DeX for your Galaxy, anytime and anywhere

Plug in your phone, run one command, and DeX opens in your browser.

npm install -g @subsneaker/dexterous
dexterous
GitHub npm
A phone floating above a ring of computers: a laptop, a monitor, a tablet and a wide monitor. Each screen shows a DeX desktop in a browser tab.

Get started

  1. Turn on USB debugging

    In Settings › About phone › Software information, tap Build number seven times. Then switch on USB debugging in Developer options.

  2. Run dexterous

    Plug in your phone and run the command. Tap Allow when the phone asks.

  3. The DeXterous connect screen. Under a red-orange header, a card titled Connect your phone shows a Galaxy Z Fold8 connected over USB and marked Ready, above a red-orange Start DeX button.

    Press Start DeX

    Pick your phone and DeX fills the tab. Close the tab and your apps move back to the phone.

What you get

  • Windows and a taskbar

    Move, resize and snap apps on a desktop that fits your tab.

  • Keyboard, mouse and touch

    Shortcuts and right-click work, and ⌘ acts as Ctrl on a Mac.

  • Your phone keeps working

    DeX gets its own screen, so calls and apps keep working on the phone.

  • Sound and clipboard

    Phone audio plays in the tab, and copy and paste work both ways.

  • Smooth video

    Hardware decoding at up to 120 frames a second.

  • Locks with the phone

    Lock your phone and DeX stays covered until you unlock it.

What you need

A Galaxy phone or tablet
One UI 8 or newer
Node.js
22.18 or newer
adb
Android platform-tools
A browser
Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari 17+ or Firefox 130+

macOS

brew install node
brew install --cask android-platform-tools

No Homebrew? Get Node.js and platform-tools directly.

Questions

Is it safe?

DeXterous only listens on your own computer unless you start it with --lan. The one thing it sends out is a daily check with npm for a newer version, which you can turn off.

Do I need root or an app on the phone?

No. USB debugging is all it needs.

Which phones work?

Galaxy phones and tablets on One UI 8 or newer. Older versions can't run DeX on a virtual screen.

Does it work over Wi-Fi?

Yes. Turn on Wireless debugging on the phone, then choose Add a phone over Wi-Fi in DeXterous. USB is smoother.

Something isn't working. Where do I look?

See the guide's troubleshooting section, or open an issue.