Samsung DEX on Windows laptop (it works!)

[Casey Cheung]

Cool, I'm able to install the DEX app to my Windows laptop and it works! Better yet, with a USB-C to USB-C cable connected from my Note10+ phone to my Microsoft Surface Go laptop, my laptop has internet access!

Some questions that I can't figure out please:

1) Why does the DEX app only show several apps on the "DEX desktop", but not all my apps? The only apps showing are: My Files, Internet, Email, Gallery, Settings. Shouldn't the Dex desktop screen show all my apps found on my Note 10+ phone? If so, how?

2) Why is the font on everything so small? The app fonts are small and so is all the text shown on the internet pages, etc. How do I make the font size larger? A simple Windows command of Ctrl and + doesn't work.

I'm sure I have many more questions, but the above are the pressing ones for now.

By the way, I do NOT need to turn on Mobile Hotspot on my phone for the laptop to have internet connection! This is important for me because anytime I turn on Mobile Hotspot function, my internet speed is throttled down to a crawl for the device that is tethered.

 

[bbgpsuser]

1) Why does the DEX app only show several apps on the "DEX desktop", but not all my apps? The only apps showing are: My Files, Internet, Email, Gallery, Settings. Shouldn't the Dex desktop screen show all my apps found on my Note 10+ phone? If so, how?

Click on the app icon (circle with a lot of dots) and you will see all of the icons on your phone.

 

[Casey Cheung]

Click on the app icon (circle with a lot of dots) and you will see all of the icons on your phone.

View attachment 308951

Thank you for the info! Might you know if it's possible to make the apps and text font sizes larger? Everything seems to appear a bit too small and I can't find any way to enlarge via the DEX app.

 

[Bosbouer]

This lets you increase in-app fonts but does not increase dex fonts.

 

[anon(10509503)]

Cool, I'm able to install the DEX app to my Windows laptop and it works! Better yet, with a USB-C to USB-C cable connected from my Note10+ phone to my Microsoft Surface Go laptop, my laptop has internet access!

Some questions that I can't figure out please:

1) Why does the DEX app only show several apps on the "DEX desktop", but not all my apps? The only apps showing are: My Files, Internet, Email, Gallery, Settings. Shouldn't the Dex desktop screen show all my apps found on my Note 10+ phone? If so, how?

2) Why is the font on everything so small? The app fonts are small and so is all the text shown on the internet pages, etc. How do I make the font size larger? A simple Windows command of Ctrl and + doesn't work.

I'm sure I have many more questions, but the above are the pressing ones for now.

By the way, I do NOT need to turn on Mobile Hotspot on my phone for the laptop to have internet connection! This is important for me because anytime I turn on Mobile Hotspot function, my internet speed is throttled down to a crawl for the device that is tethered.

My problem with DeX is you cant watch Netflix. It says "Can't show protected content on your computer". The audio comes through but the video is a black screen. Also Hulu doesn't work in DeX. The only reason I really could use DeX is to watch Netflix at work during lunch because my company has Netflix.com blocked.

 

[Xxtoxicskittlexx]

Its a good app on the go but no YouTube TV is a deal breaker for me. I'll still have my Dex Dock for that.

 

[Casey Cheung]

View attachment 308965

This lets you increase in-app fonts but does not increase dex fonts.

Thanks for the comment. But where do you click on to get that window to show up for changing font size?

 

[anon(7901790)]

Yes it works. I'm just trying to figure out usage scenarios. To me, it seems to be a solution in search of a problem.

DeX as a concept and use makes perfect sense. As a user that travels, all I would need would be a DeX Dock or Pad, a keyboard and mouse (wireless or wired), and an HDMI cable. I can plug the DeX Dock or Pad into my hotel room's TV via HDMI, connect my mouse and keyboard and plug my phone into the dock and BOOM! I have an viable PC that I can watch movies, write emails, send texts, create and edit Microsoft (or Google) documents, you name it.

You could even replace the HDMI cable with a wireless display adapter (either Miracast or Chromecast).

Running DeX on my laptop or desktop though...I'm not sure that solves any problems a user would have.

