How to mirror and stream your screen in Linux with Deskreen

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This is where Deskreen and a few other tools come into play, allowing you to mirror and stream your screen on Linux using only your local network, wirelessly, and in many cases, without installing anything on the remote device. From turning an Android phone into a monitor to creating a homemade teleprompter or extending your desktop using virtual displays and "fake" HDMI adapters.

What is Deskreen and why is it so interesting in Linux?

Deskreen is a cross-platform desktop application (Linux, Windows, and macOS) that turns any device with a web browser into a secondary display connected via Wi-Fi or a local network. It requires no installation on the remote device: simply open a modern browser and access the URL provided by Deskreen or scan a QR code.

The tool is developed with Electron.js and WebRTC , allowing it to stream your desktop with end-to-end encryption. This means that communication between your computer and the remote device is protected, which is important if you work on shared networks or want to prevent anyone from snooping on your screen.

One of its biggest advantages is that you can share the entire screen or just a specific window . This is perfect for presentations, training, video conferences, or when you want to show something without displaying notifications, emails, or private documents that you have open on the rest of your desktop.

Deskreen also works perfectly offline over a simple local Wi-Fi network . No internet connection is required: the host computer and the remote device simply need to be connected to the same router or access point, which is very useful in classrooms, meeting rooms, or events where internet access is limited or nonexistent.

Another key feature is its "Flip Screen" mode , designed for those who need a home teleprompter. Basically, Deskreen can flip the shared screen image so it's correctly reflected behind a glass panel in front of the camera, using a tablet or smartphone as a stand.

Second screen, teleprompter and more: practical uses of Deskreen

Deskreen is designed primarily to allow any device with a web browser to act as a secondary or support screen . This includes Android tablets, iPads, mobile phones, other computers, televisions with integrated browsers, and even some Smart TVs with systems like webOS.

For a truly extended desktop experience, Deskreen works particularly well with virtual display adapters . These adapters can be physical (small HDMI or DisplayPort dongles that trick the system into thinking a monitor is connected) or configured in Linux via software using virtual displays. In this way, the system detects a second, real screen, which never actually reaches a physical monitor; instead, Deskreen captures this virtual desktop and sends it to the remote device.

Beyond extended desktop functionality, Deskreen allows you to use a tablet or mobile phone as a makeshift teleprompter . Thanks to its rotating screen mode, you can horizontally mirror your desktop image (for example, script text) on the remote device's browser. By placing the tablet in front of the camera, behind a glass panel, you'll have a functional teleprompter without investing in professional hardware.

Another strength is the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously . Deskreen can send your screen to multiple clients at once, so every connected tablet, laptop, or mobile device will see the same thing as you. This is perfect for small presentations, classes, or demonstrations without the need to set up a complex videoconferencing system.

Furthermore, while you're sharing, Deskreen lets you control the video's image quality . You can lower the resolution or bitrate to adapt to congested Wi-Fi networks, or let the app automatically manage the quality based on the available bandwidth—very convenient if you're in environments with many other people connected.

Install Deskreen on Linux: AppImage, DEB and other formats

Installing Deskreen on Linux is quite simple and adaptable to different preferences and distributions. The developers offer an AppImage package that can be downloaded from their GitHub releases page and run directly without traditional installation or additional dependencies.

To use the AppImage, simply download the file, grant it execute permissions, and launch it. On many desktops, the easiest way is to right-click, go to "Properties," and check the box to allow executing the file as a program . If you prefer the terminal, you can use a command like this:

chmod +x Deskreen-x.y.z.AppImage

and then run it directly with:

./Deskreen-x.y.z.AppImage

Some distributions, such as Debian and Ubuntu, also offer a DEB package , installable with standard tools (dpkg, apt, Software Center, etc.). In Arch Linux, the application is available through the AUR, allowing you to integrate it into your system just like any other user package.

The first time you open Deskreen, the app will ask you to choose a language. Although the interface starts in English, it includes Spanish and other languages. From the settings gear icon, you can change the language, activate dark mode, and adjust some visual details.

Getting started with Deskreen: connection and usage modes

When you launch Deskreen on your Linux machine, you'll see a QR code on the screen along with a URL . This URL points to the local server that the application itself runs, which will be the entry point for the devices you want to use as a screen.

The typical process is very straightforward: if your remote device (mobile phone, tablet, another PC) has a camera, you scan the QR code and the browser will open to the Deskreen address. If it doesn't have a camera, you simply type the URL manually into that device's browser, always connecting it to the same local network as your Linux machine.

