Screen mirroring : old school

Today we have a plethora of apps available to mirror an android’s screen to a pc. They range from installing an application from the play store and then a client on the workstation. However today we are going to discuss something a bit old fashioned requiring a USB cable. One good way to mirror an android’s screen is to exploit the adb functionality.

Prerequisites: Android SDK, USB drivers of the mobile device, androidscreencast, a device(rooted would open additional functionalities)

Step 1. Open cmd and make sure that the adb service is running. You can do this by executing adb.exe and then checking it’s status by

Step 2. Connect device to workstation by USB and go to developer options, click on connect via adb. You can also check allow root access over adb.

Step 3. Once you connect the device and the adb service is running you get a prompt on the device and can check the trust this pc option. Query for the device Id to make sure that it is properly connected and identified by executing

Step 4. You are now ready. Navigate to the androidscreencast file and execute javaws androidscreencast.jlnp. Of everything was correctly set up you can get your device screen mirrored on your workstation.

By the interface you can also record an activity, the mirroring is however not super smooth but it is good enough for demonstration and record purposes.