Is it possible to use phone as speaker for PC?

Using your phone as a wireless speaker for your computer is a convenient way to boost the audio from your PC without needing to purchase standalone external speakers. With the right apps and settings, both Android and iPhone can function as portable Bluetooth speakers to enhance the listening experience for music, videos, games, and other audio output from a laptop or desktop computer.

By wirelessly streaming your computer’s audio to a smartphone, you can take advantage of the phone’s built-in speakers to amplify the sound. This provides a simple and affordable way to improve audio quality and volume compared to relying solely on your computer’s internal speakers.

Benefits

Using your phone as a PC speaker has some major benefits in terms of convenience and portability. With a smartphone, you don’t have to buy separate PC speakers – you already have one built into your phone (Source: https://www.kentfaith.com/blog/article_can-i-use-my-phone-as-pc-speakers_752). This saves you money as well as space on your desk or workspace. Additionally, your phone is inherently portable. So you can easily move your “speakers” around from room to room, taking your computer audio with you seamlessly (Source: https://robots.net/tech-reviews-and-analysis/gadget-reviews/using-your-phone-as-a-pc-speaker-tips-and-tricks/). Traditional PC speakers are clunky and immobile in comparison.

Compatibility

This method of using your phone as a speaker for your PC will work for most Android and iOS devices. According to MakeUseOf, Android phones running 4.4 KitKat or later and iPhones running iOS 8 or later are compatible. For Android, you’ll need to download the AudioRelay app from the Google Play store. For iPhones, you can use AirPlay to connect to your PC. Certain apps like AirServer also allow AirPlay compatibility on Windows PCs.

In terms of computer operating systems, you can use Windows 7 or newer. Apple computers running Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks or later are also compatible. Essentially, most modern smartphones, tablets and computers support connecting your phone as an external speaker via WiFi.

Required Hardware

The main hardware requirement to connect your phone as a speaker for your computer is a cable to establish the connection between the two devices. There are a few options for cables you can use:

USB cable – You can connect your Android phone to your computer via a regular USB cable. This allows you to transmit audio over the USB connection. Make sure it is a high quality USB cable for best results.
3.5mm auxiliary cable – You can use a standard 3.5mm aux cable to connect your phone’s headphone jack to your computer’s aux input port. This analog connection works for both iPhone and Android.
Bluetooth – If both your phone and computer are Bluetooth enabled, you can pair them to transmit audio wirelessly. This gives you more flexibility but may impact audio quality.

In addition to cables, you may need an adapter to connect phones without a headphone jack. You can find USB-C to 3.5mm or Lightning to 3.5mm adapters for compatible smartphones. The right cable and adapter for your specific devices is essential.

Overall, USB and auxiliary cables are the most universal options. Invest in good quality cables with solid connectors on each end for the best audio transmission between your phone and computer. Bluetooth can also work well if both devices support it.

How To Connect

Connecting your phone to your computer as a speaker is easy to do in just a few steps:

Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both your phone and computer.
On your phone, go to Bluetooth settings and pair with your computer, following any prompts to connect.
On your computer, go to Sound settings and under Playback devices, find your phone and select it as the default output device.

You may need to set your phone as the default communication device as well in Sound settings.
Play any audio on your computer and it should now come through your phone speakers.

That’s it! With just a quick Bluetooth pairing, you can start using your phone as a wireless speaker system for your computer. Make sure to adjust volume and sound settings as needed to optimize quality.

Configuring Sound Settings

To change the default audio output on your Android device, you’ll need to modify the sound settings. This allows you to switch the audio from the phone’s built-in speakers to an external device like a Bluetooth speaker or headphones.

First, open the Settings app on your Android phone or tablet. Then select “Connected devices” or “Bluetooth & other devices” depending on your Android version.

Next, choose “Connection preferences” or “Advanced” from the menu. Here you will see options for “Music” or “Media audio.” Tap on this and select your preferred audio output device from the list.