On the host computer, Deskreen will display a prompt to accept or reject the new connection . Until you click "Allow," the remote device won't see anything. This manual confirmation helps you maintain some control over who can see your screen at any given time.

Once the connection is accepted, the application will ask you to choose whether you want to share the entire screen or just a specific window . If you choose a window, you'll need to select the application you want to display from those currently open. After choosing the screen or window, simply confirm, and the content will begin to appear in the browser of the remote device.

Within the browser, it's generally recommended to activate full-screen mode to make the most of the screen space on your monitor, tablet, or mobile device. This way, it will behave almost like a "normal" screen, although latency and quality may vary depending on your network.

Create a virtual screen in Linux to use Deskreen as an extended desktop

If you're not just looking to duplicate your screen, but to extend your desktop and have a real second monitor , you need Linux to recognize an additional video output, even without a physical monitor connected. This is where virtual monitors come in.

One option is to use scripts like virtual-display-linux, available on GitHub. This project provides a BASH script that configures an extra virtual screen using Xorg. The typical procedure involves cloning the repository, giving execute permissions to the main script (for example, vdl-monitor), edit the configuration file to adjust the resolution and, finally, run the script to create that “ghost” screen.

In the configuration file (vdl-monitor.confThere are sections like screen1This is where you define the resolution of the virtual monitor. It's recommended that this matches the resolution of the device you'll be using as a second screen to avoid strange scaling or black bars. Edit it with a text editor like nano, save the changes, and you're done.

Once the script is launched and the session restarted if necessary, you can go to your system's display settings and verify that your Linux system now detects more than one available monitor . At that point, Deskreen will be able to offer that virtual screen as the source, so that only that extended desktop, not the main one, will be displayed on your tablet, mobile phone, or TV.

It's worth noting that many of these scripts are configured by default to work with Intel graphics (for example, loading configurations like 20-intel.confIf your machine uses a different GPU (AMD or NVIDIA), you will likely need to adapt the configuration file or create a specific variant for your hardware.

Use a physical virtual display adapter

If you don't want to deal with Xorg scripts and configurations, another practical solution is to buy a dummy HDMI or DisplayPort adapter . These are small connectors that plug into your computer's video output and tell the system that a monitor is connected, even though there's no actual screen.

These adapters are usually very inexpensive and allow the graphical environment to instantly recognize a second monitor. Then you just need to configure the screen layout (to the right, left, above, or below the main screen) and tell Deskreen to share that extended desktop. It's as simple as "turn it on or off," without having to deal with commands or drivers.

The advantage of the physical adapter is that it works independently of the operating system and requires minimal maintenance. Anything connected to that virtual output (extended desktop, full-screen apps, etc.) will be captured and sent to your remote devices by Deskreen.

Classic Linux alternatives for sharing or extending the screen

Although Deskreen is very convenient for using any device as an additional monitor via a browser, in the Linux world there are other veteran solutions for sharing the desktop, mirroring the screen, or even remotely accessing your machine.

One of the best-known is the VNC ecosystem, with tools like x11vnc . This VNC server allows you to share the current X11 graphical session, so that any VNC client (for example, on Android, Windows, or another Linux distribution) can view and interact with the desktop as if it were sitting in front of the computer.

Installing x11vnc is usually as simple as a sudo apt install x11vnc in Debian or Ubuntu-based distributions. After that, it's a good idea set a password with x11vnc -storepasswd to prevent uncontrolled access, although it should be remembered that the traditional VNC protocol does not encrypt traffic, so real security is limited if it is not accompanied by an SSH tunnel or a VPN.

A convenient way to use x11vnc is to create a small script in ~/.local/bin launch the server with the appropriate parameters, including the X screen to be shared (-display :0), that it remains operational (-forever), which allows multiple simultaneous clients (-shared) and use the saved password (-rfbauth ~/.vnc/passwd).

If you want to further refine the settings, you can use xrandr to limit the area of ​​the screen that is sharedFor example, if you have two physical monitors connected, you can tell x11vnc to only send the content from one of them using the option -clip with the appropriate coordinates and resolution. This way you can also simulate an extension of the desktop or dedicate a virtual monitor solely to remote use.

