This is a gem of an app that turns your android phone into a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard for other devices.

Edit:

What makes this app different from other “remote control” apps? Most of them need a “server” or “companion” app to be installed on your other device. This app doesn’t. It just needs pairing via Bluetooth.

I use it to control an Android tv box. As you know typing with on-screen keyboards on tv screens is an absolute pain.

With this app you can type anything on your smartphone and send it to any text field on your other device. You can also add cistom keys and key combinations. Note the CTRL+A shortcut key i have added for select all in the screenshot for example.

It can also work as a mouse with customizable buttons.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.appground.blek

  • Koffiato@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    As an alternative, you could consider KDE Connect. It does a lot more than just keyboard and touchpad. You can even send files both ways extremely quickly.

    • Dettweiler@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It looks like you have to install KDE connect on both devices, and they have to be on the same network. Handy, but completely different type of app and method of execution.

      • mFat@lemdro.idOP
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        1 year ago

        Yeah this app needs no “server” app. It’s original name was “serverless keyboard and mouse”

    • Mrrdrr@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      While i adore the project. I tried it for a year and it got to the point that i had made a script to restart the process as the reliability of it actually working was non-existent. Off course it never worked when it could’ve saved some time. I usually ended up telegramming files.

      This was on android & windows connection maybe 1-2 years ago. Maybe it’s gotten better. I haven’t had to use it as the Motorola Ready For -desktop companion is doing good.