Control your Android device remotely: A handy guide

One of the main reasons you’d want to remotely control an Android device is to provide tech support to friends and family, especially when they’re a bit older and need help navigating new technologies. Given how flexible Android is, advanced users might appreciate having the ability to remotely control devices that are serving as, say, 2FA servers or some kind of access point. Companies might also want to do the same as a means of remotely managing company devices. 

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Do bear in mind that this process isn’t natively supported on Android and will require the installation of certain apps and granting certain permissions. Additionally, remotely controlling, or attempting to remotely control another device without the user’s consent is illegal in most countries and should not be attempted without permission.

Screen sharing is often enough

If your only goal is only to provide tech support to someone, sharing your screen via an app like Google Meet is often more useful and less invasive than remotely accessing a device. To do this: 

1. You join a meeting on Google Meet 

2. Tap the menu icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. It will look like three vertical dots 

3. Tap ‘Start sharing’ 

4. When you’re done, hit ‘Stop sharing’ or cut the call 

The person viewing the shared screen will be able to see everything that you do on the phone and give precise and clear instructions without needing to access the device remotely. 

For complete remote access

Remote access to an Android device will require a third-party app like AirDroid. You’ll need an AirDroid account and the app will need full permission to access your smartphone and its data. While the app requires a subscription for advanced features, there is an ad-supported tier called AirDroid Personal that gets you access to most remote access features. Here’s how you get started: 

1. Install AirDroid from either the Play Store or as an apk downloaded from the AirDroid website 

2. Run the app and register a user ID 

3. Grant the app any permission it needs by clicking ‘Allow’ on pop-ups asking for permission 

4. To control the phone, either install AirDroid on a PC, or use the web version from any device 

5. In either case, you will need to log in with your AirDroid ID 

6. Press the telescope button in the app or web interface to see all the Android devices associated with your account 

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7. Select the phone you want to control 

8. Select ‘Remote Control’ 

9. You can now control your Android phone 

AirDroid will let you remotely access your device, view and transfer files, remotely lock the device, take screenshots and recordings, adjust many phone settings, and even download and install applications. 

Similar tools are available from other developers, but we’d recommend AirDroid simply because it’s among the more popular options with a great track record. 

Remote access for our Android phones is a powerful tool that opens up a world of possibilities for the tech savvy smartphone user. As we mentioned at the start, please use these tools responsibly and with appropriate permissions where needed, as not doing so will be construed as an invasion of privacy.