Mirror your screen from Windows to Linux and other platforms

In mixed environments, it's common to want to mirror the screen of a Windows laptop to a Linux machine connected to a large TV or projector. Windows 10 and later versions include support for wireless screen mirroring (Miracast, for example), but getting Linux to act as a native receiver for these technologies isn't always so straightforward.

There are projects like Miraclecast that attempt to offer Miracast support on Linux, but they often require stopping the network manager to take full control of the Wi-Fi interface, which breaks the device's internet connection. In many cases, this is unacceptable, especially when the Linux machine needs to remain connected to the network via cable or Wi-Fi while receiving the projection.

Alternatively, it is often more practical to use solutions that do not strictly depend on Miracast , but instead use intermediary applications: VNC clients, tools like Deskreen on the Linux side, and web browsers or remote apps on the Windows side, provided that your environment's policy allows you to install additional software.

When you can't access anything on the Windows machine, but you can configure the Linux device, the most practical solution is usually to set up a VNC server or similar on Linux and access it from Windows using a permitted tool (for example, a browser with WebRTC, or IT-authorized clients). In other cases, if the restrictions are very strict, you might have to forgo standard wireless mirroring and opt for wired connections (HDMI, for example) when possible.

Other popular solutions for screen sharing between computers

Beyond Deskreen and VNC, the ecosystem of applications for screen sharing and remote desktop access is enormous and covers virtually any scenario: technical support, real-time collaboration, teleworking, education, etc.

Tools like TeamViewer and AnyDesk have become benchmarks for both professional and home use. They are cross-platform, working on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and allow users to remotely control computers, send files, chat, and, of course, share their screens with high quality. TeamViewer, for example, boasts a very high percentage of Fortune 500 companies in its use and holds certifications such as ISO 9001.

There are also lighter options such as ScreenLeap, Ammyy Admin, VNC Connect, ThinVNC, MingleView, and Iperius Remote . Many of these offer free versions with time or participant limitations and are well-suited to small businesses or users who need occasional sessions without setting up complex systems.

On Google's side, Chrome Remote Desktop allows you to control computers through the Chrome browser itself. Its setup is usually very simple: install the corresponding extension, enable remote access, create a PIN, and then you can control your PC from another device. It requires an internet connection, but in return, it integrates easily into environments where Chrome is already commonly used.

There are also specialized solutions like Apple Remote Desktop , designed to manage fleets of macOS computers, or Windows Remote Desktop itself, widely used in corporate environments. Each of these tools is based on different protocols (RDP, VNC, WebRTC, etc.), with varying levels of security, compression, and performance.

Screen sharing in educational and teleworking environments

The ability to share screens and mirror desktops has become essential in both education and remote work. In classrooms, combining in-person classes with remote projection allows teachers to reach students who cannot attend in person and facilitates the display of content, presentations, exercises, or software demonstrations in real time.

Videoconferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams integrate screen sharing and dedicated window functions , making it very easy to teach materials or correct exercises live. In this context, solutions like Deskreen can perfectly complement the physical classroom, allowing any extra tablet or laptop to act as an additional monitor without requiring extensive technical setup.

In the context of remote work, screen sharing is central to meetings, technical support, and team collaboration . It's common practice to create separate work accounts on operating systems, use dedicated browsers for meetings, and check which applications are open before sharing the screen to avoid accidentally displaying sensitive or personal information.

The performance of these tools depends heavily on network quality. To ensure a smooth experience, it's important to consider factors such as router location, the frequency band used (2,4 GHz vs. 5 GHz), the Wi-Fi channel, and the level of interference . In demanding environments, wired connections or well-configured Wi-Fi Mesh networks may be preferable to avoid dropouts and excessive latency.

While the convenience of Wi-Fi is undeniable, it's always advisable to keep your router's firmware updated, use strong passwords , and take care of network security, especially when sharing screens with professional information or confidential data.

By combining tools like Deskreen, VNC, TeamViewer, or Chrome Remote Desktop with good network and security practices, it's possible to turn any device into an extra screen, remote monitor, or collaboration window, whether it's running Linux, Windows, or macOS. Leveraging forgotten tablets, old mobile phones, or secondary laptops as a second screen becomes a very economical and flexible way to improve productivity without having to buy more physical monitors.

This entire ecosystem of applications and tricks for mirroring and streaming your screen in Linux demonstrates that, with a little configuration, you can work almost anywhere with a large desktop, share what you do with others in seconds, and adapt your workflow to every situation, from a simple presentation to a complex teleworking environment or a hybrid class with students connected from home.