Today, we carry in our pockets a device far more powerful than many older computers. Smartphones have evolved from simple phones into cameras, portable game consoles, remote controls, media players, and just about anything else you can imagine. One of the most interesting features, and one that many people still don't take advantage of, is using them as a PC controller.
If you enjoy playing computer games or simply want to control your PC from the couch without constantly getting up, using your phone as a controller can be a lifesaver. It's not as comfortable as a quality physical gamepad, but for a quick fix or to avoid spending money on a dedicated controller, it works surprisingly well and, in many cases, it's completely free.
Advantages and limitations of using your mobile phone as a PC controller
The main advantage of this idea is obvious: you don't need to buy an additional controller . If you already have an Android phone or iPhone, and a Windows PC (or even Linux or macOS in some cases), you can set up a system in just a few minutes to play games or control your computer remotely.
Another strong point is versatility. Many of these apps allow you to completely change the button layout , choose designs that mimic classic or modern console controllers, add touch zones, use the gyroscope as a steering wheel, use your phone as a keyboard or mouse… In short, they not only serve as a gamepad, but also as a remote control tool for everyday use.
However, it's also important to be aware of the less appealing aspects. A touchscreen never offers the same tactile feedback as a controller with physical buttons. The lack of a "click" makes us more prone to errors in demanding games or those with numerous key combinations. Furthermore, the ergonomics are different: holding your phone for hours as if it were a controller can be more tiring than using a gamepad designed for that purpose.
In tests conducted with titles like Elden Ring, Vampire Survivors, Hogwarts Legacy, and Dragon's Dogma , the experience is quite good in games with simple controls or those that don't require too many quick button combinations. In more complex games, especially those that require chaining abilities or spells, the limitations of the virtual controller become more noticeable, particularly in terms of precision and comfort.
Finally, it's important to know that these solutions are designed for using your phone as a controller on your PC, not on consoles . Home consoles typically have closed systems, and developers don't allow this type of connection, so forget about using these apps to control your PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.
Max Remote: Turn your Android into a classic PC controller
One of the best-known apps for this purpose is Max Remote. With it, you can transform your phone's screen into a virtual controller for computer games , with designs reminiscent of classic consoles.
Max Remote is available for free on Google Play for Android mobile devices, and also has its own program for Windows, Linux, and macOS PCs . For Windows, it even includes a portable version, so you can use it without permanently installing anything on your computer—ideal if you don't want to clutter your system with programs or if you're going to use it on a shared computer.
The setup is very simple. First, download and install Max Remote on your mobile device and the Max Remote Server client on your computer. Then, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network . Once that's done, run Max Remote Server on your PC and then open the app on your phone. Both devices will automatically detect each other and establish a connection without you having to deal with any advanced settings.
Once your phone and PC are linked, you can start using Max Remote as a controller. The app lets you choose from different button layouts that mimic controllers like the SNES, NES, N64, or PS3 , among many others. This is very useful if you want to relive retro games or simply prefer the layout of a specific console.
In addition to these predefined templates, Max Remote lets you create your own custom controller . You can decide the number of buttons, their size, their position on the screen, and which key or keyboard action each one emulates. This way, if you play an unusual game or one with a strange control scheme, you can adapt the layout to your liking and gain a lot of comfort.
PC Remote and Monect: remote, keyboard and mouse in one app
Another popular solution is PC Remote, developed by Monect. This app, along with its desktop plugin, lets you use your mobile phone as a game controller, mouse, keyboard, touchpad, and much more , all within the same platform.
The process involves two components. First, you install PC Remote on your Android phone from the Play Store. Second, you download and install PC Remote Receiver on your Windows PC from the official Monect website. Once both are set up, simply ensure that your phone and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
When you open the apps on both devices, you'll see a list of devices detected via Wi-Fi on your phone. Your PC's name should appear in that list. Simply tap the computer's name , and the connection will be established in a couple of seconds. From then on, you can control the computer without needing to touch the physical mouse or keyboard.
From a gaming perspective, the most interesting section is "Layouts ." Here, PC Remote offers several pre-made layouts for popular games, such as Forza Horizon, GTA V, Call of Duty, and It Takes Two, among others. Each layout adapts the virtual buttons to the standard controls of each title, so you can start playing almost instantly.
If you want to fine-tune things further, you can click the pencil icon to edit each layout to your liking : move buttons, change their size, modify which keyboard keys or actions they perform, and so on. And if the game you use isn't listed, don't worry: PC Remote includes a built-in layout that emulates the Xbox controller, very useful as a generic template for almost any title that supports gamepads.
