How can I stream music from my PC to my Android remotely?

Streaming music from a PC to an Android device remotely allows you to access your personal music library from anywhere. With the right apps and setup, you can browse and play songs directly from your PC on your Android smartphone or tablet, even when away from home. This provides a convenient way to enjoy your full music collection without needing to store all the files locally on your mobile device.

To enable remote music streaming from a Windows PC to an Android device, you will need to do the following:

– Enable media sharing on your Windows PC
– Install a streaming app on your Android device
– Connect your Android device to your PC over the internet
– Browse and play music stored on your PC directly from your Android device

With a few simple steps, you can set up your devices for convenient remote music streaming. The ability to access your music library from anywhere via your Android device provides freedom and flexibility.

Requirements

To stream music from your PC to your Android device remotely, there are a few key requirements:

On your Windows PC:

• Your PC needs to be connected to your local WiFi network or Ethernet.
• You need to enable media/file sharing on your Windows PC. This allows other devices on the network to access shared files and media on your computer. Instructions for enabling sharing are provided below.

On your Android device:

• Your Android device needs an active WiFi or mobile data connection to connect remotely to your PC.
• You need to install a streaming app on your Android device. Some examples include SoundWire, AirAudio, and AudioRelay.

With both devices connected to the same local network or internet connection, you can then stream music files from your Windows PC to your Android device remotely.

Enable Media Sharing on Windows PC

To stream content from your Windows PC to an Android device, you first need to enable media sharing on the PC. Here’s how to do it in Windows settings:

1. Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Network & Internet > HomeGroup. Check the box next to “Share media with devices on this network”. Source

2. Click the “Media streaming options” link. Make sure both “Photo Streaming” and “Audio Streaming” are set to “Allowed”. Source

3. Go to Advanced sharing settings and ensure media streaming is enabled under “Media streaming”. If prompted, enable media streaming for your public and private networks. Source

With media sharing enabled, your Windows libraries will be discoverable by DLNA apps and devices on the same network for streaming.

Install App on Android Device

There are several apps you can use to enable streaming music from your PC to Android device remotely. Some popular options include:

Plex – Plex is one of the most full-featured apps for streaming media from your PC to mobile devices. It organizes your music library and streams over local network or remotely. Plex has free and paid versions.

Airflow – Airflow lets you stream audio from your PC to Chromecast, Android, and iOS devices. It can play music from your computer’s library or from streaming services. Airflow is free.

Streambels – This app allows playing music, video, and images from your Windows PC on your Android device. It streams over WiFi and creates a media server.

doubleTwist CloudPlayer – CloudPlayer by doubleTwist can stream from your personal music library on a Windows PC or Mac. There is a free version with limited features and a paid premium version.

Most streaming apps will require installing a server app on your Windows PC and the client app on your Android device. The app then handles communication between the two to stream remotely.

Connect Android Device to PC

To stream music from your Android device to your PC remotely, you’ll first need to connect your devices to the same local Wi-Fi network. Here are the steps:

On your Android device:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
2. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on and connect to your local Wi-Fi network.

On your Windows PC:

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in your system tray and connect to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android device.
2. Alternatively, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi and connect there.

Once both devices are on the same network, you’ll be able to discover and connect to your Android device from your Windows PC to begin streaming music remotely.

Browse and Play Content

Once your Android device is connected to your Windows PC, you can access the shared media files on your computer. Open the media sharing app on your Android device – this is usually the native Files app or a third-party app like VLC media player. You should see your PC listed as a media source. Tap on it to browse the music, videos, photos and other files being shared from that computer.

To play a music track, simply tap on the song file to start streaming it. The media will play directly on your Android device while the file itself continues to be stored and streamed from your computer. Most apps allow you to build a playlist of songs to queue up uninterrupted music playback.

You can also download shared media files temporarily for offline playback. This is handy when you won’t have an internet connection to stream the content. Downloaded files are usually deleted automatically after a set duration or if storage space is needed on your device.

The process of accessing and playing shared media is quick and seamless. Browsing files remotely on your PC happens as easily as if they were stored locally on your Android device. Just tap on your computer name to view all available content to stream or download.

Stream Music Remotely

You can stream music from your Windows PC to your Android device remotely over the internet using remote access apps. Some popular options for streaming music remotely include:

Plex – Plex allows you to stream your media library from your PC to mobile devices. You’ll need to install the Plex Media Server on your PC and the Plex app on your Android. Plex lets you stream over the internet once you set up port forwarding or connect to your Plex server over VPN. See Plex Remote Access for setup instructions.

Subsonic – Another option is Subsonic which also requires installing a server on your PC and the Subsonic app on Android. It supports streaming music, videos and podcasts. Like Plex, you’ll need to configure port forwarding or a VPN to stream remotely. See this guide for help.

Remote Desktop – You can also use remote desktop apps like Chrome Remote Desktop or TeamViewer to remotely control your PC and play music through it from your Android device.

Overall, utilizing remote access software like Plex or Subsonic are the easiest ways to stream your music library from a Windows PC to your Android phone or tablet remotely over the internet.

Tips for Optimal Streaming

Streaming music from your PC to your Android device remotely can sometimes be laggy or glitchy. Here are some tips to help optimize streaming and minimize lag:

Make sure both your PC and Android device are connected to a high-speed WiFi network or strong 4G/5G cellular connection. Streaming will be slower on a weak WiFi signal. Connect both devices to the 5GHz band on your router if possible, as this tends to be faster than 2.4GHz.

On your Windows PC, close any other programs that are using your network bandwidth like video streaming, video calls, or large downloads. The more bandwidth available, the better streaming will work.

Adjust the streaming quality in your streaming app’s settings to a lower quality like 96kbps. Higher quality streams will use more bandwidth and be more prone to lag.

Try connecting your Android device and PC to the same local WiFi network rather than streaming over the internet if you experience frequent lag or buffering. Local network streaming has less latency.

Make sure you are using the latest version of both the desktop and mobile app. Developers frequently release updates to improve streaming reliability and speed.

If you continue experiencing frequent lag or interruptions, try switching to a different streaming app. Some apps handle remote streaming better than others.

As a last resort, consider upgrading your router if it is several years old. Newer routers tend to have better wireless streaming capabilities.

Alternative Options

There are a few other ways to stream music from a Windows PC to an Android device remotely besides the methods mentioned above:

Set up a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox on both devices, and sync your music library to the cloud. You can then stream songs directly from the cloud storage app on your Android device. Just note that this may use a lot of storage space over time.

Run a Plex media server on your PC, and use the Plex app on your Android device to connect and stream from your music library remotely. Plex can transcode and deliver music on demand. You’ll need both the server and client apps, and your PC will need to be on to serve the content.

Use a DLNA-compliant app like BubbleUPnP on your Android device to tap into a home media server and play music stored on your Windows machine.

Try a remote desktop app like Chrome Remote Desktop to access your full Windows desktop on your Android phone or tablet and control music playback that way.

Conclusion

So in summary, streaming music from a Windows PC to an Android device remotely is easy to set up with a few simple steps. First, enable media sharing on the PC through the Control Panel settings. Then, install an app like Plex or BubbleUPnP on your Android phone or tablet. Connect your Android to the same WiFi network as the PC and use the app to detect and browse the shared media library. With everything configured properly, you’ll be able to play music, videos, and more on your Android as if the content was stored locally, even when you’re away from home. The process may require some tweaking to work smoothly, like adjusting transcoding settings or router configurations. But with the right setup, streaming media remotely can give you access to your entire PC media library anywhere you go. Hopefully this guide gave you the key steps to get remote streaming working for your music and media needs.