The Complete Guide on Scrcpy - A Screen Mirroring Tool

Are you an Android user tired of watching videos on a small screen and want to view them on a bigger screen using Scrcpy but don't know how to install and use it? If so, this article has got you covered. Scroll down to get in-depth information on Scrcpy and learn how to install and use it.

In the world of screen mirroring and remote control applications for Android devices, Scrcpy stands out as a powerful, open-source solution.

Developed by the Genymobile team, Scrcpy allows users to control their Android devices from a computer with exceptional performance and low latency.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about Scrcpy, from its features and benefits to installation and usage, troubleshooting, and advanced configurations.

What is Scrcpy?

The open-source program Scrcpy, which stands for "screen copy," allows you to view and manage Android devices linked to your computer via USB or TCP/IP. This multi-platform application is suitable for developers, tech aficionados, and regular users alike, as it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Key Features
 
  • High Performance: Scrcpy can achieve up to 1920x1080 resolution at 30–60 frames per second.
     
  • Low Latency: It is appropriate for real-time interactions because the latency is usually 35–70 ms.
     
  • Quality: Bit-rate and resolution modifications are possible because of the high degree of adjustable quality.
     
  • No Root Required: Compatible with non-rooted smartphones, allowing a broad user base.
     
  • Keyboard and Mouse Control: This feature lets you communicate with the Android device using the keyboard and mouse on your PC.
     
  • Clipboard Sharing: Easily copy and paste text between your Android handset and computer.
     
  • Recording: During mirroring sessions, screen capture is possible.

Why Use Scrcpy?

Scrcpy is a great option in a range of situations:
 
  • App Testing and Development: Without requiring direct physical access to the device, developers can effortlessly test apps on an actual device and showcase functionality.
     
  • Educational Purposes: During training sessions or classes, educators can project their device's screen onto a larger monitor.
     
  • Technical Support: IT specialists are able to remotely identify and resolve problems with consumers' equipment.
     
  • Personal Use: Android users can operate their devices more effectively, particularly when it comes to chores like composing lengthy messages or navigating through intricate apps.

Installation Guide

Prerequisites

Make sure you meet these requirements before installing Scrcpy:

1. ADB (Android Debug Bridge):

For Scrcpy to interact with your Android smartphone, ADB is needed. It is available for download from the official Android developer site as part of the platform-tools for the Android SDK.

2. Activate USB Debugging on Your Android Device:
 
  • To activate Developer Options, navigate to `Settings > About Phone`, then tap `Build Number` seven times.
     
  • USB Debugging` can be activate by navigating to `Settings > Developer Options`.

Installation Steps

Windows

1. Download Scrcpy:

Get the most recent Windows version from the official Scrcpy website.

2. Extract the ZIP file:

Extract the ZIP file's contents to a computer folder.

3 - Run Scrcpy:

Within the extracted folder, open a Command Prompt and type:

scrcpy

macOS

1. Install using Homebrew:

Run the following command to install Scrcpy if you have Homebrew installed:

brew install scrcpy

2. Run Scrcpy:

Open Terminal and simply type:

scrcpy

Linux

1. Install via package manager:

On Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu:

sudo apt install scrcpy

On Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S scrcpy

2. Run Scrcpy:

Open your terminal and type:

scrcpy

Usage

Basic Use

1. Connect your Android Smartphone to your PC:

Establish a WiFi connection or use a USB cable.

2. Run Scrcpy:

Upon launching the command line interface, type:

scrcpy

Now, your computer should reflect the screen of your Android handset.

Common Commands and Options

1. Adjust Bitrate:

Adjust the video bitrate (default is 8 Mbps):

scrcpy --bit-rate 16M

2. Limit Resolution:

Limit the width and height of the video (e.g., to 1024):

scrcpy --max-size 1024

3. Full-Screen Mode:

Start scrcpy in full-screen mode:

scrcpy --fullscreen

4. Recording:

Save the screen recording to a file:

scrcpy --record file.mp4

5. Wireless Connection:

Connect over TCP/IP:
 
  • Connect the device via USB and enable TCP/IP on the device:

    adb tcpip 5555
     
  • Disconnect the USB and connect to the device's IP address:

    adb connect DEVICE_IP:5555

    scrcpy

Advanced Features

- Multi-device Support:

Specify the device serial if multiple devices are connected:

scrcpy --serial 0123456789abcdef

- OTG Mode:

Control a device with a mouse and keyboard directly from another Android device using an OTG cable:

scrcpy --otg

Shortcut Keys

Scrcpy offers various keyboard shortcuts to improve your experience:
 
  • Ctrl+f: Toggle full-screen mode.
     
  • Ctrl+Shift+f: Resize the window to the device's resolution.
     
  • Ctrl+g: Resize the window to 1:1 (pixel-perfect).
     
  • Ctrl+h: Hide or show the window borders.
     
  • Ctrl+s: Take a screenshot.
     
  • Ctrl+r: Rotate the screen.
     
  • Ctrl+c: Copy to the clipboard.
     
  • Ctrl+v: Paste clipboard content.

Configuration

You can create a configuration file to set default options for Scrcpy. This file should be located at `~/.config/scrcpy/scrcpy.conf` on Linux/macOS or `%USERPROFILE%\scrcpy\scrcpy.conf` on Windows. Example configuration:

bit-rate=8M
max-size=1024
fullscreen=false

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Device Not Detected:
 
  • Ensure USB Debugging is enabled.
     
  • Check the USB cable and port.
     
  • Verify the device is recognized by `adb`:

    adb devices
     

​2. Poor Performance:
 

  • Lower the bitrate or resolution.
     
  • Ensure no other high-bandwidth applications are running.
     
3. Connection Drops:
 
  • Make sure your Wi-Fi connection is steady for wireless communications.
     
  • Make sure you use a high-quality cable for USB.

4. Permission Denied Errors:

 
  • On Linux, ensure your user is in the `plugdev` group:

    sudo usermod -aG plugdev $LOGNAME

Debugging

If Scrcpy fails to start or behaves unexpectedly, you can enable verbose logging:

scrcpy -V debug

This will provide detailed logs that can help diagnose issues.

Conclusion

Scrcpy is a versatile and useful program for controlling and mirroring Android devices from a PC. Because of its vast feature set, excellent performance, and ease of use, it's a fantastic choice for developers, testers, and anybody else who wants to interact remotely with their Android devices.

Strong software like Scrcpy can be utilized for more convenient device management, remote help, and app demonstrations. Visit the official Scrcpy website for updates and more detailed information.

 

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