Typically, you can choose between phone speaker, wired headphones, Bluetooth headphones, Bluetooth speakers, and other connected devices. Choose the one you want to use for media audio playback.

Once selected, audio from music, videos, games, and other media will automatically be routed to your chosen output device. You shouldn’t need to change this setting again unless you want to redirect audio back to the phone’s built-in speakers.

According to Android Central, some devices may require restarting the media app or disconnecting/reconnecting Bluetooth after changing the audio output setting. Test it out and adjust as needed.

Optimizing Sound Quality

Once you have connected your phone to your computer as a speaker, there are some tweaks you can make to optimize the sound quality. The three main areas to focus on are adjusting the EQ, tweaking system settings, and changing physical positioning.

The easiest way to tweak the sound is to adjust the EQ settings. In Windows, go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound and open the properties for your phone speaker device. Under the Enhancements tab, you can enable an equalizer and adjust the settings. Boosting certain frequency ranges like bass and treble can make the audio fuller. You can also try using an Android or iOS app like Equalizer FX to customize the phone’s EQ before connecting.

Changing certain system settings can also help audio quality. Reduce background apps and processes to free up resources for sound. Enable audio enhancements like “Loudness Equalization” in Windows. You may also need to adjust the sample rate and bit depth settings to match your audio playback needs.

Lastly, positioning and placement impact sound quality. Point the phone’s speaker toward you, keep it close to your ears, and minimize obstructions which can dampen the output. Experiment with different surfaces and angles to find the optimal setup for your desktop.

Troubleshooting

Here are some common issues and solutions for using your phone as a PC speaker:

No sound coming from phone speaker:

Make sure your phone and PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (https://www.makeuseof.com/android-phone-speaker-pc/)
Check that the phone volume is turned up and not muted
Check that the PC sound is not muted and the volume is turned up

Try restarting your phone and PC
Make sure you have installed any required apps and configured the sound settings properly

Poor sound quality:

Ensure you are using a high quality app designed for this purpose like AudioRelay
Connect phone and PC to the network via Ethernet for faster speeds
Move your phone closer to where you are listening

Adjust any available equalizer/audio settings to optimize quality

Audio is choppy or cuts out:

Make sure your Wi-Fi signal is strong in the area

Close any other apps using network bandwidth on your devices
Consider switching to a 5GHz Wi-Fi network if available for less interference

If issues persist, check your app’s help documentation or try an alternate app. You may also need to troubleshoot your network connection.

Limitations

Using a phone as a PC speaker has some limitations to be aware of. Two main limitations are latency and sound quality.

Latency refers to a lag or delay between the audio output from the computer and when it is heard through the phone speakers. This is often caused by the wireless Bluetooth connection. There will likely be a small delay as the audio is transmitted wirelessly from the computer to the phone. For watching videos or listening to music, a little latency may not be noticeable. But for gaming or applications where timing is important, the lag could be disruptive.¹

Sound quality is also a limitation. While phone speakers have improved, they cannot match the sound production of a dedicated set of PC speakers or headphones. Phone speakers are very small and stream audio compressed for mobile use. So the sound may not be as rich, detailed, or immersive compared to PC audio components. The frequency range and volume from tiny phone speakers is narrower and lower than full-size speakers.²

Alternatives

While using your phone as a computer speaker is convenient, there are other portable speaker options to consider. Here are some alternatives:

Mini or desktop computer speakers – These are compact speakers designed specifically for use with computers. Brands like Logitech and Creative make affordable options starting under $20. These plug directly into your computer’s audio jack and provide clearer sound than phone speakers.

Portable Bluetooth speakers – Wireless Bluetooth speakers from brands like JBL, Anker and Bose allow you to stream audio wirelessly from your computer. These are lightweight and rechargeable, so you can take them anywhere. Though more expensive than wired computer speakers, they provide great sound quality and portability.

USB speakers – These compact speakers plug into your computer’s USB port for both power and audio transmission. They are powered speakers, so provide better sound than your phone. Brands like GOgroove and Cyber Acoustics offer USB speakers for under $15.