How do I control Disney Plus on my laptop from my phone?
Install SofaDeck on the laptop and scan its QR code with your phone. Your phone then opens Disney+ in the laptop's browser ("open Disney Plus"), searches it by voice ("search Disney Plus for Bluey"), pauses with the media key or Space, goes fullscreen with F11 and sets the volume. The phone trackpad clicks on-screen buttons like Skip or Next episode. All of that is free.
- Install SofaDeck on your PC (free)
- Scan the QR code with your phone
- Tap
Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. Scan the QR code on your PC with the phone's camera and the remote opens in its browser. On Android you can also add the optional Google Play app.
A laptop plugged into the TV is a common way to watch Disney+, and the annoying part is getting up to pause, turn it down or click Next episode. SofaDeck turns your phone into the remote for that laptop or PC. It doesn't need a Disney+ app or a cast-capable TV; it controls the browser on the PC that is already playing.
Disney+ plays in Chrome or Edge on Windows, which report the video to Windows' media controls, so the phone's Play/Pause button works even when the browser isn't the window in front.
Set it up in 5 steps
- Install SofaDeck on the PC or laptop connected to the TV.
- Pair your phone (QR code + PIN). The deck opens in the phone's browser.
- Say "open Disney Plus" or add a Website button for https://www.disneyplus.com/.
- Add Play / Pause, Fullscreen (F11), Exit (Esc) and the volume buttons, or add the Movie night template and swap Netflix for Disney+.
- Use the phone trackpad (Windows) to click profile pictures, Skip and Next episode on the TV.
Buttons to add for Disney+
| Button | What it sends | What it does | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney+ | Website: www.disneyplus.com | Opens Disney+ in the PC's default browser. | Free |
| Play / Pause | Media key: Play/Pause | Media key: pauses and resumes the video in Chrome or Edge. | Free |
| Pause (key) | Key: Space | Space pauses most web players when the browser is in front. | Free |
| Seek − / + | Keys: ←, → | ← and → skip back and forward in most web video players. | Free |
| Fullscreen | Key: F11 | Makes the whole browser fullscreen (works on every site). | Free |
| Exit | Key: Esc | Leaves fullscreen. | Free |
| Volume − / + | Media keys: Volume down, Volume up | Changes the PC's volume. | Free |
| Mute | Media key: Mute | Mutes the PC. | Free |
| Trackpad | SofaDeck's phone trackpad (Windows) | Click Skip, Next episode and profile pictures on the TV. | Free |
| Screen off | PC power: screen off | Turns the display off when the kids are asleep. | Free |
Disney+'s player has its own shortcuts and they can change; F11, Esc, the media keys and the volume keys don't depend on the site. The free version holds one page of 12 buttons, so start with the ones you reach for most; Pro removes the limit.
Or just say it
Tap the microphone on the phone (or type in the say-or-type bar) and SofaDeck runs the command on the PC. Any button also runs by saying its label. The full voice command list has the rest.
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
open Disney Plus | Opens disneyplus.com on the PC. |
search Disney Plus for Bluey | Opens Disney+ search for those words. |
pause / play | Media Play/Pause key. |
sleep in 90 minutes | Puts the PC to sleep after the film, with a cancel button. |
What's free and what needs Pro
Everything on this page is in the free version. Pro (from $6.99 once, no subscription) adds more pages, hotkey combos, macros and Smart pages that switch the phone to your Disney+ page when Disney+ comes to the front (Windows), if you want more later. See Pro.
Limits, honestly
- SofaDeck controls the PC's browser; it can't control Disney+ on a smart TV, phone or streaming stick.
- Site shortcuts need the browser to be the window in front, and Disney+ decides which keys its player answers.
- The phone doesn't show Disney+'s catalogue. Pick with the trackpad, by voice search, or with Screen view (Pro), which shows the PC screen on the phone.
- The trackpad is on Windows; on a Mac use keys, media keys and voice.
SofaDeck runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit). The phone needs only a browser: iPhone or Android, no app to install, on the same Wi-Fi as the PC.
Other ways to control Disney+ from your phone
If your TV has Disney+ built in, or you can cast from the Disney+ phone app to a Chromecast or AirPlay device, the TV remote is simpler. SofaDeck is for when the PC or laptop is the player: it's free, needs no casting device and also runs Netflix, YouTube and the rest from the same phone.
Disney+ is a trademark of its owner. SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Disney+. Shortcuts listed are the app's defaults at the time of writing and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my phone as a Disney Plus remote for my laptop?
Yes. With SofaDeck on the laptop, the phone opens Disney+, pauses, goes fullscreen, sets the volume and clicks on-screen buttons with its trackpad. It's free.
Which Disney Plus keyboard shortcuts work on a PC?
Space pauses in most web players, ← → skip, and F11 makes the browser fullscreen. The media Play/Pause key works in Chrome and Edge even when the browser isn't in front.
Do I need the Disney+ app on my phone?
No. SofaDeck needs no phone app at all: the remote opens in the phone's browser after a QR scan.
Will it stop playback at bedtime?
Yes: say "sleep in 45 minutes" or use the sleep timer button; the PC sleeps when it runs out.