How can I connect and use my device with a computer or tablet?

There's no doubt that your Galaxy smartphone is powerful. But, did you know that you can connect your device up to a computer monitor and use it as a portable PC? With Samsung DeX you can get a desktop experience, without the need for a desktop. Using your monitor and device you can multitask, play games and easily get productivity tasks done, making it possible to ditch the desktop for good.

 

You can also connect your smartphone or Galaxy watch to your tablet or PC using Samsung Flow. Samsung Flow enables a seamless and secure experience between your devices. Using the app you can share content between devices, sync notifications and view your smartphone content on a bigger screen.  

Samsung DeX Samsung DeX

Samsung DeX

There are a few different ways that you can connect and use Samsung DeX. You can use DeX with a PC or Mac or directly through a monitor. If you are connecting to a PC all you need is a compatible USB cable. If you are connecting directly to a monitor you will need a Dex Station, DeX Pad or compatible HDMI adaptor.

 

DeX with a PC

1 Download the DeX app on your PC or Mac
2 Open the DeX for PC app on your desktop
3 Connect your device to your PC with a USB cable
4 Your device will connect to your computer and the DeX interface will appear

DeX with a monitor or without a PC

1 Connect a DeX Station, DeX Pad or HDMI adaptor to your external display. This can be a TV or monitor
3 If using a mouse and keyboard, connect or pair them to the DeX Station, DeX Pad or your device. Find out more about pairing Bluetooth device
3 Connect your device to the DeX station, DeX Pad or HDMI adaptor
4 Your device will connect to your monitor and the DeX interface will appear

Once the DeX interface appears on your screen, you can interact with it in a similar way to a typical PC. 

DeX interface explained
1 Desktop apps - these apps are on the home screen of the DeX interface for easy access
2 DeX home - click here to exit DeX, Lock DeX and find out how to use DeX
3 Apps - see all of the apps on your connected device. Some apps may not be compatible with DeX. If you try to open a non-compatible app, you will be asked to run it in phone mode
4 Navigation buttons - these are the same as the navigation buttons on your connected device. Starting from the left you have the recent apps, home and back buttons
5 Status bar - these icons replicate the status indicator icons on the top right of your connected device
6 Keyboard - click this icon to open the keyboard on your connected device. You can now use the keyboard on your device to type into the DeX interface

DeX can be used for loads of things that you would normally open your laptop or boot up your PC to do. In some situations, DeX is even more useful than a regular desktop. Use the ideas below to see how you can make the most of DeX.

 

Make presentations a breeze

 

Save your presentation to your device before connecting it to the monitor in the meeting room. You can then flip through the slides on your phone.

Make presentations a breeze

Screen mirroring and note taking

 

Mirror your tablet to the TV in the conference room for a better view. You can take notes on your connected tablet at the same time.

Screen mirroring and note taking

See more details on the big screen

 

Help bring the details of your artwork to life with Adobe Sketch. Zoom in and draw on your device while getting the full picture on your monitor.

See the details on a bigger screen

Make the most of multitasking

 

Connect your device to the TV so that you can watch YouTube videos while still using your phone.

Make the most of multitasking

Please note: Samsung DeX may not work correctly if your PC or Mac does not meet the minimum requirements

Samsung DeX is currently available on the following tablets and smartphones:

 

Smartphones

  • Galaxy Fold
  • Galaxyy A90 5G
  • Galaxy Note10 series
  • Galaxy S10 series
  • Galaxy Note9
  • Galaxy S9 and S9+
  • Galaxy Note8
  • Galaxy S8 and S8+

 

Tablets

  • Galaxy Tab S4
  • Galaxy Tab S5e
  • Galaxy Tab S6

 

Your PC or Mac should meet the following requirements to use Samsung DeX

 

Windows PC

- OS: Windows 10 or Windows 7 SP1 or higher

-CPU: Intel Core i3 2.4 GHz processor or higher, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx or above

-Minimum memory: 4GB (8GB recommended)

-Disk space: at least 500MB

-USB: a free USB 2.0 port

-Screen resolution: 1024 x 768, 32 bit or above

 

Mac

-OS: High Sierra (macOS 10.13) or Mojave (macOS 10.14)

-CPU: Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz or higher

-Minimum memory: 4GB (8GB recommended)

-Disk space: at least 500MB

-USB: a free USB 2.0 port

Having trouble connecting to your monitor? Can't see the DeX interface on your screen? Something doesn't look quite right?

