Luna Tech Support Blogs
A phone with a keyboard and trackpad
Something I have noticed with alot of people when they are buying a laptop or desktop is that they tend to use it as a bigger phone that doesn't have cellular. What I mean by this is that everything that they do could be done with the processing power and operating system the underlying proccess that runs and opens apps, some examples are Android, Windows 11, MacOS and iOS of their phone. This is why the Macbook Neo was such a success, even though it ran on a iPhone chip. However there is now a way to turn your phone into a laptop or a desktop and use it like one, with a mouse and keyboard.

This witchcraft is called Desktop Mode, it is a feature on Android devices starting with Android 16 QPR3 (released March 2026), however if you have an iPhone, don't worry I will explain the costs and rewards with switching and why you should even care. For the Android users out there here is how you check if you have this feature on your phone. Firstly check your phone's model you can do this by going to settings and then finding the about section, which should have the model name displayed in one of the boxes. Now you can compare it against this list, if it is on it then you have the feature available or a feature like it.
Next you are going to want to check if there is a software update available, do this by going to settings and finding system or software update then click system update if you see it, and click download. Do note that this will shut down your phone before starting it up again, and you will not be able to use your phone for the 15-30 minutes that this takes. With the phones listed here there are two different versions of this feature, one called DeX (Samsung/Galaxy), the other called Desktop Mode (Pixel). Also for those of you not on this list wait until the end with the section on iPhones.

Now onto setting up the feature if you are on a Pixel device go to the settings app then go to "About Phone" and then scroll to the section on build number and tap it 7 times in a row, then enter your PIN/passcode. Next go to "System" (still in the settings app) and to "Developer options". Scroll to the "Window Management" and toggle "Enable desktop experience features" then restart your phone by shutting it down and booting it up again.

It is now fully set up! You can use it by plugging a charging cable into you phone, then plugging the other end of the cable into a monitor. If you are on Samsumg/Galaxy click "Start Now" when it appears on your screen. You can then connect a keyboard and mouse using Bluetooth if you want to control it that way. There is one problem which is that this is alot more complicated to carry around with you or use than a phone and computer.

The solution to this is called a Lapdock it is a device that is shaped like a laptop with a keyboard and trackpad, but needs you to plug your phone in to use it. Some of these even have batteries to charge your phone with while you use it.

Okay iPhone users (and other android devices not on the list), now its your time! This feature is useful to you for two reasons, firstly the company that made your device might add it if enough people would use it (or improve their version of it). And the second reason is that you could switch to using one of the phones on the list, of course I would only recommend this if you need a computer or phone, but if you do then you could trade in or sell your current devices and switch to this setup. However this is a thing that is best taken personally, so if maybe make an appointment with me.
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