Android to Ubuntu
Connect your Android phone to Ubuntu
Pzync is a free, open-source app that connects an Android phone to Ubuntu, or any Debian-based Linux system, over your local Wi-Fi. Install the .deb package on Ubuntu and the app from Google Play on your phone, pair them once, and you can send files, share the clipboard, stream audio and use your phone as a webcam.
What you need
| Computer | Ubuntu or another Debian-based Linux, amd64 (.deb package) |
|---|---|
| Phone | Android 7.0 or later |
| Network | Phone and computer on the same Wi-Fi or local network |
| Ports | UDP 8200 (discovery) and TCP 8080 (connection) |
| Cost | Free, open source (MIT License) |
Steps
- Download the Pzync .deb package for Ubuntu from the downloads section and install it with your package manager.
- Install the Pzync app on your Android phone from Google Play.
- Connect the phone and the Ubuntu computer to the same Wi-Fi or local network.
- Open Pzync on both devices. Your Ubuntu computer appears in the device list on the phone.
- Tap your computer to request pairing, check that the matching code on both screens is identical, and accept on Ubuntu.
Install the .deb package on Ubuntu
From the folder where you saved the download, this installs Pzync and any dependencies it needs:
sudo apt install ./Pzync_*_amd64.debWhat you can do once Android and Ubuntu are connected
- Send files in both directions with live speed, pause and resume, and SHA-256 verification.
- Share the clipboard between your phone and Ubuntu.
- Copy new phone screenshots straight to the Ubuntu clipboard.
- Stream your Ubuntu system audio to your phone.
- Use your phone as a wireless webcam or microphone on Ubuntu.
- Control media playback and volume on Ubuntu from your phone.
Allow Pzync through the Ubuntu firewall
If you use UFW and your phone cannot find your computer, allow the two ports Pzync uses. Only do this on a network you trust:
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw allow 8200/udpPackages for webcam and screen capture
The phone webcam uses the v4l2loopback kernel module. The remote terminal and screen capture rely on a few common tools:
sudo apt install v4l2loopback-dkms
sudo apt install scrot xdotool wmctrl gnome-screenshotFrequently asked questions
How do I connect my Android phone to Ubuntu?
Install the Pzync .deb package on Ubuntu and the Pzync app from Google Play on your phone. Join both to the same Wi-Fi, open the apps, tap your computer on the phone, and confirm that the matching code on both screens is the same. Pzync then connects the two directly over your local network.
Is there free software to connect Android to Ubuntu?
Yes. Pzync is free and open source under the MIT License. It sends files, syncs the clipboard, streams audio and turns your phone into a webcam or microphone for Ubuntu, with no account and no cloud server.
Why can't my Android phone find my Ubuntu computer?
Check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi, that Pzync is open on Ubuntu, and that the firewall allows UDP port 8200 and TCP port 8080. Routers with client isolation and active VPNs can also hide devices from each other.
Does Pzync need an internet connection?
Devices talk to each other directly over your local network, and files never go through a cloud server. The desktop app checks GitHub for updates, and the Android app is installed and updated through Google Play.
Need more detail? Read the full setup documentation or visit support.