 

[Casey Cheung]

I just visited a Verizon store and confirmed that whenever I turn on Mobile Hotspot on my phone, my internet speed is immediately throttled to a slow crawl regardless of data usage because I am on an old "Go Unlimited" plan. That means if my laptop or tablet device is receiving an internet signal from my phone, the external device is only receiving slow internet connection from my phone. I pretty much knew this to be true from experience, but what I didn't know is that my Mobile Hotspot speed is always and immediately throttled whenever I turn on Mobile Hotspot on my phone! (insert mad face here).

This is why DEX to a Windows laptop connection is appealing to me. By connecting my Note 10+ to my Windows laptop (via a USB-C to USB-C cable), my laptop will receive the same 4G internet signal directly from the phone without getting throttled down. 2 different Verizon reps have confirmed this to me. Sure enough, it works!

 

[Casey Cheung]

Its a good app on the go but no YouTube TV is a deal breaker for me. I'll still have my Dex Dock for that.

It works for me! I'm able to click on the squarish box with dots on the left bottom of the screen to call up my YouTube app on my phone, then to click on a video to play it. Why doesn't your setup play YouTube videos? I'm curious.

 

[Casey Cheung]

Thanks for the comment. But where do you click on to get that window to show up for changing font size?

Thank you again, I figured it out. I'm able to right click on a web page which then calls up a window to show a "Zoom" function. I then zoom to 150 to 175% enlargement!

 

[Casey Cheung]

My problem with DeX is you cant watch Netflix. It says "Can't show protected content on your computer". The audio comes through but the video is a black screen. Also Hulu doesn't work in DeX. The only reason I really could use DeX is to watch Netflix at work during lunch because my company has Netflix.com blocked.

That's strange. I am able to go to the Netflix main home page where it shows the login/password screen. Since I no longer have an account, I'm not able to sign in. But from what I can tell, it appears to me this should work okay.

 

[Casey Cheung]

At this very moment, I can verify that DEX to Windows connection is the BOMB! Loving it so far!!

 

[Casey Cheung]

It works for me! I'm able to click on the squarish box with dots on the left bottom of the screen to call up my YouTube app on my phone, then to click on a video to play it. Why doesn't your setup play YouTube videos? I'm curious.

Additionally, I can also open the Chrome browser and then access Youtube videos to watch stuff! Works great also!

 

[anon(7901790)]

That's strange. I am able to go to the Netflix main home page where it shows the login/password screen. Since I no longer have an account, I'm not able to sign in. But from what I can tell, it appears to me this should work okay.

That happened to me too. However, would that happen if you were plugged into a DeX Dock/Pad? I don't have one to test it.

 

[Casey Cheung]

That happened to me too. However, would that happen if you were plugged into a DeX Dock/Pad? I don't have one to test it.

Sorry, I don't have a DEX Dock/Pad to test, nor do I have a monitor. I do have both a Microsoft Surface Go Windows laptop plus a Lenovo Thinkpad Windows laptop. Both laptops work with the DEX app plus my Note 10 plus via a USB-C to USB-C cable.

I am truly pleased with this whole DEX to Windows computer setup!!!!!!!!!

 

[Xxtoxicskittlexx]

It works for me! I'm able to click on the squarish box with dots on the left bottom of the screen to call up my YouTube app on my phone, then to click on a video to play it. Why doesn't your setup play YouTube videos? I'm curious.

YouTube works fine. Its YouTube TV which I have subscription to (got rid of cable at my house) doesnt work.

 

[anon(10509503)]

That's strange. I am able to go to the Netflix main home page where it shows the login/password screen. Since I no longer have an account, I'm not able to sign in. But from what I can tell, it appears to me this should work okay.

Yes up to that point it looks like it would work. On both the Samsung browser and Chrome it appears it would work but after logging in it tells you to install the Netflix app, which doesn't work.

 

[Bosbouer]

From the Dex bar in the left of the screen there is an option for DEX beta. Activate that and you will be able to access a settings gear to that screen.

 

[Casey Cheung]

Yes up to that point it looks like it would work. On both the Samsung browser and Chrome it appears it would work but after logging in it tells you to install the Netflix app, which doesn't work.

I tried watch a movie using theTubi app via DEX on my Windows laptop. There was only a dark screen but I can hear sound from the movie. That's too bad.