Can my phone send media keys to my PC?
Yes. SofaDeck's media buttons send the same Play/Pause, Next, Previous, Stop, Volume and Mute keys a media keyboard sends, so Spotify, Chrome, Edge, Apple Music and most players respond. Install SofaDeck on the PC, scan its QR code and use the Media remote template. Media keys and volume are free, on Windows and Mac.
- 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.
Many laptops and compact keyboards hide the media keys behind Fn, or don't have them at all. The keys themselves are standard: Windows defines Play/Pause, Next track, Previous track, Stop, Volume up, Volume down and Mute, and media apps listen for them. SofaDeck presses those exact keys from your phone.
Because they're system keys, not app shortcuts, they don't need the player to be the window in front. Windows sends them to the app it considers the current media session: usually whatever is playing.
Set it up in 5 steps
- Install SofaDeck on the PC and pair your phone (QR code + PIN).
- On the phone, tap edit and add the Media remote template, or add Media buttons one by one.
- Start music or a video and tap Play / Pause to check the app responds.
- Add a Set volume button (for example 30%) for a one-tap level.
- Use voice when your hands are full: "pause", "next song", "volume 20".
Buttons to add for Media keys
| Button | What it sends | What it does | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play / Pause | Media key: Play/Pause | Toggles the current media session. | Free |
| Next track | Media key: Next track | Skips forward. | Free |
| Previous track | Media key: Previous track | Skips back. | Free |
| Stop | Media key: Stop | Stops playback (some apps treat it as pause). | Free |
| Volume up | Media key: Volume up | Raises the Windows volume one step. | Free |
| Volume down | Media key: Volume down | Lowers it one step. | Free |
| Mute | Media key: Mute | Toggles mute. | Free |
| Volume 30% | Set volume: 30% | Sets an exact level. | Free |
| Now playing | SofaDeck's Now playing card (Windows) | Shows the song or video, the app and its progress on the phone. | Free |
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 |
|---|---|
pause / hold on | Play/Pause. |
next song / previous track | Next / Previous. |
volume 30 / turn it up by 20 | Exact or relative volume. |
what's playing | Reads the current song from Windows. |
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 Media keys page when Media keys comes to the front (Windows), if you want more later. See Pro.
Limits, honestly
- Media keys go to one app at a time. If two things play (a browser video and Spotify), Windows picks one; pause the other.
- An app that ignores media keys won't respond. Give it a button with its own shortcut instead (for example Space in VLC).
- Firefox answers media keys by default; if it grabs them when you want Spotify, set media.hardwaremediakeys.enabled to false in about:config.
- Now playing is Windows-only; Mac gets the keys without the song display.
SofaDeck runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) and on the Mac (macOS 11 Big Sur or later, on Apple silicon or Intel). 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 Media keys from your phone
A media keyboard or a small Bluetooth media remote does the same job without a phone. Spotify Connect controls Spotify itself from the Spotify app. SofaDeck is the choice when one phone should handle every player plus the rest of the PC.
Media keys is a trademark of its owner. SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Media keys. Shortcuts listed are the app's defaults at the time of writing and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Do media keys work with Spotify on PC?
Yes. The Spotify desktop app follows Play/Pause, Next and Previous, which is how SofaDeck's buttons control it without Spotify being in front.
Why don't my media keys work in one app?
Either another app holds the media session (pause it), or the app doesn't listen for media keys. Use that app's own keyboard shortcut as a button instead.
Are media keys free in SofaDeck?
Yes: all seven media keys, Set volume and Now playing are free.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes, SofaDeck for Mac sends the media keys once it's allowed under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Related
- Apple Music remote: control Apple Music on your PC from your phone
- VLC remote: control VLC on your PC from your phone
- Disney Plus remote control for a PC: your phone
- How to Control Your PC From Your Phone (Windows 10 & 11)
- Connect Spotify From Your Phone to Your Laptop or PC: 2 Free Ways
- All remotes by app