Once the Total Control is installed, for every Android device, the first task is to establish a USB connection, the process is cumbersome but also is very important in 2 aspects:
- Grant adb/shell permission over USB so we can control the device.
- Install necessary software into the device.
In order obtain adb/shell permission, "USB Debugging" in "Developer Options" needs to be turned on, once it is turned on with the correct adb device driver, Total Control will be able to access the device and use adb to install "Total Control" App and NDK software into the device. Windows 10 can recognize most of the Android devices, Windows 7 and XP will need adb device driver, we provided a universal adb device driver that should work on majority of the devices, if it does not work, may need to visit device manufacturer Website to download adb device driver.
Total Control automatically detects the presence of USB devices and ask for confirmation to connect, it offers instructions on how to bring up "Developer Options" and turn on "USB Debugging" for various device models, during the setup process, the device (not PC) may popup a message to confirm the connection. Establish the connection via USB is the hardest part, this is a one-time setup, as soon as "Connect" button appears, you have everything installed correctly. Click "Connect" button, you will likely see a device window, go thru on-screen instructions to test if it works.
After the USB connection is established, the software has been granted the permission, you can now continue to use it or unplug USB and establish connection via WiFi or Ethernet.
TCP Connection
Once you have USB connection to bring up device window, the device has received adb permission, now you can unplug USB and choose to use WiFi or Ethernet (or other networking method with IP address). To add a device via TCP, either use "+ Connect new device" in main window or "No device found, Click here to begin", this will bring you a connection window. There are 2 ways to connects via TCP:
- Scan QR Code. In Connection Window select TCP, it will bring up QR code, open the device "Total Control" app, select scan, to scan the QR code, if the network is reachable, it will start with initial setup process and it will bring up "Connect" button.
- Input IP address. On the bottom right corner of "TCP" connection window is "Input IP address", you can click to enter IP address of the device manually, if you do not know the IP address, open "Total Control" app in device and click TCP tab. Ignore the password and click OK. The device will popup a confirmation for TC to connect, click OK to proceed. You can bypass confirmation by setting up a password in "Total Control" App and enter IP and password in connection window. The entered connection information will be saved in the pulldown menu on the top.
Device setting also supports "Auto Connect" for USB and TCP, it will connect automatically and open the device window. It does not offer Ethernet auto connect, WiFi auto connect allows the device to detect the presence of the Access Point, discover and connect to TC automatically.
As long as devices are granted with adb permission, TCP connection can very powerful, it allows TC to connect/control devices in any reachable networks, with VPN, it can connect devices in multiple remote locations. Total Control 8 have added TCP grouping for ease to connect multiple devices via TCP.
Screen Projection
If control is not your concern, you just want screen projection, select "Projection" in the connection window, it will display QR code, same as TCP connection, use "Total Control" app in your device to scan the code, if it is reachable, it will display "Connect" button, click to display. This mode does not allow users to control the device.