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AudioShare USB: beginner guide

AudioShare turns an Android phone into a speaker for ordinary sound produced by Windows. The Windows program sends the sound through the USB cable; it does not use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a microphone, or the Internet.

If you prefer interactive help, copy the prompt in Ask an AI assistant and send it to your AI assistant. It tells the assistant to use the ready-made release and explain each phone and Windows step in beginner language.

Download one file

Download the single file named AudioShare-USB-Windows-v3.0.0-rc.5.zip from the GitHub Releases page. The ZIP already contains the Windows program, ADB, and the matching Android companion APK. You do not need Android Studio to use it.

Windows may show a SmartScreen warning because this portable build is not yet Authenticode-signed. Check that the download came from the CodeinScrubs AudioShare release page before choosing More info and Run anyway. Do not disable SmartScreen globally.

First-time setup

Do these steps once:

  1. Extract the ZIP to a normal folder you can write to, such as C:\Users\YourName\AudioShare. Do not run the EXE from inside the ZIP.
  2. On the phone, open Settings → About phone → Software information and tap Build number seven times if Developer options are not already enabled.
  3. Open Settings → Developer options, turn on USB debugging, and keep the phone unlocked.
  4. Connect the phone with a data-capable USB cable. A charge-only cable will not work.
  5. Run audioshare.exe from the extracted folder.
  6. When Android asks Allow USB debugging?, choose Allow. You may select Always allow from this computer if this is your own PC.
  7. If AudioShare shows Install companion, click that button once and wait for the installation to finish. This is the receiver app that plays sound through the phone speaker; it is not Android Studio's “desktop deployment”.
  8. AudioShare then launches the companion and connects automatically. Play a Windows system sound or browser video and raise the phone's media volume.

If exactly one authorized USB phone is connected, no Connect click is needed. With multiple phones, select the phone you want. The companion app can remain open or be in the background while the foreground playback notification is visible.

Daily use

  1. Connect the authorized phone by USB.
  2. Start audioshare.exe.
  3. Play sound in any ordinary Windows application. This includes browsers, media players, Windows system sounds, and Infinit/idplayer.

Do not play a separate music or video stream directly on the phone while it is acting as the PC speaker. If that happens, AudioShare stops rather than fighting the phone app: stop the phone-local media, then click Connect again.

To stop, click Disconnect in AudioShare or use the notification's Disconnect action on the phone. Disconnect stops the current cable session but remembers the phone; unplugging and reconnecting the cable enables automatic connection again.

What you do not need

  • Android Studio or the Android Studio desktop deployment tool.
  • A separate installer, Windows service, virtual audio driver, or firewall rule.
  • Wi-Fi, an IP address, Bluetooth, or an Internet connection.
  • Administrator access in normal operation. Missing Windows audio/ADB drivers or workplace restrictions can require IT help; AudioShare does not bypass them.
  • To select idplayer.exe; AudioShare captures ordinary Windows system audio, not just that one process.

If you hear nothing

Check these in order:

  1. Confirm the phone is unlocked, USB debugging is authorized, and the cable supports data.
  2. Raise media volume on the phone and temporarily disconnect Bluetooth or wired headphones.
  3. Leave a video playing on the PC for 15 seconds, then click the graph icon beside Disconnect. Copy the report (or take screenshots) for your helper. Streaming and an increasing frame count do not by themselves prove sound: the frames may be silent. See the connected-but-silent checks.
  4. If the phone says unauthorized, unlock it and accept the USB debugging prompt. If it says offline, unplug/reconnect and wait a few seconds.
  5. If AudioShare asks for a newer Windows build, the phone has a newer companion than this host supports; download the matching Windows release instead of trying to downgrade the phone app.
  6. Read Troubleshooting before changing security settings. Do not disable Windows Firewall, Defender, UAC, or organizational controls.

Important platform limits

AudioShare captures audio that uses the normal Windows shared audio engine. An application using exclusive-mode, ASIO, a protected/DRM path, or a hardware driver that bypasses shared WASAPI may not appear in system loopback. A missing Windows ADB driver or a policy such as AppLocker/WDAC is also outside the program's control.

A PC does not need physical speakers, but the source app must still be able to produce audio. An enabled HDMI/monitor output can provide a usable Windows playback endpoint. Stereo Mix and microphone input are unnecessary. AudioShare does not install a virtual sound card when Windows has no usable output.

For developers and testers, the full build and evidence instructions are in the repository README and manual test plan.