Remote Input

Remote Input is the keyboard your smartphone was always meant to have, transforming your Android device into a wireless, full-featured input controller for your PC, smart TV, or media center.

Instead of relying on bulky peripherals or reaching across the room for a mouse and keyboard, this app leverages your phone’s existing hardware—its touchscreen, accelerometer, and connectivity—to provide precise, low-latency control over any compatible system. It effectively removes the physical barrier between you and your content, allowing you to type, navigate, and command from anywhere within your network.

Core Functionality and Input Modes

The app operates as a dedicated server-client solution, where your smartphone acts as the client, and the target machine (Windows, macOS, or Linux) runs a small receiving application. Once paired over your local Wi-Fi network, the app offers multiple input modes that replace traditional peripherals.

The primary function is a virtual keyboard, which transmits keystrokes in real time. This is not a simple overlay but a fully responsive input field that supports multi-key combinations, modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Win/Cmd), and even special characters. For media center usage, the app provides dedicated remote control layouts that simulate D-pad navigation, volume control, and playback functions, making it ideal for Kodi, Plex, or VLC.

Beyond standard typing, the software includes a trackpad mode. This turns your screen into a touch-sensitive pad, allowing for cursor movement, left/right clicks, and two-finger scrolling. The sensitivity is adjustable, and the gestures are transmitted with minimal latency, making it viable for precise work like selecting text or clicking small links.

Key Technical Advantages

• Real-time keystroke transmission with zero on-device storage: All input is sent directly to the host; no text is saved locally on your phone, preserving privacy.
• Multi-platform host support: Works with Windows, macOS, and Linux, covering the vast majority of desktop and media center operating systems.
• Low-latency Wi-Fi protocol: Uses a custom UDP-based protocol optimized for speed, ensuring that key presses and mouse movements feel immediate rather than laggy.
• Adjustable gesture sensitivity: Users can fine-tune trackpad acceleration and scroll speed to match their personal preference or screen size.

Practical Use Cases

• Home theater control: Navigate streaming services on a TV-connected PC without getting up from the couch.
• Coding or typing on a tablet: Use your phone as a secondary keyboard for a laptop or tablet that lacks a physical keyboard.
• Presentation tool: Control slides and navigate a presentation from across the room without needing a clicker.
• Repair or headless server management: Input commands into a machine that has no monitor or keyboard attached, provided it is on the network.

Installation and Setup

Setup is straightforward. Install the host application on your target computer from the developer’s official website, ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, launch the app on your phone, and it will automatically discover the host. The connection is secured by a simple pairing code to prevent unauthorized access.

Consider downloading Remote Input if you frequently interact with a computer from a distance or want a more flexible input solution for your media center. It is a practical tool for users who value convenience and the ability to control their digital environment without physical constraints.

Internet required. In-app purchases available for extended feature sets.