The experience isn't limited to gaming. In PC Remote's "Touchpad" tab , you'll find a touch area that functions like a laptop trackpad, complete with a scroll bar and left, right, and middle mouse buttons. It's ideal for managing presentations, browsing the internet on the couch, or controlling a PC connected to your TV.
On that same screen, you can tap the keyboard icon to open your phone's virtual keyboard. This way, everything you type on your phone will appear on your computer screen , which is very convenient for entering web addresses, searching in apps, or writing quick messages without having to go to your PC.
Monect PC Remote also incorporates some quite advanced features. For example, it allows you to share your PC screen and camera in real time with your mobile phone , turn your phone into a virtual camera for use as a webcam in video calls or live streams, transfer files between devices, or even add up to four virtual monitors to extend your computer desktop.
For the more creative users, it's possible to use your mobile phone as a graphics tablet with pressure-sensitive stylus support , compatible with graphic editing programs like Adobe Photoshop (a registered trademark in the United States and other countries). All of this is protected by 256-bit AES encryption to guarantee the security of the remote connection, which is important if you access your PC over the internet and not just on your local network.
In terms of connectivity, Monect offers plenty of options: you can connect via local Wi-Fi, remote Wi-Fi, USB, your phone's own Wi-Fi hotspot, or Bluetooth . This variety means you can use the app in almost any situation, regardless of the network available.
HandyGamePad: a virtual controller designed for PC gaming
If your main interest is playing PC games without spending money on a physical controller, HandyGamePad is a great alternative to consider. It's an app designed to simulate a video game controller on your smartphone , connecting to your computer via Wi-Fi or USB cable.
The setup process is straightforward. First, download the official HandyGamePad installer for Windows, which includes both the desktop application and the necessary drivers. Then, install the HandyGamePad app on your Android phone from the Play Store . Once that's done, open the desktop application on your PC and you'll see a window with an available "Free Slot".
In that window, press the "Start" button at the bottom to activate the server. Then, on your mobile device, launch HandyGamePad and the virtual controller will appear on the screen. To begin connecting, tap the button with the app's logo in the center of the controller and select the "Connect" option.
At that point, the app displays a short tutorial with the connection options: you can connect via the same Wi-Fi network or via USB . For Wi-Fi, it's essential that both your PC and mobile device are connected to the same router. You choose your preferred connection type, and the app will search for an available PC.
When your phone detects your computer, it will appear in a list, and you'll just need to tap on it. A screen will then appear showing your available usage time : with the free version, it's 10 minutes per session, after which you must reconnect; if you agree to watch an ad, the time increases to 20 minutes; and if you purchase the Pro version (a one-time payment of around €3), usage becomes unlimited.
Once you've chosen the time, the connection is established automatically and you can start playing. Within HandyGamePad, you can change the type of virtual controller and even activate the use of your phone's gyroscope to control certain games as if you were using a steering wheel. You can also modify the interface to adapt it to different game genres, depending on whether you prefer a traditional controller layout, an arcade-style layout, or a specific racing layout.
In practical tests, the HandyGamePad performed solidly, delivering more than decent performance in demanding games as long as the connection was stable. In titles like Elden Ring, Vampire Survivors, Hogwarts Legacy, and Dragon's Dogma , the response was fluid, although, as with all touchscreen solutions, it struggled a bit in games requiring many rapid button combinations. For simpler games or those focused on a few buttons, the experience is very similar to using a traditional controller, except for the ergonomics.
An interesting feature of the Pro version is that it allows you to connect multiple phones to the same computer . This opens the door to local multiplayer games with friends using their own phones as controllers, ideal for fighting games, cooperative titles, or couch co-op games without needing to buy multiple physical gamepads.
Give your old Android a second life: PC controller, mouse, and keyboard
You probably have an old smartphone tucked away in a drawer, just in case. Instead of letting it gather dust, you can repurpose it as a wireless controller, mouse, or keyboard for your PC , taking advantage of many of the apps we've mentioned, especially PC Remote.
The setup is very simple: install PC Remote on your old phone and PC Remote Receiver on your computer, connect both to the same Wi-Fi network, open the apps, and select your PC from your phone. In a matter of seconds, you'll have a multi-function remote ready to control your computer without spending a single penny more.
From the “Layouts” tab, you can choose between game-specific configurations or the generic Xbox controller layout. This turns your recycled phone into a kind of universal controller for PC games , perfect if you only play occasionally and don't want to invest in a dedicated gamepad.
In addition to controller mode, the "Touchpad" tab turns your phone into a touchpad for moving the cursor and clicking , complete with a scroll bar and mouse buttons. It's ideal for controlling a PC connected to your living room TV, for presentations, or for managing your computer from bed without having to get up.
