How to Use Your Android Device
as a Mouse, Keyboard, Joystick
and More
Using your Android to control your
computer is a great way to interact
with programs. Your phone can be used a
trackpad, or could be used to use a
media player using custom controls.
Monect lets you take things further by
turning your Android device into all
manner of peripherals.
What Are the Options?
There are plenty of apps available in
Google Player that let you use your
phone or tablet as a wireless keyboard
or mouse for a computer. Monect can be
used in this way, but it also boasts a
number of other options that cater to a
variety of scenarios.
This free app can transform your phone
into not only a mouse or keyboard, but
also a joystick, gamepad, media
controller and much more. It’s great
for gamers, but options such as text
transfer and presentation mode open up
additional opportunities.
There are two components to the tool,
the Android app and the desktop server.
A package containing both pieces of
software can be downloaded from its
Hotfile hosting page.
Update: This file has been pulled because
of the site shutting down.
There’s no need to sign up for an
account, just click the Regular Download
button, wait for the timer to count
down and then click the download link.
You may see a warning from your
browser or AV tool that the file is
potentially harmful, but this is simply a
case of overzealousness in detecting a
tool that is used for remote access.
You’ll need to extract the contents of
the zip file and then launch the file
named MonectHost. You’ll probably find
that your firewall kicks in and you’ll
need to allow the program to make use
of your network in order to continue.
Getting Connected
Assuming your phone and computer are
connected to the same wireless network,
it will take a matter of seconds to
establish a connection.
On your phone or tablet, install a copy
of Monect from Google Play, launch the
app and then either type in the IP
address of your computer and tap
Connect, or tap ‘Search host’ to scan
for and connect to your machine. If
you find that you are unable to connect,
trying restarting Windows to ensure
that the installation is complete.
Once connected, you’ll see that are no
less than 12 different modes to choose
from; in most cases it is fairly obvious
what each one does, and each can be
used in different ways.
Controller Modes
Touchpad mode turns your phone into a
laptop-style trackpad complete with a
scroll bar to the right. In this mode you
can also access 3D Mouse mode which
enables you to move the cursor around
by using your phone as a laser pointer.
Typewriter keys, Function keys and
Numeric keypad are all modes in which
you can use your phone as a keyboard.
This can be handy if your keyboard is
broken and you need a temporary
replacement, or you are using a laptop or
keyboard without a number pad.
In Text Transfer mode it is possible to
type and prepare text on your phone
and then send it to whatever application
currently has focus on your computer.
Switch to My Computer mode and you
can browse the contents of your hard
drive from your Android device. Folders
can be easily navigated, and files can be
opened remotely, or downloaded to your
phone – just tap and hold to bring up
the option menu.
Things start to get particularly
interesting for gamers in Race, Joystick
and Shooter modes. The app takes
advantage of your device’s built in
gyroscope so that it can be used as a
steering wheel, a more traditional
joystick/gamepad or as a crosshair
control for FPS games.
The remaining three modes, PowerPoint,
Browser and Media mode are ideal for
when your computer is connected to a
larger screen, projector, or a TV. Each
mode features the touchpad area and
mouse buttons.
In each case there are task specific
buttons at the top of the screen. So
whether you are looking to control video
playback from the comfort of your
sofa, or you want to be able to browse
the web on your TV without having to
battle with a regular keyboard and
mouse, Monect makes it easy.
as a Mouse, Keyboard, Joystick
and More
Using your Android to control your
computer is a great way to interact
with programs. Your phone can be used a
trackpad, or could be used to use a
media player using custom controls.
Monect lets you take things further by
turning your Android device into all
manner of peripherals.
What Are the Options?
There are plenty of apps available in
Google Player that let you use your
phone or tablet as a wireless keyboard
or mouse for a computer. Monect can be
used in this way, but it also boasts a
number of other options that cater to a
variety of scenarios.
This free app can transform your phone
into not only a mouse or keyboard, but
also a joystick, gamepad, media
controller and much more. It’s great
for gamers, but options such as text
transfer and presentation mode open up
additional opportunities.
There are two components to the tool,
the Android app and the desktop server.
A package containing both pieces of
software can be downloaded from its
Hotfile hosting page.
Update: This file has been pulled because
of the site shutting down.
There’s no need to sign up for an
account, just click the Regular Download
button, wait for the timer to count
down and then click the download link.
You may see a warning from your
browser or AV tool that the file is
potentially harmful, but this is simply a
case of overzealousness in detecting a
tool that is used for remote access.
You’ll need to extract the contents of
the zip file and then launch the file
named MonectHost. You’ll probably find
that your firewall kicks in and you’ll
need to allow the program to make use
of your network in order to continue.
Getting Connected
Assuming your phone and computer are
connected to the same wireless network,
it will take a matter of seconds to
establish a connection.
On your phone or tablet, install a copy
of Monect from Google Play, launch the
app and then either type in the IP
address of your computer and tap
Connect, or tap ‘Search host’ to scan
for and connect to your machine. If
you find that you are unable to connect,
trying restarting Windows to ensure
that the installation is complete.
Once connected, you’ll see that are no
less than 12 different modes to choose
from; in most cases it is fairly obvious
what each one does, and each can be
used in different ways.
Controller Modes
Touchpad mode turns your phone into a
laptop-style trackpad complete with a
scroll bar to the right. In this mode you
can also access 3D Mouse mode which
enables you to move the cursor around
by using your phone as a laser pointer.
Typewriter keys, Function keys and
Numeric keypad are all modes in which
you can use your phone as a keyboard.
This can be handy if your keyboard is
broken and you need a temporary
replacement, or you are using a laptop or
keyboard without a number pad.
In Text Transfer mode it is possible to
type and prepare text on your phone
and then send it to whatever application
currently has focus on your computer.
Switch to My Computer mode and you
can browse the contents of your hard
drive from your Android device. Folders
can be easily navigated, and files can be
opened remotely, or downloaded to your
phone – just tap and hold to bring up
the option menu.
Things start to get particularly
interesting for gamers in Race, Joystick
and Shooter modes. The app takes
advantage of your device’s built in
gyroscope so that it can be used as a
steering wheel, a more traditional
joystick/gamepad or as a crosshair
control for FPS games.
The remaining three modes, PowerPoint,
Browser and Media mode are ideal for
when your computer is connected to a
larger screen, projector, or a TV. Each
mode features the touchpad area and
mouse buttons.
In each case there are task specific
buttons at the top of the screen. So
whether you are looking to control video
playback from the comfort of your
sofa, or you want to be able to browse
the web on your TV without having to
battle with a regular keyboard and
mouse, Monect makes it easy.
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