Frequently asked questions

This page is ordered by the issues users hit most often: connection first, then screen/control, then install, versions, and support.

Connection

Do I need to install anything on the phone?

No. When you connect, a small program is temporarily injected, and it stops working the moment you disconnect. No extra app icon appears on the phone, and no root is required.

Will phones on the same local network be found automatically?

Not automatically. For now you need to: connect a physical phone over USB first (it appears on the device wall automatically), or enter the device's IP:5555 under "Connect device." A device-scan feature (auto-discovering devices on the same subnet) is on the roadmap.

Why can't I connect by entering an IP — why do I have to plug in USB?

You're most likely connecting a physical phone. Physical phones disable network connectivity by default; you must connect once over a USB cable and run the "priming" command to enable it, after which you can connect by IP. This is a security mechanism of the Android system, not a limitation of VMOS Cast. For the full steps, see First-time WiFi setup for physical phones.

How to install adb

The current version needs the adb tool on your computer (a future version will build it in, so no install needed):

macOS (run in a terminal):

brew install --cask android-platform-tools

If you don't have Homebrew, install it first: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Windows:

1. Download Google's official Platform Tools;
2. Extract it to a fixed location, such as C:\platform-tools;
3. Add that folder to the system Path environment variable: search "Edit the system environment variables" in Settings → Environment Variables → find Path under System variables → Edit → New → enter C:\platform-tools;
4. Reopen cmd and enter adb version to verify.

Linux:

sudo apt install adb        # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo pacman -S android-tools  # Arch

After installing, restart VMOS Cast for it to take effect.

Plugged in USB but nothing happens?

Check in order: (1) swap in a cable that supports data transfer (a charge-only cable is the most common cause); (2) confirm "USB debugging" is enabled; (3) reconnect and tap "Allow" on the phone; (4) on Windows, install that phone brand's USB driver; (5) run adb devices in a terminal to see whether the device shows up. See USB connection troubleshooting.

Cloud phone won't connect?

(1) Confirm the IP is correct and on the same intranet (try ping from the computer); (2) confirm the cloud platform has opened the adb (5555) port; (3) check whether a firewall/security group is blocking 5555.

What format should I enter when connecting a device?

Use IP:5555, for example 192.168.1.88:5555. IP alone is not enough because adb uses port 5555 by default. You can paste multiple devices, one per line.

WiFi scan cannot find devices?

The current version does not auto-scan the subnet. Enter IP:5555 manually. For a physical phone, first prime it over USB with adb tcpip 5555; for a cloud phone, confirm the platform has opened port 5555.

WiFi connection stops working after the device reboots?

This is an Android security behavior: network adb turns off after a physical phone reboots. Plug it in over USB again, run adb tcpip 5555, then reconnect by IP.

Screen & control

Black screen / stuck on "Connecting"?

• Some phone models don't output a screen while locked — unlock and try again;
• Wait a dozen seconds; the client reconnects automatically;
• If that still fails, remove the card and reconnect, or restart the client.

I can operate the screen, but it's laggy?

• The more screens on the wall at once, the more resources it takes — remove or hide (via groups) devices you aren't using;
• A weak WiFi signal causes noticeable lag; for important scenarios, use a wired network on the computer;
• Lowering the frame rate in settings (15/30 fps) can significantly reduce the load.

The mouse clicks work, but I can't type?

In the current version, use the "text input" box on the right of the control window to send text (first tap an input field on the phone to place the cursor). Typing directly with the computer keyboard is under development.

If a device drops off, do I need to add it again?

No. Addresses you've connected to are saved automatically, and a device reconnects to the wall on its own once it's back on the network.

What buttons are in the control window?

The right panel contains Back, Home, Recents, Rotate, Screenshot, Record, and text input:

Password or protected input page turns black?

Some apps enable secure windows for password, payment, or protected pages. Android blocks screen capture for those pages. This is not a VMOS Cast limitation. Confirm the page on the phone itself, or switch to a normal input page before controlling it.

The screen shows, but control does not work?

Check first: whether Xiaomi / Redmi has "USB debugging (Security settings)" and "Install via USB" enabled; whether the phone is waiting for an authorization or install prompt; and whether you are clicking the actual phone screen area, not the device card title.

Why does it lag when more screens are visible?

Every screen needs decoding and rendering. More devices means more CPU/GPU and network load. Use groups, lower the frame rate, reduce the column count, and use wired network on the computer for important sessions.

Batch operations

Where are batch operations?

Select devices first. The top toolbar then shows batch install, push files, batch uninstall, and batch screenshot:

Why do some phones fail during batch APK install?

Common causes: phone-side install confirmation, mismatched old app signature, low storage, unstable cable, or weak WiFi. Test on one or two devices first, then scale to the full group.

Do batch screenshots affect device operation?

Screenshots briefly use device and computer resources. When capturing dozens of devices, wait for all results before clicking batch screenshot again.

Is batch uninstall safe?

Batch uninstall cannot be undone. Confirm the package name and test on a small set before running it across a group.

Installation & environment

Windows says "protected your PC"?

That's SmartScreen's normal prompt for new software — click "More info" → "Run anyway."

Mac says "cannot verify the developer"?

The latest version is signed and notarized, so this normally won't appear. If you hit it on an older version: click "Open Anyway" at the bottom of "System Settings → Privacy & Security," or download the latest version.

Does it support iPhone?

The current version supports Android devices (both physical and cloud phones). iOS support is on the roadmap.

Is my data safe?

All screens and control data travel only within your local network — nothing is uploaded to any cloud server. The software's core is built on open-source projects, and the source code is available for review.

What is the current latest version?

The current public download is v0.1.0. See Release History for changes and installer links.

Can I use it offline?

Core casting and control work as long as the computer and devices are on the same local network. Downloading installers, reading online docs, and accessing a remote cloud-phone platform may still need internet access.

How do I submit a useful report?

Include the device type, client version, computer OS, phone model, connection method, and screenshots or recordings. See How to report a problem for the full template.

Still stuck?

See How to report a problem to reach us — providing information per the template gets you the fastest resolution.