How to Run Your Android Into A Gamepad or WIFI Controller For PC
Android smart phones and tablets are increasingly more useful. They no longer only serve us to manage other household devices such as TV, acting as a remote control. We can also use our mobile to fulfill the functions of a PC mouse or as in the case we want to talk to you about today, as a gamepad or remote control for PC video games.
How to use an Android Smart Phone as a game controller (Windows / Linux / Mac)
Android mobile devices usually have a touch screen, so why not turn them into a virtual gamepad for your desktop PC? We can connect via WiFi to our home network and establish a connection with our desktop computer. Everything else is handled by the Max Remote app.
Max Remote for Android: virtual WiFi gamepad and much more
Max Remote is an app for Android that turns our device into a virtual video game controller for PC. It is very easy to use, and for it to work we only have to meet these 2 requirements:
- That the Android device and the PC are connected to the same network.
- Run the server application on the PC so that the connection to the device is established automatically.
The first step will be to install the Max Remote app. It is a free app and we can download it free of charge from Google Play.
Then we must install the application (Max Remote Server) that will serve as a server on our desktop computer. We can download the program from the developer’s own website.
Clarify that this program is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac, and that it also has a portable version for Windows. Therefore, if we are using the Microsoft system we will not even have to install the server on the PC, it will be enough to run the portable version and that’s it.
Once Max Remote Server is installed and run, we only have to open the app on our Android terminal so that the connection between the 2 devices is automatically established.
Different types of controls: NES, SNES, PS3 etc.
Max Remote allows adapting the buttons and screen joystick to different models of controllers, from the classic NES, through the SNES, N64, or PS3, among others.
I have noticed that in some games some buttons do not work well. If we have this problem, it is only a matter of finding a controller configuration that fits our game. The truth is that there are many types of controllers, so it would be strange if none of them worked (it hasn’t happened to me yet).
On the other hand, the application gives us the possibility to create our own custom controller, so if we are not satisfied with any of the presented ones, we can create and customize a totally from scratch.
Other Max Remote Features
This app is capable of emulating different types of devices, so we can also use it for different specific tasks such as:
- Basic Input (mouse and keyboard)
- Browser
- VLC Player
- GimpPad
- CorelPad
- Power (shutdown, restart, hibernation …)
- Media Player Classic
- Text Transfer
- NumPad (Numeric Keypad)
- Windows Media Player
- Youtube
- Slide presentation
- Run
In any case, let’s keep in mind that the tactile sensation is never going to be like having a real gamepad with its joystick, its crosshead and corresponding buttons, but to have a few games from time to time is not bad.
Other alternatives of gamepad for PC from Android
If we have problems with Max Remote we can also choose other alternatives such as Ultimate Gamepad. Its operation is practically identical to that of Max Remote.
- We install the app on the mobile.
- We install the Ultimate Control Receiver program on the computer. There are versions compatible with both Windows and Linux and MacOS.
- We connect the mobile via wifi or Bluetooth.
- We establish a connection from the Ultimate Gamepad app and control the PC with the virtual gamepad that appears on the screen.
The design and interface are a bit dated, and it’s quite logical since the app hasn’t been updated since 2016. In any case, its performance is reasonably good, so it may be an alternative to consider.
PC remote
Finally, we also have another gamepad emulator called PC Remote that is worth following closely. In fact, its utilities go much further, being able to use the mobile’s gyroscope to turn the device like a steering wheel in driving games.
It also allows streaming from the computer screen to our Android device, as well as using an arcade stick emulator. You can see some of its qualities in action in the following video. If we are interested in trying it, we can download it for free from the Google Play Store.
Final Words:
So friends in this article you have learn How to use an Android Smart Phone as a game controller . No more today we shall come with a new tricks in next article, still then good bey.
