How to set up Samsung DeX on your Galaxy smartphone or tablet

Modern smartphones come with impressive computing power and can help you complete most of your daily tasks from the palm of your hand. However, sometimes, a phone’s screen is a bit too small, and a desktop interface is more appropriate. Samsung provides most of its best devices with the DeX feature, which allows you to unleash the full power of your smartphone or tablet and turn it into an actual desktop computer by connecting it to an external monitor and accessories. Read on to learn more about DeX and how it can help your phone replace your computer.

What is Samsung DeX?

Samsung DeX is a way to turn your Samsung device into a desktop computer by connecting it to an external monitor and peripherals. DeX comes preinstalled with most higher-end Samsung Galaxy devices released after 2017, namely the Galaxy S8, S9, S10, S20, S21, S22, and S23 phones, as well as the Note8, Note9, Note10, and Note20 devices and the A90 5G. In addition, the TabS4, 5e, Active Pro, S6, S7, S7, and Active 3 work with DeX, as well as the Fold, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, and Z Fold4.

DeX requires a USB-C to HDMI connector and potentially an external keyboard and mouse to function fully. In some cases, you may not need an adapter, as you can wirelessly cast your screen to a compatible TV. Also, if you have a Windows PC, you can use a USB cable to open DeX as an app on your computer, but this last step defeats the purpose of using your phone as a computer. The process is easy and doesn’t require much IT knowledge.

How to use Samsung DeX with an HDMI monitor

The easiest way to turn your Galaxy device into a computer is to plug it into an HDMI monitor using a USB-C to HDMI cable.

1. Connect the USB-C end of the cable to your Galaxy phone or tablet and the HDMI one to the screen.
2. Unlock your phone and, if prompted, tap Continue and Start.

3. If your phone mirrors its screen on the external display, scroll down from the top of the screen to open the notification tray and tap Samsung DeX. Confirm by tapping Start.
4. Your phone displays the DeX interface on your monitor, which looks similar to a desktop operating system. The notification tray is in the lower-right corner, and you can access the app tray using the icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.

5. To use your phone’s screen as a virtual touchpad, open the notification tray and tap Use your phone as a touchpad.

6. To leave DeX mode, save your changes and unplug the HDMI cable. Alternatively, click the Apps icon in the lower-left corner and click Exit DeX.

How to use DeX wirelessly with a compatible TV

If you have a compatible TV, you don’t need to plug in an HDMI cable to use DeX. Wireless DeX works on 2018+ Samsung TVs and Smart TVs that support Miracast. Also, this feature requires One UI 3.1+, which not all the Samsung devices mentioned above have. If your monitor and phone are compatible, here’s how to connect them:

1. On your phone or tablet, scroll down from the top of your screen with two fingers to open the Quick Settings panel.
2. Tap DeX.
3. Tap DeX on TV or monitor.
4. If prompted, tap Allow.

5. Select the TV or monitor you’d like to cast to.
6. Tap Start.
7. Your phone displays the DeX interface on your TV, which looks similar to a desktop operating system. The notification tray is in the lower-right corner, and you can access the app tray using the icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.

8. To use your phone’s screen as a virtual touchpad, open the notification tray and tap Use your phone as a touchpad.
9. To leave DeX mode, click the Apps icon in the lower-left corner and click Exit DeX.

How to use DeX on your tablet

If you have a Samsung tablet, you can use DeX on its screen, which allows you to multitask in a desktop-like environment without using an external monitor. Here’s how to access it:

1. On your tablet, scroll down from the top of your screen with two fingers to open the Quick Settings panel.
2. Tap DeX.
3. If prompted, tap Start.

4. The DeX interface loads on the tablet and looks the same as it appears on an external monitor. You can connect peripherals or a keyboard cover for added comfort and use your S Pen if you have a compatible tablet.

How to connect accessories

Whether you use a cable or wireless connection, using your phone’s display as a touchpad isn’t always the most convenient option. There are different ways to connect a keyboard and mouse to your phone, making using it as an actual computer more convenient.

You can use a USB-C hub, a DeX Pad, or a DeX station for wired devices. For wireless devices, connect them using Bluetooth.

1. Open your phone’s Settings.
2. Go to Connections > Bluetooth.
3. Put your keyboard or mouse in pairing mode and select the device you want to connect.

How to use DeX for PC

If needed, you can use DeX as an app on your computer. This is useful when you want to run your phone’s apps on your computer’s screen and transfer documents between your PC and phone. Here’s how it works:

1. Open the Samsung DeX app on your computer.
2. Connect your phone and computer using a USB cable.
3. Your phone displays the DeX interface on your PC.
4. Use your computer’s mouse and keyboard to control DeX. You can also copy and paste text from Windows apps in DeX and drag and drop files from one to the other.
5. To leave DeX mode, click the Apps icon in the lower-left corner and click Exit DeX, or quit the DeX app on your computer.

Your phone is your laptop

Samsung DeX makes it easy to connect your phone to a monitor and turn it into a desktop computer to work on the go. This is a great way to avoid carrying multiple devices to perform common tasks since your Galaxy phone or tablet can work with existing monitors and TVs. If you’re a new Galaxy smartphone or tablet owner, spend a few minutes learning more about One UI 5, Samsung’s custom Android skin.