Deskbridge › Guides › Samsung DeX on Mac
How to use Samsung DeX on a Mac (2026)
You can still run Samsung DeX on a Mac. Samsung removed the DeX for PC app, but Galaxy phones on One UI 8 or later can run DeX on a virtual display, and your Mac can show that display in a window over USB or Wi-Fi. Use Deskbridge for a one-click setup that opens DeX whenever you plug in, or the free command-line tool scrcpy if you're comfortable in Terminal.
What happened to DeX for PC?
For years Samsung shipped “DeX for PC,” a desktop app for Windows and macOS that showed your phone's DeX desktop in a window. With One UI 7, Samsung retired it. On Windows, Samsung now points people to its Link to Windows integration; on a Mac there's no official replacement at all. (More on that in DeX for PC is discontinued — what replaced it.)
The good news: One UI 8 changed how DeX starts. When Android creates a new virtual display — a screen that exists only in software — a Galaxy phone on One UI 8 or later launches the full DeX desktop on it. Any tool that can create a virtual display and stream it to your Mac gets you the real DeX, with resizable windows, the floating dock, and your Mac's keyboard and trackpad.
What you need
- A Samsung Galaxy with One UI 8 or later. Check Settings › About phone › Software information › One UI version. See which phones support DeX on a Mac.
- A Mac on macOS 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon or Intel.
- A data-capable USB-C cable (the one you charge with usually works), or the same Wi-Fi network for wireless.
- USB debugging turned on once on your phone (steps below).
Step 1: Turn on USB debugging (one time)
- On your phone, open Settings › About phone › Software information.
- Tap Build number seven times. Enter your PIN if asked; you'll see “Developer mode has been turned on.”
- Go back to Settings, open Developer options (at the bottom) and turn on USB debugging.
- Plug the phone into your Mac. When it asks “Allow USB debugging?”, tick Always allow from this computer and tap Allow.
Step 2, option A: Deskbridge (one click)
Deskbridge is a small Mac menu-bar app that does the virtual-display setup for you and keeps it working.
- Download Deskbridge and drag it to Applications.
- Open it. It lives in your menu bar and starts at login.
- Plug in your phone. DeX opens in a Mac window, sized sharply for your screen. Unplug and it closes.
Beyond opening DeX, Deskbridge handles the parts that make DeX on a Mac pleasant day to day: one-click landscape or phone-style portrait, Secure Blackout (phone screen dark, DeX still running — see keeping the phone screen off), unlocking the phone from your Mac keyboard, incoming-call and notification banners, and Android apps in their own Mac windows. It's $12 once, with a 3-day free trial.
Step 2, option B: scrcpy (free, Terminal)
scrcpy is an excellent open-source screen tool (Deskbridge is built on it). With Homebrew installed:
brew install scrcpy
adb devices # your phone should be listed as "device"
scrcpy --new-display=1920x1080/160DeX appears in a new window. Our full scrcpy guide covers sharp 4K sizes, portrait mode, keyboard shortcuts, and the sleep/lock pitfalls that trip most people up.
Deskbridge vs. scrcpy at a glance
| Deskbridge | scrcpy by hand | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12 once (3-day trial) | Free |
| Setup | Download, plug in | Homebrew + Terminal commands |
| Opens DeX when you plug in | Yes | You run the command each time |
| Sharp sizing & portrait | Automatic / one click | Work out size and DPI yourself |
| Phone screen off without freezing DeX | Secure Blackout | Not built in |
| Calls, notifications, app windows | Yes | No |
Tips that save frustration
- Don't press the phone's power button. A sleeping phone freezes DeX. Turn the phone's screen black instead (Deskbridge's Blackout does this safely).
- Unlock the phone for the full dock. While the phone is locked, Samsung hides the dock's apps and blocks typing in DeX — that's a security feature, not a bug.
- Portrait wants phone-sized scaling. If apps show cramped two-pane tablet layouts in portrait, the display's DPI is too low for its width.
FAQ
Can you still use Samsung DeX on a Mac?
Yes. Samsung's DeX for PC app is gone, but Galaxy phones running One UI 8 or later can run DeX on a virtual display, which a Mac can show in a window over USB or Wi-Fi. Deskbridge does this automatically; you can also do it by hand with the free scrcpy tool.
Does Samsung make a DeX app for Mac?
No. Samsung retired DeX for PC (Windows and Mac) with One UI 7 and has no official Mac app. Third-party tools that use Android's virtual display support are the way to run DeX on a Mac today.
Which phones work?
Samsung Galaxy phones and foldables that have One UI 8 or later. Check Settings › About phone › Software information › One UI version. Deskbridge is verified on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Do I need a monitor or a DeX cable?
No. DeX opens in a window on your Mac's own screen. Any data-capable USB-C cable works, or Wi-Fi pairing.
Is it the real DeX or an imitation?
It's the real DeX. Your phone runs its own DeX desktop on a virtual display; the Mac only shows that display and sends your keyboard and trackpad input to it.
DeX on your Mac, every time you plug in
Free for 3 days — check it works with your phone. Then $12, once.