcpy is a powerful solution for developers, trainers, support technicians, or any user who wants to... work with your mobile phone from the comfort of your PCWith good image quality, minimal latency, and a host of advanced options, all without installing anything on the device and with the flexibility to connect via cable or Wi-Fi as needed.
