SecondScreen
July 08, 2024
More About SecondScreen
PLEASE READ BEFORE DOWNLOADING:
• This app REQUIRES elevated permissions, granted via root access or adb shell commands. The app will do nothing if you do not have a rooted device or access to adb.
• This app is ONLY for devices with AOSP / Google experience ROMs. It is not guaranteed to function properly on devices with manufacturer-skinned ROMs.
• This app does not provide screen mirroring capabilities on its own. Screen mirroring may require either an MHL/SlimPort adapter or a wireless solution such as Miracast or Chromecast.
• A Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is strongly recommended as the app can make UI elements smaller and harder to press on the device itself.
Features:
• Easily change resolution and density (DPI) - take full advantage of the resolution of your external display, and show the Android tablet interface if you're using a phone
• Simple profile-based interface - easy to enable/disable different profiles for different types of displays
• Many configurable options, including:
• Automatically enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi - quickly connect a keyboard, mouse, and/or game controller
• Automatically enable Daydreams
• Show desktop sites in Chrome by default - browse the real Web, on your TV!
• Lock screen orientation to landscape
• Overscan support for older TVs (Android 4.3+)
• System-wide immersive mode (Android 5.0+)
• Disable device backlight and/or vibration - save battery while your device is connected (not compatible with all devices)
• Full integration with Tasker
• Load profiles automatically when a display is connected
• Quick Actions - quickly and easily run SecondScreen features without creating or editing profiles
• Homescreen shortcuts - launch a profile with one tap, without entering the app
Explanation of permissions:
• root access or adb shell commands required to change resolution/DPI, disable backlight/vibration, enable desktop-only mode in Chrome
• "connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi", "view Wi-Fi connections" - required for profiles to enable Wi-Fi
• "access Bluetooth settings", "pair with Bluetooth devices" - required for profiles to enable Bluetooth
• "close other apps" - required to refresh the user interface after a resolution/DPI change. Ensure all data is saved before launching a profile.
• "run at startup" - required to show SecondScreen profile notification after a (soft/hard) reboot
• "modify system settings" - required for profiles to lock rotation and set brightness
This app uses the Device Administrator permission.
Latest Version
2.9.3
July 08, 2024
Braden Farmer
Tools
Android
3,926,750
Free
com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free
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User Reviews
H G
4 years ago
I have really high hopes for this app. However, as it stands, it, without me granting root access, made it so my inbuilt casting program stopped working. I'm hoping that when I uninstall the app I can get everything else to work again easily. I will attempt to get a set up running with this app, and tech I don't mind yeeting to the recycler, later. Otherwise seems bready cool, I'm just too skilled at making things not work?
Jeremy Cohan
3 years ago
Works good, but kinda quirky My phone had crashed while connected and afterwards would not restore the previous resolution. Luckily I could find out how to reset the resolution and density through ADB. ``` ADB shell wm size reset // ADB shell wm density reset ``` also it will occasionally stay locked in landscape mode after disconnecting the display. My phone (Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro) will always reboot with freeform windows enabled.
Braden Hutchinson
5 years ago
This app is everything I've been looking for and more! Does an awesome job resizing the screen and making it look great. Also has some decent protections to make sure you don't turn the settings too high. Finally I can play phone games and emulators on my monitor without black bars on the sides.
A Google user
6 years ago
The app does what it says.But the new notch compatibility mode when turned on views the content in landscape mode while still in portrait screen making it unable to operate at all.After that the screen doesnt respond to touches, unable to do anything,had to format my phone entirely to make things right.it was the second time when i installed it that i found out the notch compatibility option was responsible for this issue. either remove this option or solve the bug, otherwise the app is good.
Arindam B
2 years ago
Frustrating usage on rog5 A13. Inconsistently applying settings to second display, often it applies to the phone display even if display is already connected. Secondly redundant and conflicting settings settable while making this work with Taskbar, ultimately crash. I know the concerns are separate but a single app for both would be better instead. Sometimes a profile will get set then randomly display something about 'to protect your device...' with deadlock scenario, cant update cant revert
Alexander Kouzov
1 year ago
Nice app, but is there any way you could add an option to change screen refresh rate? My usb c to hdmi adapter goes up to 4k 30 hz, but i would imagine i could get 60hz if i were to drop the resolution to 1080/1440p, but even on those resolutions i get 30hz. Manual refresh setting for lower resolutions would be useful for those stuck on a lower end usb c dock. Thank you. :)
Jhangeer Tariq
4 years ago
Good app, can now use custom launcher instead of dex mode. One tip , if you can't revert your display back to normal, just go to your phones display settings and change the resolution up or down so your original system takes over again,then your free to choose your resolution again. Please add feature to reset phone display and or copy it into a profile so at least it's easier to change back.
