How to Use (For Free) Your Android Tablet as a Second Screen for a PC ?

An Android tablet used as a second screen for a laptop. © presse-citron.net

The Apple ecosystem includes quite a few interesting productivity features. And one of my favorites is “sidecar,” which lets you use your iPad as an extension of your Mac’s screen, without having to resort to third-party software. If you’re on Windows, and you have an Android tablet, you can enjoy a similar feature, but only if you use the right software.

There are many solutions for extending your PC screen onto an Android tablet, such as Duet. But in this article, we’ll suggest Spacedesk instead, since it’s a free tool, relatively easy to use, and offers quite a few interesting options.

To use an Android tablet as a secondary screen for your PC using Spacedesk, simply follow these steps.

How to turn an Android tablet into a second screen for free ?

First, you need to install the software on your PC. To do this, simply go to the Spacedesk website and go to the downloads section. Then, you need to download the driver that corresponds to your PC's operating system. In my case, it is a PC with Windows 11 64-bit version (but there is also a driver for PCs with Arm64 processors).

• During the installation, make sure that you have authorized an exception for this software on the Windows firewall. You will just have to check that the box is checked during the installation.

Please note, this box must be checked when installing Spacedesk on Windows. © presse-citron .net

• Once the installation is complete, open the “Spacedesk DRIVER console” application, which you can search for in the Start menu.
• In the USB Cable Driver Android section, make sure that the Local Area Network and USB Cable Android options are checked. This will allow you to connect your PC and tablet later via Wifi, a local network or with a USB cable, if you don't have Wifi.

The connection between the PC and the tablet can be made via Wifi or via a USB cable, when you don't have Wifi. But you need to enable the USB option in the Spacedesk app for PC. © presse-citron.net

• Now that the PC is ready, it need to configure the tablet. On your Android tablet, start by installing the Spacedesk app, which is available on the Play Store.
• In the meantime, you can check that your PC and your tablet are connected to the same Wifi network, or connect both devices with a USB cable
• Once the installation is complete, open the Spacedesk app. If it This asks for permission to use USB, accept.
• On the app, all you have to do is tap on “Connection: [an address]”, below the name of your PC.

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To start using the tablet as a second screen, simply select a connection from the list displayed by the app. In the example below, there is only one connection offered. © presse-citron.net

• The Spacedesk application now works as a second screen for your PC. And if you want to adjust the display, simply go to Windows settings, then go to the screen section.
• If you want the tablet to display the same content as your PC screen, you choose the “Duplicate” option. Otherwise, you choose Extend so that the second screen allows you to display other Windows windows. You also have the option to adjust the resolution, scaling, or choose between portrait or landscape orientation.

As with a normal screen, the Windows display on the Android tablet can be adjusted in the Windows screen settings. © presse-citron.net

Why use a tablet as a second computer screen

The only problem I observed with this solution is that there is a certain latency, compared to a real screen. In addition, there are sometimes bugs, but I was able to resolve them with a simple restart. Otherwise, if you are used to using fairly large second screens, you may not be immediately comfortable with small tablet screens.

However, the advantage of using a tablet as a second PC screen is mobility. Indeed, even if you are not at home or in the office, you will be able to benefit from a second screen to improve your productivity. The tablet is easy to transport and can be used even when you do not have an electrical outlet next to you.

In addition, the connection between the two devices can be made with a USB cable when you do not have Wifi. And Spacedesk supports the tablet's touch, which means that you will be able to interact with Windows by pressing the screen, in addition to the mouse and keyboard.

An Android tablet used as a second screen for a laptop. © presse-citron.net

Compatible with other devices

Otherwise, it should be noted that in addition to Android tablets, Spacedesk is also available on the App Store as well as on the Amazon app store. And you can even use this application for a secondary PC as a second screen for your main PC (a great way to give a second life to your old machine).

And if the Spacedesk application is not available on your device (for example, if it is a Linux or ChromeOS machine), it also offers an HTML5 version that could be opened on a web browser.

Spacedesk offers clients for Android, iOS, Windows, and even an HTML5 version that can be opened on a web browser for other platforms. © presse-citron.net

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