With the keyboard icon, you can type directly from your mobile device, which is very useful if you need to enter short text on your PC without a physical keyboard . The only drawback is that the free version of PC Remote includes ads within the app that may appear occasionally.
Can a GameSir X2 Pro or Backbone One type controller be used as a PC controller?
Beyond virtual controllers, many users already have physical mobile controllers , such as the GameSir X2 Pro or the second-generation Backbone One, designed to attach the phone between two side modules and turn it into a portable console.
The big question is whether these controllers can be used like a PC gamepad while connected to a smartphone , perhaps using the phone's Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection as a bridge to the computer. Unfortunately, the answer isn't so straightforward or universal.
In general, most of these controllers are designed to connect to the phone itself (via USB-C or Lightning) and not to the PC. You could potentially play on your PC using streaming solutions (such as apps that mirror your computer's screen to your phone and send the controls back), but that falls under the category of cloud gaming or remote desktop apps, not using the controller directly as a standard Bluetooth device for Windows. Therefore, it's advisable to carefully review the specifications of each product or the manufacturer's instructions; if you need guidance, see how to connect a PS4 controller to a PC.
In some specific cases, if the controller supports independent Bluetooth mode , you could pair it directly to your PC and forget about your phone, but this depends entirely on the specific model and what its firmware allows. This isn't something we can take for granted with all clip-on smartphone controllers, so it's advisable to carefully review the specifications of each product or the manufacturer's instructions.
Use your smartphone as a remote control at home: TV, streaming and more
Besides controlling your PC, your mobile phone can also serve as a remote control for your television, streaming devices, air conditioners, or soundbars . This is where other types of apps come into play, focused on controlling the smart home rather than video games.
One of the most widely used apps is the official Roku app. With it, you can control your Roku device or your TV with built-in Roku from your phone, on both Android and iOS. It includes buttons for quick access to services like Netflix, Roku Channel, Disney+, and others, as well as allowing you to adjust the volume, pause, play, fast forward, and rewind content.
Roku also allows what they call "private listening": you can connect headphones to your phone and listen to the TV yourself , which is very convenient if you don't want to disturb the rest of the house. In addition, the app includes an on-screen keyboard for faster typing in app searches and a voice search system, which saves you from having to type long titles.
Beyond Roku, there are apps like Universal Remote Control, which stand out for their broad compatibility with multiple TV brands . On many models, this app doesn't just mimic a generic universal remote; it adapts the interface to match the TV's original remote, providing an experience very similar to using a physical remote.
This app lets you choose between Smart TV remotes or IR (infrared) remotes, provided your phone has an infrared emitter. While it does have ads, they're not usually too intrusive, so in many cases you don't even need to pay for a lifetime license to remove them. It's available for both Android and iOS.
Another popular solution is the Universal Remote Control. Its main advantage is its versatility, as it allows you to control not only televisions from different brands, but also Android TV boxes, Roku devices, air conditioners, soundbars, DVD players, and other smart home devices. It supports both Wi-Fi and infrared connections, provided the smartphone allows it.
The main drawback of Universal Remote Control is that it includes advertising with no option to remove it by paying, which may annoy some users. Furthermore, it's primarily designed for Android devices, with some limitations on other platforms.
For those with a modern Smart TV, there are also specific apps that work directly via Wi-Fi on the same local network . As soon as the TV and mobile device are connected to the same router, the system automatically detects it and allows you to control channels, volume, video playback, menus, and general settings from your smartphone, without needing to point an IR remote or anything similar.
Finally, CetusPlay Remote Control deserves a mention. This multifunctional application can emulate remote controls for Smart TVs, Android TV Boxes, Fire TV/Stick devices, and Chromecast . It allows you to control multiple devices simultaneously from a single interface, switching between them as needed.
CetusPlay offers various navigation methods (keyboard, mouse, touchpad, etc.) , facilitates the installation and uninstallation of apps directly from your phone, and allows you to send photos, videos, and other files from your mobile device to your TV's big screen. It also supports M3U playlists for watching live streams. It is available for both Android and iOS.
Taken together, all these apps demonstrate that your mobile phone can become the centralized remote control for your digital home , reducing the need for multiple physical remotes scattered around the living room and even allowing you to control smart bulbs from your PC . However, each app is usually geared towards a specific type of device, so it's advisable to carefully check compatibility before choosing one.
By combining all these options, the smartphone goes from being just a phone to becoming a PC game controller, mouse, wireless keyboard, and remote control for most devices in the living room . It doesn't match the convenience of a good physical gamepad or a dedicated TV remote, but it offers a flexible, inexpensive, and immediate solution for almost any situation where you need a remote control and don't have another one handy.
