> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://octop.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Remote phone: control a connected Android device

> View and tap a USB phone or Android container from Remote Desktop → Phone. Experimental.

**Remote phone** lets you see and control an Android device attached to the Octop host. It is experimental.

```text theme={null}
Control → Remote Desktop → Phone
```

If the **Phone** tab is missing, this host cannot control phones. Administrators see the page; other accounts need access from an admin.

## Connect a phone

**1. Prepare the device**

For a USB phone: enable **USB debugging**, plug the phone into the host, then click **Refresh** until it appears. Select it from the device list.

If the page asks you to **Install container**, this host uses a container Android backend. Click **Install container**. Octop can install Docker for you when it is missing. If you are not root, the host must allow passwordless `sudo -n` so Octop can write `daemon.json` and restart dockerd. Wait until it finishes, then click **Refresh**.

**2. Start the screen**

Click **Connect**. Tap, swipe, and type on the **Screen** view. Use **Quality** (**Smooth**, **Balanced**, **High**, **Native**), **Rotate screen**, **Screenshot**, and the side buttons for Back, Home, Recents, power, and volume.

**3. Ask the agent or open ADB Shell**

After the picture is live, the **AI Assistant** on the right can operate this phone through the current agent. Open **ADB Shell** when you need a terminal on the device.

## Limits

Only **one** phone can be used by the agent at a time. Connect the screen first if you want the agent to tap the device.

The **Server** tab is covered in [Remote desktop](https://octop.mintlify.site/guides/remote-desktop.md).


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