Dextop

Project Overview

Dextop is an open-source Android app that creates a virtual display and provides a desktop-like workspace using only a smartphone. Since version 1.5.0 it includes a built-in privileged access runtime that works with Android system services to control app launching, window placement, touch input, and orientation. The app probes device capabilities at runtime and tries compatible backends in order, supporting multi-window layouts, saved workspaces, and external mice and keyboards.

One phone, one desktop.

Key Features

• Virtual displays: configurable resolution, density, and portrait or landscape orientation
• Desktop launcher: a desktop-like app launcher
• Workspaces: save and restore the placement of multiple apps, with JSON import and export
• Window layouts: two-pane, three-pane, four-pane, and more
• Input modes: cursor and direct-touch modes with tap, long-press, drag, right-click, and multi-finger gestures
• Peripheral support: physical mice and keyboards, with input routing on supported devices
• Multi-display topology: saved monitor placement and cross-display pointer routing
• Taskbar and refresh rate: automatic desktop taskbar hiding and optional built-in-display high refresh rate
• Android Auto: separate Parking and Driving companions for in-car use
• Diagnostics and reports: diagnostic reports with logs, capability probes, and device specs

Target Audience

• Users who want to use a phone as a desktop
• Users of desktop environments such as Samsung DeX
• Advanced users needing multi-window and peripheral operation

Quick Start

1. Install Dextop from Google Play or GitHub Releases
2. Complete phone setup on first launch; version 1.5.0 and later configure built-in access automatically
3. Create a virtual display in settings and choose the resolution and orientation
4. Enter the desktop workspace, arrange apps, and save it as a workspace

Core Advantages

• No external service: since 1.5.0 it includes the access runtime, needing no separate privileged service
• Works with existing setups: detects and uses an available privileged service automatically
• Inspectable capabilities: probes device capabilities at runtime with diagnostics and compatibility reports

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
OS	Android 10 or later; most devices need Android 14 or later
Recommended	Samsung DeX (One UI 8 or later)
Not supported	the desktop environment is disabled on Xiaomi MIUI and HyperOS
Build from source	Flutter

Notes

• Depends on Android hidden APIs and OEM behavior, so results vary by model and OS version
• Not supported on Xiaomi HyperOS and later, with limited support on OPPO and Pixel
• Some features may not work on specific firmware; see the compatibility reports