Phone2Pad - Use your android device as a PC gamepad
A downloadable tool for Windows and Android
I wonder if anyone else is like me, even though I don't really use my phone for gaming, I just love buying all kinds of random gadgets.
Like phone Backbone or Android handhelds. I really like how they look. But they never really have any practical use. Eventually they just end up collecting dust in a corner.
So...
Overview
Phone2Pad allows you to connect Android devices to your Windows PC and use them as game controllers. Whether you're using a physical gamepad or relying on touch input, it provides a solution for sending control signals over a local network.
A demonstrative video:
How It Works
Phone to Pad consists of two parts:
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A mobile app (Android)
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A desktop companion app (Windows)
Once both are installed and connected over Wi-Fi, your phone or handheld can act as a controller for PC games.
Features
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Detects most Android-compatible physical controllers or the integrated controller (Android Handled Consoles)
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Maps inputs to Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 controller signals
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Supports up to 4 connected devices simultaneously (at now)
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Low-latency local network connection
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Pairing via QR code scan or manual IP entry
Virtual Controller (Experimental)
A basic on-screen controller is available for emergency use when no physical gamepad is connected. This feature is still under development and may not be suitable for all game types.
Installation
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Download the desktop app and driver from the links below.
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Install the mobile app on your Android device.
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Launch both apps and follow on-screen instructions to connect.
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Once paired, controller input will be sent to your PC.
Check the tutorial video!
Planned Improvements
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More connection methods
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Enhanced virtual controller behavior
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Additional device support, including potential PS Vita or IOS
Feedback & Support
Phone to Pad is under active development. Your feedback is valuable, feel free to leave comments, report issues, or suggest features. If you find this tool helpful, donations via the app are welcome and help support future updates.
Troubleshooting
1. ViGEm Bus Driver missing error
To use the full virtual controller functionality, the ViGEm Bus Driver is required. It can be downloaded from the following link: https://vigembusdriver.com/
❗ Please note: ViGEm Bus Driver is no longer actively maintained. While it currently works without issues on my system, ongoing compatibility cannot be guaranteed.
2. Unable to connect devices
If the connection fails, you may need to allow Phone2Pad Desktop through Windows Defender Firewall. Follow these steps:
- Press Win + S, type Windows Defender Firewall, and press Enter.
- Click on “Input rules” on the left panel.
- Click on “New rule” on the right panel.
- Follow the steps to fill it out. You need to locate the installation path of Phone2Pad and grant it network permissions (TCP alone may be enough, but to be safe you can allow all).
- Phone2Pad may be installed on one of the following paths:
C:\Program Files\phone2pad desktop preview\phone2pad desktop preview.exe
C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData\Local\phone2pad desktop preview\phone2pad desktop preview.exe
(Thanks @TheTechOfTacos)
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Comments
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Heya, this works great! Initially I couldn't get it to work but I've turned off AP Isolation on my router then it started working.
I want to add onto the discussion here about hiding the screen buttons. When I hide the buttons from the menu, the buttons that I've hidden doesn't seem to register. It's not exactly a hide feature but rather a disable. I would love it if there'd be an option to hide these and keep the screen completely black, following thundermin's comment about burn in as well.
Hi!
I tested it, and the hiding buttons causing them to be unusable is indeed a bug. Thanks for reporting it, I’ll note it down and fix it.
Looking forward to it!
Loving the app, it works amazing! I recommend adding an option to make the overlay disappear if the user is using a phone controller to avoid OLED burn in!
Hello! Thanks for your feedback!
I considered the possibility of using both external controllers and the virtual controller together (there is an use case in my demo video ;), so I didn’t directly disable it. If you prefer not to see the overlay, you can go to the virtual controller page, tap the […] in the top right corner, select "Edit Buttons", and then disable the buttons you don’t want to be displayed
As I was typing this, I realized you made a good point! The […] button can also cause screen burn-in. I’ll add a feature in a future version that lets this button disappear after time
Hello, you can add the gamepad vibrate function, or also in future updates, Xbox and Dual Sense Dual Shock Playstation 4 control pad,and congratulations, you were the genius in creating this wonderful software, comment coming from Brazil, I discovered your project through the gpt chat that mentioned you
Hello, thank you for your support! The vibration feature is already planned for a future update
As for the second point, I'm not entirely sure what you mean. The app can currently simulate both Xbox 360 and DualShock 4 controllers. And if you connect any of the three controllers you mentioned to my mobile app, they will work as well
Finally, wow, glad you found me through gpt 😂 It feels so surreal to be recommended by an AI tool I’ve used
Connection timed out even on same Wi-Fi. Unsure on how to get working
Thank you for being willing to try. Could you tell me what the IP and port on your screen are?
I have the same problem, 192.168.1.120 port 60001
I figured it out you need to add this to windows firewall C:\users\changeuserhere\appdata\local\programs\phone2pad desktop preview\phone2pad desktop preview.exe in Windows Defender Firewall. I added it as udp, and an entry as tcp, you might be able to do any.
Thank you a lot!