How to control your Android phone from your PC with ADB on Windows, macOS, and Linux

  • Using ADB allows you to access and manage advanced Android features from your computer.
  • Scrcpy is the most effective and lightweight tool to control your mobile without root.
  • USB debugging is essential to establish the connection between the mobile and the PC.
  • There are solutions for all operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Joaquin Romero

8 minutes

How to control your Android phone from your PC

Controlling your Android phone directly from your PC can save you a lot of time and make everyday and technical tasks easier. Thanks to tools like ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and solutions like Scrcpy, you can manage your phone without even touching it, whether you're taking screenshots, installing apps, copying files, or even recording your screen. These tools work on all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, and best of all, you don't need root permissions.

In this article, we'll explore in depth all the methods available for controlling an Android device from a PC using ADB. You'll see how to install it, how to configure it correctly, and the different alternatives available to get the most out of it, both in desktop environments and in more advanced situations for developers or system enthusiasts.

What is ADB and why is it so useful?

ADB is a command line tool ADB integrates Android from a PC to facilitate communication between the two devices. It's a kind of bridge that allows the computer to send commands to the phone, whether to install apps, move files, generate system logs, or even control the device from the command line. ADB is widely used by developers, but its use has spread far beyond, becoming the perfect ally for advanced users and general technicians.

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The usefulness of ADB is not limited to basic functionsThanks to it, you can boot your phone into recovery or bootloader mode, perform remote reboots, file transfers, take screenshots, or flash system images. And all this without the need for root or external applications that require excessive permissions.

Installing ADB according to the operating system

How to control your Android phone from your PC

To use ADB, you first need to install it on your computer. This varies slightly depending on the operating system you're using. Below, you'll see how to do it easily on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How to Install ADB to Control Android from a Windows PC

For Windows users, the most direct option is to download the package SDK Platform Tools from the official Android website or from trusted repositories like XDA Developers. This package includes only what's necessary to work with ADB without having to install the full Android Studio.

Basic steps:

  • Download SDK Platform Tools (approximately 6 MB).
  • Unzip the contents into an accessible folder, for example, C:\ADB.
  • Install the drivers from your device manufacturer. On most phones, they are installed automatically when connected via USB, although you can also download them from your manufacturer's website (Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc.).
  • Open Command Prompt (CMD) and run the commands directly from that folder.

How to install ADB on macOS

On macOS you can easily install ADB using Homebrew, the most popular package manager. This method is clean, fast, and functional for keeping tools up to date.

Commands:

  • brew install android-platform-tools
  • You can also manually download the platform-tools as in Windows and place them in a local folder.

macOS doesn't require additional drivers for most mobile devices, although in some cases it may be helpful to install specific support if the device isn't detected.

How to Install ADB on Linux

In Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian or Arch, you can install ADB from the operating system's own repositories:

  • Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install android-tools-adb
  • Fedora/openSUSE: sudo dnf install android-tools
  • ArchLinux: sudo pacman -Sy android-tools

Typically, these systems do not require any additional drivers to detect Android devices connected via USB.

Enable USB debugging on Android

For ADB to work, you need to have an option enabled on your Android phone called USB debuggingThis is located within the developer options menu, which is not visible by default.

Steps to activate it:

  • Go to Settings> Phone information.
  • Tap seven times on 'build number' until the activation of the Developer Options.
  • Return to the settings menu and enter 'Developer Options'.
  • Activate the option 'USB Debugging' and accept the security warning.

On some phones, this process may vary slightly due to manufacturer customization, but generally speaking, it's always similar.

Checking the connection with ADB

With the mobile connected via USB, debugging enabled and drivers installed, you can now check if your PC recognizes the device:

  • Open a command console inside the folder where you have ADB (for example, C:\ADB).
  • Write adb devices and hit Enter.
  • The system should display a device serial number next to the word 'device'.

If it comes out like unauthorized or nothing appears, make sure you have enabled USB debugging on your phone and that the USB cable is in good condition.

Scrcpy: The most effective alternative to control your Android from your PC

ADB alone does not allow you to view your mobile screen on your computer or control the device by touch. For this, there are tools such as scrcpy, a very lightweight open source solution that uses ADB to send images and receive commands from the computer.

Key Advantages of Scrcpy:

  • You don't need to install anything on your phone and it doesn't require root.
  • It works via USB and also via WiFi if you enable ADB connection via TCP/IP.
  • It is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux.
  • You have low latency, good image quality, and it is extremely light.
  • It is completely free and open source.

How to use Scrcpy on Windows

To use it is as simple as:

  • Download the version of Scrcpy corresponding to your system (32 or 64 bits) from GitHub.
  • Unzip the file into an accessible folder.
  • Connect your mobile via USB (with debugging enabled).
  • Run the file scrcpy.exe o scrcpy-noconsole.exe.

In seconds, you'll see your phone's screen in a window and can control it with a keyboard and mouse.

Scrcpy on macOS and Linux

On macOS you can install Scrcpy with Homebrew:

  • brew install scrcpy

On Linux you can use:

  • Ubuntu / Debian: sudo apt install scrcpy
  • Arch: sudo pacman -S scrcpy

Once installed, simply connect your phone and type scrcpy in the terminal to start the session.

Scrcpy over WiFi: How to set it up

One of the most interesting features of Scrcpy is that can work wirelessly, as long as the mobile and the PC are connected to the same WiFi network.

Steps to use Scrcpy wirelessly:

  • Connect the device via USB.
  • Run adb tcpip 5555.
  • Disconnect the USB.
  • Find out the mobile IP (in Settings > About phone > Status).
  • connect with adb connect IP_DEL_MÓVIL:5555.
  • Finally, write scrcpy to start the connection.

This method allows you to control your phone wirelessly, ideal for staying mobile while using it from your desktop.

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Other alternative tools

Vysor

Vysor is a well-known tool to control your Android from your PC., developed by ClockWorkMod. It has a free version that allows connection via USB cable, although with reduced quality and occasional ads. To remove these restrictions, you have to pay for the Pro version.

Pros:

  • User-friendly graphical interface.
  • Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux and even as a Chrome extension.
  • Allows screen recording, captures and file transfer.

Cons:

  • Quality is limited in the free version.
  • Dependence on an app installed on the mobile phone.

Useful ADB commands to manage your Android

Once you've configured ADB, you can use a wide range of commands in the console. Here are some of the most useful ones:

  • adb devices – Displays connected devices.
  • adb shell – Access the device system from the terminal.
  • adb install archivo.apk – Install an app from your computer.
  • adb pull ruta – Download a file from your mobile to your PC.
  • adb push archivo ruta – Send a file to your mobile.
  • adb reboot – Restart the device.

These commands are safe and extremely useful for technical or system maintenance tasks.

Remove bloatware with ADB without root

An advanced feature highly requested by users is the ability to Remove pre-installed apps without root permissions. With ADB and the package manager, this is possible.

To do this:

  • Connect the mobile to the PC and open a shell with adb shell.
  • List installed packages: pm list packages.
  • Identify the app you want to delete.
  • Use this command to uninstall it for the current user: pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.nombre.paquete.

This method does not remove the app from the system completely (it remains on the system partition), but it does disable it completely for the user.

Thanks to tools like ADB and Scrcpy, users have access to a level of control over their Android that was previously reserved only for developers or users with very specific technical knowledge.

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Today, with a simple setup, you can view your phone on your computer screen, manually install apps, and remove bloatware, all without root and in complete safety. The ability to do this from any operating system and without installing complex elements on your phone makes this combination unbeatable for those seeking productivity, control, and freedom in their mobile experience. Share the guide so other users can learn about the topic..