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Before you begin

Make sure you have:
  • Scrcpy for Android installed on your controller device (the device you’ll use to control)
  • A target device you want to mirror and control
  • Both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network
Both devices must be on the same local network. Public network connections are possible but require port forwarding configuration.

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Enable ADB wireless debugging on the target device

The target device needs to have ADB wireless debugging enabled.
1

Enable Developer Options

On your target device:
  1. Open Settings
  2. Navigate to About phone
  3. Tap Build number 7 times
  4. You should see a message: “You are now a developer!”
2

Enable ADB over network

  1. Go back to Settings
  2. Navigate to Developer options (usually under System)
  3. Scroll down to find Wireless debugging or ADB over network
  4. Enable the toggle
The exact location and name varies by manufacturer:
  • Stock Android: “Wireless debugging” or “Wireless ADB”
  • Samsung: “USB debugging” (must be on same network)
  • Xiaomi/MIUI: “USB debugging (Security settings)” → “Install via USB”
  • OnePlus: “ADB over network”
3

Note the IP address

Some devices display the IP address directly in the wireless debugging menu. If not:
  1. Go to Settings → About phone → Status
  2. Look for IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.73)
  3. Write down this IP address
Alternatively, go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Tap your connected network → View IP address
4

Set ADB port (if needed)

If your device doesn’t automatically enable ADB on port 5555, you can set it manually using a computer:
# Connect via USB first
adb devices

# Enable TCP/IP on port 5555
adb tcpip 5555

# Disconnect USB cable after this
You only need to do this once. The setting persists until you reboot the device.

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Connect to the target device

1

Launch Scrcpy for Android

Open the app on your controller device. You’ll see the main screen with connection options.
2

Enter the target device IP

In the Remote Device IP address field, enter the IP address of your target device.Supported formats:
192.168.1.73          # IP only (uses default port 5555)
192.168.1.73:5555     # IP with custom port
hostname.local:5555   # Hostname with port
[2000::2000]:5555     # IPv6 address with port
The app saves your connection history. Tap the history icon to quickly select previously used addresses.
3

Configure settings

Select your preferred settings:
  • Resolution: Start with 1280x720 (recommended)
  • Bitrate: Start with 2 Mbps (recommended)
  • Delay Control: Start with Medium (60ms)
Leave the switches disabled for your first connection.
4

Tap Start

Tap the Start button. You’ll see a “Connecting…” dialog.The app will:
  1. Connect to the target device via ADB
  2. Push scrcpy-server.jar to /data/local/tmp/
  3. Set up port forwarding (local port 7008 → remote port 7007)
  4. Launch the server component
  5. Establish the mirroring connection
This process typically takes 3-5 seconds.
5

Accept ADB authorization

On your target device, you’ll see an authorization prompt:
Allow USB debugging?
The computer's RSA key fingerprint is:
XX:XX:XX:XX...

[Always allow from this computer] [Cancel] [OK]
  1. Check Always allow from this computer
  2. Tap OK
Some custom ROMs don’t show this prompt. If you don’t see it and the connection succeeds, you’re good to go.
6

Start mirroring

Once connected, you’ll see the target device’s screen in full screen on your controller device.The interface enters immersive mode with navigation bars hidden.

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Basic controls

Once mirroring is active, you can interact with the target device:

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Touch and gestures

  • Single tap: Tap on the screen (same as tapping the target device)
  • Drag: Touch and drag (same as swiping on the target device)
  • Multi-touch: Use multiple fingers (fully supported)
  • Pinch to zoom: Works just like on the target device

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Special gestures

Double-tap anywhere on the screen to wake the target device from sleep.
  1. Cover the proximity sensor on your controller device
  2. Double-tap anywhere on the screen
The target device will go to sleep (equivalent to pressing the power button).
Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to reveal your controller device’s system navigation bar.This allows you to exit the app or switch to another app without disconnecting.
Press the back button twice quickly. You’ll see a “Press again to exit” toast on the first press.This disconnects from the target device and returns to the main screen.
If you enabled “Bottom control button” in settings, you’ll see three navigation buttons:
  • < (Back): Sends Back key to target device
  • ○ (Home): Sends Home key to target device
  • = (Recent Apps): Sends App Switcher key to target device
These buttons automatically adjust padding to avoid covering content. The padding is 96 pixels (12dp) to accommodate the button bar.

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Troubleshooting your first connection

If you see “Connection Timed out 2” or “Network OR ADB connection failed”:Check network connectivity:
  • Verify both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
  • Ping the target device: ping 192.168.1.73 (from a computer)
  • Try disabling VPN on both devices
Check ADB:
  • Make sure ADB wireless debugging is enabled on the target device
  • Verify the IP address is correct
  • Try rebooting the target device
  • Run adb tcpip 5555 again if you previously set it up via USB
Check firewall:
  • Some devices have built-in firewalls that block ADB
  • Check if your router has AP isolation enabled (disable it)
If the connection succeeds but you see a black screen:
  1. Wait 5-10 seconds - initial setup can take time
  2. Try a lower resolution - start with 640x360
  3. Check orientation - the app detects portrait/landscape automatically
  4. Disconnect and reconnect - press back twice, then Start again
Screen rotation during mirroring triggers an automatic reconnection. This is normal and takes 1-2 seconds.
If you see “Server Address Empty” toast:
  • Make sure you entered an IP address in the input field
  • The field cannot be blank or contain only spaces
  • Verify the format matches one of the supported formats (see Step 2)
If you denied the ADB authorization prompt:
  1. Disconnect from the target device
  2. On the target device, go to Developer options
  3. Tap Revoke USB debugging authorizations
  4. Try connecting again and tap OK on the authorization prompt
If mirroring works but touch doesn’t respond:
  • Check if “Viewing mode (no control)” is enabled - disable it
  • Make sure you’re tapping within the mirrored screen area
  • The app calculates touch coordinates based on aspect ratio - if the remote device has an unusual aspect ratio, touch may be offset
  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting
If the mirroring is laggy:
  1. Lower the resolution: Try 800x448 or 640x360
  2. Lower the bitrate: Try 1 Mbps
  3. Increase delay control: Try High (100ms)
  4. Check network quality: Move closer to your Wi-Fi router
  5. Close other apps: Free up resources on both devices
The app includes adaptive frame dropping. If you see dropped frames in the logs, reduce resolution and bitrate.

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Connection history

Scrcpy for Android automatically saves up to 30 recent connections. To access history:
  1. Tap the history list icon next to the IP address field
  2. Select a previously used address from the popup
  3. The field is automatically filled with your selection
Connection history is stored locally on your device and is not shared or synced.

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Public network connections

While Scrcpy for Android is designed for local network use, you can connect over public networks if:
  • The target device’s ADB port (5555) is accessible from the internet
  • You know the public IP address or hostname
  • Port forwarding is configured on the target device’s network
Security risk: Exposing ADB to the public internet is dangerous. Anyone who can reach the IP and port can fully control the device. Use a VPN or SSH tunnel instead.
Example public connections: 
203.0.113.42:5555              # Public IP with port
remote.example.com:5555        # Domain name with port  
[2001:db8::1]:5555             # IPv6 public address

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Next steps

Now that you’ve successfully connected, explore more features:

Advanced configuration

Customize resolution, bitrate, and delay for optimal performance

Troubleshooting

Solve common connection and performance issues

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