Your PC’s built-in speakers sound terrible. Your phone sounds better and you’re not using it right now. Here’s how to route your PC audio through your Android phone in a few minutes.
Short Answer: The easiest method: use SoundWire (free app) — install it on PC and Android, connect both to the same Wi-Fi, and your PC audio plays through your phone’s speaker. Alternatively, connect via AUX cable (phone to PC headphone jack) for zero-latency audio with no apps needed.
Method 1: AUX Cable (Simplest, No Apps)
If your phone has a headphone jack and your PC has an audio output jack, this is the fastest solution with zero latency:
- Get a 3.5mm AUX cable (male-to-male)
- Plug one end into your PC’s headphone/audio output jack
- Plug the other end into your phone’s headphone jack
- On your phone, play any audio app to use it as a speaker — but actually the audio will just flow from the PC through the cable
Wait — this doesn’t quite work that way. The AUX method only sends audio out of each device. To use your phone as a speaker for PC audio, you need a method that routes PC output to the phone’s speaker. The app methods below handle this properly.
Method 2: SoundWire (Wi-Fi, Best Quality)
SoundWire is a free app that streams your PC’s audio output to your Android phone over Wi-Fi with very low latency.
Setup steps:
- Download SoundWire Server on your PC from swnz.co.nz (free)
- Download the SoundWire app on your Android phone from the Play Store (free)
- Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
- Open SoundWire Server on PC — note the IP address shown
- Open SoundWire on your phone, enter the PC’s IP address, and tap Connect
- Play audio on your PC — it now plays through your phone’s speaker
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: SoundWire Server on PC showing IP address, with SoundWire Android app connected and audio streaming
SoundWire setup:
Install SoundWire Server on PC + SoundWire app on Android → same Wi-Fi → enter PC’s IP in Android app → Connect → play audio on PC
SoundWire has a small amount of audio delay (~100–200ms) which is fine for music but makes it less suitable for watching video (audio and video go out of sync). For music streaming from PC, it works well.
Method 3: Bluetooth Speaker Mode
If your PC has Bluetooth, you can pair your Android phone as a Bluetooth audio device — but this actually works in reverse (phone plays audio to PC speakers, not the other way around).
To use your phone as a speaker for your PC via Bluetooth, you need a third-party app like Bluetooth Speaker App or SpeakerPhone that puts the phone in “receive” mode for Bluetooth audio. These apps are less reliable than SoundWire.
Method 4: USB Audio (Android as USB DAC)
Some Android phones with USB-C support can act as USB audio devices when connected to a PC. This requires the phone to support USB audio output mode, and the PC recognises it as a sound card. Not all phones support this — check if your phone appears as an audio device in Windows Sound Settings when connected via USB-C.
Warning: SoundWire’s free version has a 15-minute session limit and a slight audio quality restriction. SoundWire Premium ($3.99 one-time) removes both limits. For occasional use, the free version is fine.
Quick checklist:
- ✅ Both PC and Android phone are on the same Wi-Fi network for SoundWire
- ✅ Installed SoundWire Server on PC and SoundWire app on Android phone
- ✅ Noted PC’s local IP address from SoundWire Server window
- ✅ For video, used SoundWire’s latency compensation slider to sync audio/video
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my phone as a speaker for PC without Wi-Fi?
Yes — use a USB connection with SoundWire (it supports USB mode) or use a Bluetooth-based solution. SoundWire also works over USB tethering if you enable USB hotspot on your Android phone and connect the PC to it.
Does this drain my phone battery?
Yes, streaming audio actively uses the speaker, processor, and Wi-Fi — expect moderate battery drain. Keep the phone plugged in if using it as a speaker for extended sessions.
Can I use my iPhone instead of Android?
SoundWire is Android-only. For iPhone, Airfoil (Mac) or streaming to an AirPlay speaker works. There’s no SoundWire equivalent for iPhone without an Apple ecosystem solution.
Conclusion
SoundWire is the most practical solution for most setups — free, low-latency, and just works over Wi-Fi. The 15-minute limit on the free version is worth noting for long sessions. For a permanent solution without limits, the $3.99 one-time purchase is reasonable.
For more Android tips, see our guides on Android tips and tricks and the best Android apps.