AirDroid is an application that allows you to perform actions on your Android device via your computer. To get started, you'll need to install AirDroid on your Android device, create a free account, and install the AirDroid app on your Windows or Mac computer. This wikiHow teaches you how to set up AirDroid, and use its most popular functions, including mirroring your device's screen, running apps remotely, and sending text messages from your computer.
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Part 1 of 5: Setting Up AirDroid
Step 1. Install AirDroid on your Android phone or tablet
You can download AirDroid for free from the Play Store, an app with a colorful triangle icon on your device's page/app drawer. Tap the search bar (“Search”) at the top of the app, type in airdroid, and tap “ AirDroid: Remote access & Files ” to view application details. Touch " Install ” to download the app.
- The free version of AirDroid allows you to transfer files to and from your Android device, control your device remotely, send and receive text messages from your computer, and so on. You can add two devices to your AirDroid account for free and use up to 200 MB of data each month.
- The paid version of AirDroid offers the same features, but you can add up to three devices without any data usage restrictions. If you need to use data above the quota provided, you can purchase additional quota.
Step 2. Open AirDroid
If you are still on the Play Store page, touch “ Open ” to run it. Otherwise, tap the green and white paper airplane icon labeled "AirDroid" on the device's page/app drawer.
Step 3. Sign in or create an account
If you already have an account, touch “ Sign in ” in the lower left corner of the screen to sign in to your account. Otherwise, touch Sign up ” in the lower right corner of the screen, enter your personal information, and touch “ SIGN UP ” to create an account.
If you create a new account, you will receive a confirmation email containing a verification code. To complete verification, open the email from AirDroid, write down the code, and enter the code into AirDroid when prompted
Step 4. Select permission preferences
The first time you sign in to your account, you'll be asked to allow the app to access several aspects of your device:
- Touch " Continue ” to allow the app to access device storage space.
- Touch " Allow ” to allow AirDroid to access the files.
- If you want AirDroid to run in the background, touch “ Allow " This option is useful if you want to connect your computer to your device, even when AirDroid isn't showing on the screen. Otherwise, touch " Deny ”.
Step 5. Touch No, thanks to continue
The “Remote Features” setup steps will be skipped for now as you can enable them separately later.
Step 6. Install AirDroid on the computer
You can use AirDroid on a Mac or Windows PC by installing the AirDroid desktop program from https://www.airdroid.com/en/get.html. Click the operating system name under the " Desktop client " heading to download the installation file, and double click the installation file to set up or install AirDroid on the computer.
If you don't want to install the AirDroid desktop app, you can still use the AirDroid extension for Chrome. Visit https://web.airdroid.com via Google Chrome and follow the on-screen instructions to install the AirDroid extension. The next steps are slightly different for the web version, but not too much
Step 7. Sign in to your AirDroid account on the computer
To manage your Android device from your computer via AirDroid, you need to make sure you're signed in to the same account as the AirDroid account you created on your phone or tablet. As long as you're signed in to your AirDroid account on both platforms (and your Android device and computer are connected to the internet), you're ready to use AirDroid's features.
Part 2 of 5: Managing Files on Android Devices from Computer
Step 1. Enable the “File Sharing” feature in AirDroid on your phone or tablet
As long as your device and computer are connected to the internet and use the same AirDroid account, you can view files and folders on your device via your computer. Start by enabling this feature first:
- Open AirDroid on the Android device.
- Touch " Me ” in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Touch " Security & Remote Features ”.
- Touch " Files ”.
- If you see " Off " to the right of the “Files” option, touch the button, then select “ ENABLED PERMISSIONS ” to activate it.
Step 2. Open AirDroid on your PC or Mac computer
You can find it in Windows' “Start” menu or Mac's “Applications” folder. If this is your first time opening the app, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in to your AirDroid account.
Step 3. Copy files from Android device to computer
You have two options for moving files from your Android device to your PC or Mac computer:
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Using a computer:
On AirDroid, click the file sharing icon (folder with two arrows) in the left column to open the Android file system, find the file you want to download, right-click on its name, and select “ Download Select a folder on your PC or Mac computer and click “ Save ” to start the download.
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Using an Android device:
In the AirDroid app, touch “ Transfer ” in the lower-left corner of the screen. Touch the computer name to open the " Chat " window. Click the paperclip icon, select the file you want to send, then tap “ Send ”.
You'll see a notification in the AirDroid app on your computer that the file has been shared. Click the notification to view the file
Step 4. Copy files to Android device from computer
Here's how:
- In the AirDroid app on your computer, click the two-arrow folder icon in the left column.
- In the middle column, locate the folder to which you want to send the file or folder.
- Right-click an empty area of the folder and select " Upload a file " or " Upload a folder ”.
- Select a file/folder and click “ OK ”.
Step 5. Touch DISCONNECT on the Android device when you want to stop sharing (optional)
Once you've finished transferring files, you can follow these steps to ensure that the files on your Android device are not accessible from your computer until you need to access them again.
Part 3 of 5: Mirroring Android Device Screen
Step 1. Enable “Screen Mirroring” feature on AirDroid on your phone or tablet
If you want to be able to see the device screen on a computer, you can mirror the device screen as long as the device is running the Android 5.0 operating system or later. This mirroring does not allow you to control the device from a computer; You can only see the content on the screen. Here's how to enable the feature:
- Open AirDroid on the Android device.
- Touch " Me ” in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Touch " Security & Remote Features ”.
- Touch " Screen Mirroring ”.
- Touch " ENABLED PERMISSIONS ”.
- Select the part of the screen you want to share.
- Touch " Share ”.
