Disclosure: we make SofaDeck. Facts about other tools were checked on 20 October 2026 and can change.
Overlays cover the game, and alt-tabbing to Task Manager breaks the moment. A phone on the desk is the natural second screen for your PC's vital signs: is the CPU pegged, is the GPU getting hot, is the drive full? This guide covers the ways to watch PC stats from a phone and the setup that takes a minute and needs no phone app.
Ways to watch PC stats from a phone
- Hardware monitor plus a phone add-on. Dedicated monitoring programs read every sensor, including CPU temperature, and some can serve their readings to a phone through an extra app or web view. Most detailed, most setup.
- Graphics-card software. GPU vendors' tools show GPU load and temperature; some offer a phone companion. GPU-only.
- Remote desktop. Open Task Manager over a remote-desktop app. It works, but it's a whole desktop on a small screen.
- A phone remote with a stats screen. SofaDeck shows the essentials as live bars next to the buttons you already use to control the PC.
PC stats on your phone with SofaDeck
- Install SofaDeck 1.0.6 or later on the Windows PC and pair your phone with the QR code and PIN.
- On the phone, tap the ⋯ menu, then 📊 PC stats.
- Leave the sheet open on a stand next to the screen: CPU, memory, disk, battery and GPU readings refresh every 2 seconds.
- CPU: total usage across all cores.
- Memory: used and total RAM.
- GPU (NVIDIA): load and core temperature for each card, read through NVIDIA's own driver tool.
- Disk: free space on the Windows drive.
- Battery and uptime: charge level on laptops and how long the PC has been running.
Bars turn amber when something runs hot or full, so you can tell at a glance. It's part of the free version, and nothing leaves your home network.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getWhat the numbers tell you
- CPU near 100% while gaming often means the processor, not the graphics card, is limiting frame rate.
- GPU in the 80s °C is normal under load for many cards; much higher than usual for yours is a hint to clean the fans or improve airflow.
- Memory nearly full makes Windows swap to disk, which shows up as stutter. Close browser tabs before a session.
- Disk under 10% free slows updates and game installs; clear old downloads.
Related: the best HTPC remote, control a PC from your phone and shut down your PC from your phone.
Want the built-in Windows tools as well? Our guide to Windows Performance Monitor covers perfmon counters, logging a slowdown over time and SofaDeck 1.0.9's live stat tiles for the deck.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see my PC's CPU and GPU usage on my phone?
Yes. SofaDeck (free, Windows) shows live CPU usage, memory, disk space, battery and uptime on your phone, plus load and temperature for NVIDIA graphics cards, refreshed every 2 seconds over your home Wi-Fi.
Does it show the CPU temperature?
Not yet. Windows doesn't report CPU temperatures to normal programs without an extra hardware driver, so SofaDeck shows CPU usage instead. GPU temperature is shown for NVIDIA cards through NVIDIA's own driver tools.
Does it work with AMD or Intel graphics?
CPU, memory, disk and battery work on any Windows PC. The GPU line currently needs an NVIDIA card with its normal driver installed.
Does monitoring slow down games?
No measurable amount. SofaDeck reads Windows' own counters only while the stats sheet is open on a phone, and asks the NVIDIA driver at most every few seconds.
Is it free?
Yes. PC stats is part of the free version of SofaDeck, along with the button deck, trackpad and voice remote.