Soumen Sarkar
5 years ago
It is a very good app which can be installed without rooting your phone hookup with chromecast and take advantage of full HD capability. I would have given 5 stars when I disconnect from other screen it should automatically go to phone's native resolution. I need to create another profile to do that.
A Google user
5 years ago
Works very well, but doesn't restore to previous state. On my phone (Pixel 1 Android Pie) I have an option to change the "display size" in settings. I have this size on "small" but SecondScreen always restores to "default". Is there any way of either detecting this setting or having the user tell SecondScreen this setting in order to restore the screen properly?
JLM M
3 years ago
Overall I am absolutely amazed how smoothly this app works to make my phone fit a standard display. My only actually grip is when I disconnect my phone I have to force the app to stop in order for it to close properly and I do wish the drop down menus still worked when you have it set to expert mode but overall this app really has unlocked my phones ability to use it as a desktop
Sam Koepnick
3 years ago
Just... Wow Okay! I really hate using the word "game changer". But I cannot, for the life of me, think of a better description. This has fundamentally changed the way that I approach remote work. It deserves to be a part of ASOP. USB-C hub with HDMI, ports for power, keyboard and mouse. There are enough customizations to keep you busy when you don't feel like typing out code or doing systems maintenance. I genuinely cannot overstate how useful this is.
A Google user
6 years ago
Cool app. Like the option to change DPIs and backlight off option. Even with screen off we can use the screen as trackpad. But very difficult to find where the cursor is. Is there any option to show a cursor on screen so that it will be easy to track the cursor we touch on screen when the backlight is off. Thanks again for the app.
A Google user
6 years ago
I've been testing using an external monitor via HDMI with the Nvidia Shield tablet. Second Screen is a great app for auto-switching to adapt the tablet's display resolution to be correct for the external monitor. You're able to tweak the resolution, DPI, and other criteria as needed. In my testing, it works well so far and also I didn't have issues upon sleep or wake-up when using Auto Sleeper for car use. Thanks!
A Google user
6 years ago
Android Oreo, smartphone with notch: I use this app to change de dpi of my screen (default is 438) to a lower value, so android auto works fine. (If not, the navigation and notification bars are hidden when screening in my car). PROBLEM: When I close a SecondScreen profile with low dpi, the restaured screen configuration has a different "Display size" than before. I want a Display Size "small", and I always have to set it again in Settings. Please solve this! Is very anoying
A Google user
5 years ago
This app is just what I needed to for my Xperia 1 with its non-standard 21:9 aspect ratio. As mentioned in other reviews it doesn't return the DPI setting to where I had it (small) but rather the next size up (default) this is rather annoying but not the end of the world. I'm sure this could be fixed in an update, hopefully that will happen.
Konan Lim
3 years ago
This application is the perfect pairing with the Taskbar application for creating a good Windows-like desktop environment using Android 10+'s Desktop Mode. My one major complaint, though, is that neither this application nor Taskbar is able to hide or remove the stock navigation bar on the external display, which I presume has something to do with Google's unfortunate depreciation of the "overscan" feature in Android 11.
Violet Metzner
2 years ago
I am experiencing the following issue. I want to force the HDMI output of my device to 1080p60. However, the device I am connecting it to is 4k30 capable. I was hoping this app would allow me to force the resolution to 1080p. However, while the display itself goes to 1080p, the output is still 4k30. It seems that the "communication" with the output device is still left to my phone, rather than being forced to a specific output resolution, which is what I was hoping to achieve.
A Google user
6 years ago
An absolute lifesaver. I decided to hook my Samsung Galaxy S8 to the TV to play some games, only to find out it's stuck in 18.5:9 mode. The workaround of connecting to a Chromecast then changing the ratio was a pain, and just as I was about to give up hope, I find this absolute masterpiece on the Play Store. Locking rotation, setting resolution, reducing DPI...it does it all. It even sets the launcher to Taskbar for you!
Mike Plantan
4 years ago
great app, used with an external touchscreen monitor to use phone more like a tablet and did exactly what was needed without having to root my phone. needed to do a little more digging to understand how to set permissions in adb than what was provided in the app, but that is probably more a statement on my technical skill than anything else. was still up and running with it in about 20 minutes.
Bryant Smith
5 years ago
A few problems on my phone setups. When disabling, the rotation lock doesn't revert back. Also, it will not adjust the resolution and DPI if I am connected to my Sentio Superbook. I have to enable it before I plug the display in. Also, my phone has a notch so there is always a black bar down the side. Freeform windows can occupy the spave but normal apps won't.