- Choose " OK ” to confirm.
Step 2. Open AirDroid on your PC or Mac computer
You can find this application in the Windows “Start” menu or the Mac “Applications” folder. If this is your first time opening the app, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in to your AirDroid account.
Step 3. Click the binoculars icon on AirDroid on your PC or Mac computer
It's in the black bar on the left side of the desktop application window.
Step 4. Click Screen Mirroring on the desktop application
The computer will now try to access the Android device.
Step 5. Tap Start now on the Android device
You can view your Android device's screen in the AirDroid window on your computer.
Step 6. Touch DISABLE on Android device when you want to stop sharing screen display
The screen mirroring feature will be disabled until you need to use it again at a later time.
Part 4 of 5: Controlling Android Device Via Computer
Step 1. Enable “USB Debugging” feature on Android device
Android device control procedure is similar to device screen mirroring. However, you can run applications and perform maintenance tasks. You will need to connect your device to your computer via a USB cable to control your device from your computer, unless your Android device is rooted. Start by enabling the USB debugging feature first:
- Swipe down from the top of the Android device's home screen and tap the gear icon.
- Touch " About phone " or " About tablet ”.
- Touch " Information software ”.
- Touch " Build number " seven times. You will see the message "Developer mode is enabled" after that.
- Return to the settings menu (“Settings”) and touch “ Developer options ”.
- Slide the “USB debugging” switch to the on or “On” position.
Step 2. Enable the “Remote Control” feature on the Android device
You need to enable this feature on AirDroid manually via AirDroid settings. Here's how:
- On AirDroid on the Android device, touch “ Me ” in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Touch " Security & Remote Features ”.
- Touch " Remote Control ”.
- Touch the button “ Enabled Permissions ” which is green at the bottom of the screen.
- Touch " OK ” on the pop-up message to close it. Now, you should see an orange triangular icon with an exclamation mark (“!”) in it next to “Remote control”.
Step 3. Sign in to your AirDroid account on the computer
If not, click AirDroid ” in the “Start” menu (Windows) or “Applications” folder (MacOS), then enter the same login information as the AirDroid account information on your phone or tablet.
Step 4. Click the binoculars icon on AirDroid on the computer
It's in the left column of the AirDroid app window.
Step 5. Connect the Android device to the computer using a USB cable
Use the cable that came with the device or a compatible cable. In a few moments, a pop-up message will be displayed on the screen of the Android device.
If your Android device is rooted, skip to step seven
Step 6. Touch OK on the Android device to allow USB debugging
If you don't see the option, disconnect the USB cable from the computer and reconnect it.
If you are asked to select a USB configuration on your Android device, touch “ Charging only ”.
Step 7. Select the Android device in the AirDroid window on the computer
You can see it under the " My devices " section in the middle column.
If you don't see the device, make sure that both the device and the computer are connected to the internet
Step 8. Click Remote Control in the AirDroid window on the computer
It's in the lower-right corner of the app window. AirDroid will try to contact the Android device.
Step 9. Click Start Non-Root authority on AirDroid on the computer
With this option, you can control your Android device remotely using mouse buttons. You can also run any application on your Android device, just like you would use your finger on the touch screen of the device.
- If your device is rooted, you don't need to click on that option.
- You may be prompted to initiate a session on the Android device before the device screen is displayed on the computer.
- When finished, touch " DISABLE ” on Android devices to stop sharing screen content and turn off remote permissions.
Part 5 of 5: Sending Text Messages from Computer
Step 1. Enable messaging access on AirDroid on your phone or tablet
You can use AirDroid on your computer to send and receive text messages on your Android device. Since June 2020, you can't send or receive MMS messages (eg photos or group messages) on AirDroid. To enable messaging access:
- Open AirDroid on the Android device.
- Touch " Me ” in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Touch " Security & Remote Features ”.
- Touch " Messages ” at the bottom of the screen.
- Touch the button “ ENABLED PERIMSSIONS ” which is green.
- Touch " ALLOW ”.
- Choose " still enabled ” on the warning message.
Step 2. Sign in to your AirDroid account on the computer
If not, click AirDroid ” in the “Start” menu (Windows) or “Applications” folder (MacOS), then enter the same login information as the AirDroid account information on your phone or tablet.
Step 3. Click the speech bubble icon on AirDroid on the computer
This icon is in the black bar that appears on the left side of the application window. The contents of the device's short message inbox will be displayed.
If there is no message in your inbox, you will see the message “No SMS” or “AirDroid can't access SMS “
Step 4. Click the message to read it
Each message will be displayed in the speech bubbles on the right pane of the application window.
If you don't have a message or just want to send a new message, click “ New message ” at the bottom of the window to open a new chat, then enter the phone number of the recipient you want to call in the field at the top of the screen.
Step 5. Type in the message and click Send
Messages are sent using the device's main messaging service. If you want, you can include an emoji by clicking on the little smiley face icon in the typing area.
- Short message delivery charges apply.
- If you want to block AirDroid's access to messaging, open AirDroid on the Android device, visit the option “ Me ” > “ Security & Remote Features ” > “ Messages, and touch " DISABLE ”.
Tips
- You can also broadcast your Android device's camera feed or highlights on AirDroid if you want. To enable this feature on an Android device, open AirDroid and access settings “ Me ” > “ Security & Remote Features ” > “ Camera, then touch " ENABLED PERMISSIONS " On AirDroid on the computer, click the binoculars icon, select the Android device, and click “ Remote Camera ” to connect the computer to the device.
- There are a variety of other functions available in the desktop version of AirDroid, but the features described above are the options I find the most useful.
