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Released Sep 22, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
He holds a Bachelors degree in English orgasm laude.
When he is not working, he likes to hang out with his felines, playing soccer, or getting in touch with nature.
There’s something pleasing about providing an old piece of tech another factor to exist. My Pixel 4 XL has actually had numerous green lines stumbling upon its screen after a fall broke it. The touch has actually been hit-or-miss, and while the phone still works, utilizing it was annoying enough that I simply left it sitting and transferred to my tablet rather.
<p>I believe I simply discovered a method to make the old phone beneficial once again without gazing at its broken screen. I linked it to my laptop computer to see for myself. </p><h2 id="this-wasn-39-t-the-mirroring-i-expected">
This wasn’t the matching I anticipated
I didn’t believe an old phone might seem like this
The tool I utilized is Android DeXa totally free Windows app that provides a Samsung DeX-like experience for Android gadgets.
<p>Now, there are some distinctions in between Samsung DeX and Android DeX. I anticipated Android DeX to mirror the phone to my PC like DeX, however Android DeX needs you to set up software application on the gadget you desire to utilize as the mirror. Because, it's an additional action, however it can be worth it to get an old phone up and running once again.</p> <p>I downloaded Android DeX and installed it on my laptop computer, then allowed USB debugging in the phone's Developer Options. With the app set up on my Windows 11 laptop computer, I plugged the Pixel in with a USB-C cable television.</p> <p>I was a little stunned to discover that Android DeX opens in a Windows application rather of merely matching the phone screen. I got a desktop-style method to access the Pixel's Android environment from my laptop computer. I might utilize the Android apps in their own windows while still utilizing Windows generally outside Android DeX.</p> <p>There was a taskbar, an app drawer, and different windows, offering me a DeX-like experience without Samsung hardware.</p> <p>I opened YouTube, Brave, Telegram, Chrome, and a lot of other apps inside Android DeX to see how far I might press it. I resized, lessened, broadened, snapped 2 side by side, and closed them like routine Windows apps. I even put a call without any problems whatsoever. My laptop computer's mouse and keyboard worked too. I might respond to messages, key in apps, and drag windows around without touching the phone.</p> <p>That was most likely what I liked most about Android DeX. The Pixel stayed beneficial by itself without hindering the desktop experience, which is a plus for me, as the phone periodically ghost-touches and interrupts my work.</p> I forgot my phone screen was broken
The screen stopped being the point
The greatest advantage was apparent. I didn’t need to utilize the Pixel’s harmed screen any longer. Android DeX is its own environment. Turning off the phone’s screen didn’t impact it at all.
<p>It has fast settings, volume controls, Android settings, a Now playing widget, and all active app icons in the taskbar listed below. Copying text on one side appeared on the other practically quickly, and every notice, Telegram, WhatsApp, or perhaps the weather condition app, dropped in DeX's own notice bar.</p> <p>At one point, I forgot I was still inside Android and grabbed the Windows Start menu to open another app.</p> <p>I might utilize many of my deserted apps once again, some will remain locked in picture even after you broaden their windows to complete screen. Video playback likewise faltered in the background if my mouse was concentrated on other apps. Little things, however they existed.</p> It works wirelessly, too
I didn’t need to keep my phone plugged in
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After utilizing Android DeX over USB, I attempted the cordless connection. I made it possible for Wireless debugging in Developer Options and included the phone to Android DeX utilizing its IP address and port. I didn’t require to set up anything else on the phone as the Windows app managed the desktop side.
With the cable television out of the method, the setup ended up being more useful. I moved the Pixel out of the method and might concentrate on utilizing the apps through Android DeX on the laptop computer without stressing over cable television shake or
19659021]I ‘d constantly presumed just Samsung phones might do something like this, and I coveted that. Seeing it work with my old Pixel without root or any unique specifications was an enjoyable surprise. It features some expenses
Whatever rests on Windows to work
The more I utilized Android DeX, the more apparent its greatest constraint ended up being. My laptop computer became part of the setup and was doing the heavy lifting. This wasn’t turning my Pixel into a standalone PC that I might take anywhere and utilize like a laptop computer. I was just utilizing the phone through Windows.
<p>When I opened Telegram on the Pixel while utilizing it on DeX, the desktop variation stopped reacting. YouTube and other video gamers did the exact same thing. Whatever apps I discussed the Pixel took control of.</p> <p>There are likewise efficiency problems. The more apps I utilized, the slower DeX ended up being. The session would self-close if I had more than 6 apps running all at once. I do not utilize that numerous apps when utilizing the Pixel usually, perhaps a couple of at finest. I was simply curious to discover its limitation.</p> <p>The drain on the laptop computer's battery was an even larger issue for me. It went from completely credited dead in under an hour. I attempted a lighter session with just an app open and absolutely nothing else running on Windows besides Android DeX. I still lost half the battery in under half an hour.</p>
I examined what was really draining pipes the laptop computer, and the Task Manager revealed DeX utilizing around 45 % CPU at one point.
<p>While I would not state this is the standard for everybody due to the fact that my laptop computer is a bit old, it still provides me in between 3 and 5 hours of routine usage. Seeing the battery drained pipes that quick was a shock.</p> <p>For my setup, running Android DeX far from a battery charger isn't something I would attempt unless I definitely require to. The laptop computer is still doing sufficient work that I 'd rather keep it plugged in.</p> My Pixel 4 XL made its location back
Before the screen got bad, I primarily utilized the Pixel. I didn’t anticipate I would ever utilize it for anything severe once again when I dropped it, however Android DeX provided me a method to utilize it without depending on the damaged screen.
<p>Clearly, the screen is still harmed, and DeX merely isn't changing my laptop computer. The battery expense alone rules that out, plus I would not utilize it far from home.</p> <p>At home, where I can keep whatever charged, it's now one of the very first apps running whenever my PC is on. I've been utilizing it far more than the tablet now without believing about it, due to the fact that it centralizes my work. I can position or get a call and do whatever else without averting from my PC. And most notably, I do not need to squint to translucent the lines to do anything any longer.</p> </source></sourcemedia></div>
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