 

View the Samsung DeX user manual or visit the Samsung DeX customer support site for all your troubleshooting questions.

Samsung Flow header image

Samsung Flow

1 Download the Samsung Flow app on your smartphone and tablet or PC
2 Open the Samsung Flow app on both devices
open the Flow app on both devices
3 Choose your phone from the list on your tablet or PC
Choose your phone from the list
4 Choose your preferred Connection method. If your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, choose Wi-Fi or LAN. If not, choose Bluetooth
Choose your preferred connection method
5 A passcode will appear on the screen. Tap OK to confirm the passcode on both devices
Tap OK on both devices to confirm the passcode
6 Accept the permissions that Samsung Flow needs to function. The Samsung Flow app requires access to your location, storage, phone, contacts, SMS and microphone

Please note: you can use Samsung Flow without allowing access to your phone, contacts, SMS and microphone, however some features will be unavailable

Samsung Flow includes a screen mirroring feature called Smart View. This allows you to view and use your smartphone on a bigger screen. Once connected, you can activate Smart View at any time.

1 Open the Samsung Flow app on your tablet or PC
2 Select the Smart View icon. The Smart View icon looks like a play button
Tap the smart view icon
3 Your smartphone screen will appear on the display
Your smartphone screen will appear on your device
4 Tap the rotate button to change the orientation of the screen
Tap the rotate button to change the orientation of the screen
5 Tap the full screen button to enter full screen mode. To see the menu again, swipe in from any corner of the screen
Ta the full screen icon to enter full screen mode
6 Tap the show phone screen button to turn the brightness of your phone screen up or down
Tap the show phone screen button to change the brightness on your smartphone
7 Tap the screen capture button to take a screenshot
Tap the screen capture button to take a screenshot
8 Tap the back button to exit smart view
Tap the back button to exit smart view

You can use Samsung Flow to quickly move files between your connected devices. You can only move files from certain Samsung apps, but files from third-party apps can often be found through My Files.

1 Open the Samsung Flow app on both of your connected devices
Open Samsung Flow on both devices
2 Tap the add icon on the device where the file you want to share is stored
Tap the add button
3 Tap the app where the content you want to share is stored

Please note: you will only be able to share files from certain apps made by Samsung. If your file is from a non-Samsung app, it may be stored within My Files

Tap the app where the file you want to share is stored
4 Select the file you want to share
Tap the file or files you want to share
5 Tap Done
Tap done
6 Your file will appear in the flow history and will be automatically saved to your device
The file will appear in your flow history

Once your devices have been connected through Samsung Flow, you can easily unlock your tablet or PC with your smartphone. Your device can be unlocked using the biometric data on your phone or passwords and patterns, just choose the lock type that you prefer.

1 Open the Samsung Flow app on your smartphone
Open the Samsung Flow app o your smartphone
2 Tap the options icon
Tap the options icon
3 Tap Manage devices
Tap Manage devices
4 Tap the device you want to open using flow
Tap the device you want to open with Flow
5 Tap Unlocked phone (Simple unlock) to sign into Samsung Flow with your unlocked phone

Please note: if you haven't set up a lock method, you will be asked to do so

Tap unlocked phone (simple unlock)
6 Tap Samsung Pass to sign in to Samsung Flow with your Samsung Pass biometrics

Please note: if you haven't set up Samsung Pass and registered your biometrics, you will be asked to do so

Tap Samsung Pass

If your tablet doesn't have a data connection, you can share internet access from your smartphone. This will automatically activate whenever you are connected using Samsung Flow.

1 Open the Samsung Flow app on your smartphone
Open Samsung Flow on your smartphone
2 Tap the options icon
Tap the options icon
3 Tap Settings
Tap Settings
4 Tap Mobile hotspot

Please note: you can only use the mobile hotspot feature if you are connected using Bluetooth. If you cannot see the mobile hotspot settings, please change your connection method

Tap Mobile Hotspot

Windows tablet and PC requirements

  • Windows 10 OS Creators update (V1703)
  • June patch build (15063.413)

 

Android tablet requirements

  • Android Marshmallow operating system or higher

 

Android smartphone requirements

  • Android Marshmallow operating system or higher

 

Samsung wearable requirements

  • Tizen 3.0 operating system or higher

If you're experiencing unusual behaviour on Samsung mobiles, tablets or wearables, you can send us an error report or ask us a question in the Samsung Members app.

 

This allows us to take a closer look at what is happening. The data is anonymised and only held for the duration of the investigation. Find out more about sending an error report through the Samsung Members app.

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