🌟 Deskreen Free & Open Source: Turn Any Device into a Second Screen

Deskreen is a free open-source tool that turns any device with a browser into your computer's second monitor. Scan a QR code, set up in 3 minutes, and unlock multi-screen productivity.

One QR code, three minutes to set up, and your multi-screen productivity is unleashed.

Have you ever struggled with insufficient screen space? Or wanted to share your screen but couldn't find a suitable projection device? Deskreen, this open-source wonder, solves these problems — it can turn any device into your computer's second screen through a browser.

Whether it's an idle old phone, a tablet, or another computer, all you need is a modern browser, and it instantly becomes your extended display. Best of all, it's completely free!

1. What is Deskreen?

Deskreen is an open-source application built on Electron.js and WebRTC technology that streams your computer screen in real time to any device with a web browser.

This means your old phone, idle tablet, or even another laptop can instantly transform into a second screen for your computer. Deskreen was born out of a simple need: enabling older devices to enjoy functionality similar to Apple's Sidecar.

The developer, unwilling to buy new hardware just for Sidecar, built this cross-platform solution himself. It became wildly popular and has now earned nearly 19k Stars on GitHub.

2. Features

2.1 Flexible Display Modes

Deskreen offers three practical display modes for different scenarios:

• Extended Mode: Use as a standalone monitor to truly expand your workspace. You can place your code editor on the main screen and documents on the extended screen, greatly boosting efficiency.
• Mirror Mode: Duplicate the main screen content, perfect for meeting presentations or teaching scenarios. Attendees can clearly see your screen on their own devices without crowding around one monitor.
• Window Mode: Precisely share a single application window (e.g., only showing a PowerPoint while hiding other private content). This is especially useful when privacy matters — you can share just the presentation without worrying about accidentally exposing sensitive information.

2.2 Practical Features

• Screen Flip: Rotate the display 180° with one click to turn it into a teleprompter — a godsend for video recording or live streaming.
• Multi-Device Support: Connect multiple devices simultaneously to build your own "screen matrix." This is incredibly useful for professionals who need to monitor multiple data sources.
• Adaptive Quality: Customize resolution and frame rate, dynamically optimizing based on network conditions. Even with poor network conditions, you can maintain a relatively smooth experience.

2.3 Security Design

Deskreen is designed with security in mind: it uses end-to-end encryption at the same level as online banking (based on WebRTC's secure channels), and supports connection passwords and temporary links (with automatic timeout), ensuring worry-free business presentations or sensitive operations.

3. Advantages of Deskreen

Compared with other similar tools, Deskreen has several clear advantages:

Deskreen is not a remote control tool — it's a dedicated screen sharing and extension tool. It doesn't require installing any application on the receiving device, just a modern browser.

4. Tutorial: Set Up Deskreen in Three Steps

Using Deskreen is very simple — just three steps:

Step 1: Download and Install

First, download the version for your operating system from Deskreen's official website or GitHub page. Deskreen supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

⬇️ Download Link: https://github.com/pavlobu/deskreen/releases

After downloading, run the installer. The installation process is the same as any regular software.

Step 2: Run and Connect Devices

• Launch the Deskreen application on your computer.
• Once running, Deskreen will display a QR code and a URL.
• Make sure your computer and the target device (phone, tablet, etc.) are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Scan the QR code or enter the displayed URL in the browser on the target device.

Step 3: Choose Share Mode and Confirm

• Confirm the connection request on your computer by clicking "Allow".
• Select the screen sharing scope: "Share Entire Screen" or "Share Application Window".
• Confirm the settings one final time by clicking "Confirm".

Done! You should now see your computer's screen content in the browser on the target device. You can repeat this process to connect more devices.

5. Use Cases

Deskreen has a wide range of applications:

• Efficiency Enthusiasts: Use a tablet to extend code, documents, or chat windows and say goodbye to sore fingers from Alt+Tab.
• Teachers/Instructors: Share your screen in class to student devices for clear demonstrations without a projector.
• Gamers: Extend game maps or chat windows to a secondary screen for a more immersive experience.
• Developers: Preview web pages in real time on your phone, saving the hassle of repeated deployment and debugging.
• Video Creators: Flip the screen to turn it into a teleprompter for smoother recording.
• Remote Work: Team members can use Deskreen to share screens to colleagues' mobile devices, enabling convenient demonstrations during remote meetings.

6. Tips and Best Practices

For the best Deskreen experience, consider the following tips:

• Ensure a Good Network Connection: Deskreen shares screen video over WiFi, so network quality directly affects streaming smoothness.
• Adjust Quality Settings as Needed: Under poor network conditions, lower the resolution and frame rate to improve smoothness.
• Use Application Window Sharing Flexibly: When you only need to share a single app (like a PowerPoint presentation), use application window sharing instead of the entire screen — it protects privacy and reduces bandwidth usage.
• Security First: Although Deskreen uses end-to-end encryption, be cautious when using it on public networks.
• Use Multiple Devices Simultaneously: If you need to use several devices as secondary screens at once, consider splitting tasks — dedicate each device to a specific task (e.g., one for documents, one for communication tools).

7. Installation and System Requirements

7.1 System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 7 or above, Linux (various distributions), macOS.
• Available Disk Space: 210MB.
• Memory: A single screen-sharing session requires approximately 250MB on average, with an additional ~100MB per extra session.
• CPU:
• Windows: Any modern dual-core CPU.
• macOS: Any modern CPU.
• Linux: Any modern CPU, even single-core ARM (e.g., Raspberry Pi).

7.2 Installation Methods

• Direct Download Installation (easiest):
  Visit Deskreen's GitHub Release page (https://github.com/pavlobu/deskreen/releases), download the installer for your operating system, and install it directly.
• Install via Package Manager (for technical users):
• macOS users can use Homebrew: brew install --cask deskreen.
• Linux users can use the appropriate package manager.
• Build from Source (for developers):

# Clone the project locally
git clone https://github.com/pavlobu/deskreen.git

# Enter the project directory
cd deskreen

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start in development mode
npm start

Summary

Deskreen is a powerful, flexible, and completely free screen sharing and extension tool that can turn any device with a browser into your computer's second screen. Whether you want to boost work efficiency, give presentations, or conduct training sessions, Deskreen can play a huge role.

Its cross-platform nature, simple and intuitive interface, and robust security features make it stand out among many screen tools. Most importantly, as open-source software, it's not only free to use but also backed by an active community that continuously improves and updates it.

If you have idle old devices lying around, or need multi-screen functionality on a budget, give Deskreen a try today and unleash your multi-screen productivity!

Note: This is the English translation of the original Chinese version.