Enabling Wireless Display on Windows 11 (for Android mirroring)
This one’s a bit of a head-scratcher. At first glance, it seems simple—just mirror your Android device to a Windows 11 PC wirelessly. But you’ll find that the key step is making sure the Wireless Display feature is turned on. If it’s not, your phone won’t be able to find your PC as a casting target. I had a few goes at this myself, mainly because some of these settings are tucked away or behind odd menus.
Start by heading into Settings. From there, go to System. Now, here’s where it gets tricky—Microsoft often rearranges things with updates, so if you don’t see exactly what I mention, just look for similar wording. Next, select Optional Features. Sometimes this option lives inside a submenu, requiring a scroll or a search.
This part gave me a bit of a headache. Look for and click the View Features button. It’s not always obvious—it might have a different label or be hidden behind a small link. To make it easier, use Ctrl + F to search for Wireless Display. Once you find it, tick the box next to it. It’s usually located below several other features, so take your time. After selecting it, click Next, and Windows will try to download and install it. You’ll see a progress bar or spinner—nothing’s ever perfectly smooth, after all. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, so patience is key.
If you can’t spot Wireless Display there, another route is to install it via PowerShell. Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell as an administrator and run:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name "WirelessDisplay~~~~0.0.1.0"This method adds the wireless display feature directly, without rummaging through menus. Handy if your Windows version is a bit quirky or if you prefer scripting. Once it’s installed, you might need to restart your PC—that’s just Windows doing its thing.
After installation, the feature should be ready to go. This step’s essential because it enables your Windows device to accept wireless display signals—exactly what you need to mirror your Android device.
Setting up your PC to receive the cast (via Settings)
Next, you’ll need to configure your Windows 11 PC to accept screen sharing. Head back into Settings, then go to System. Keep in mind, Windows can often shuffle things around after updates, so if you don’t see the exact menu items, just poke around a bit.
Click on Projecting to this PC. Sometimes it’s hidden or has a slightly different name—like Optional Features or within the display options—so give it a moment to find it. Inside, you’ll see options to make your PC discoverable. The main setting you’re after is Ask to project to this PC. Set it to Available everywhere or Available everywhere on secure networks. Sometimes, it defaults to a less secure setting or resets after updates, so double-check. You might need to toggle it on, or set it via Powershell like this:
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\bluetooth' -Name 'Value' -Value 'Allow'Honestly, I did most of it through the GUI, but some folks have mentioned that sometimes you need to tweak a few advanced settings. Once it’s enabled—that is, your PC is set to *allow* casting—it should be good to go. Just remember, these settings sometimes reset or hide behind other options, so keep an eye out.
The fun part — connecting your Android phone
On your Android device, the process is surprisingly straightforward, though it can be a bit fiddly if your settings aren’t exactly right. Pull down your quick settings shade and look for Cast or Screen Cast. The name varies depending on the device—sometimes it’s under Connected Devices or just in the main menu. Tap on it, then wait for your device to scan for available devices. If your Windows 11 PC has the Wireless Display feature enabled correctly, your PC should appear in the list.
Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This is often the stumbling block. These features usually only work smoothly if both devices are on the same network—no exceptions. Sometimes toggling airplane mode or turning Wi-Fi off and back on helps with discovery. When your PC’s name pops up, tap it. Your phone might prompt you to connect or show a notification on Windows asking for permission. Approve it.
If the connection is successful, your Android screen should be mirrored on your Windows desktop. If it doesn’t work immediately, don’t worry. I found I had to disconnect, wait a moment, restart the cast, or reboot both devices. Patience is the key. Confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that your PC isn’t in some low-discoverability mode.
Once everything’s set, you’ll see your Android screen in a new window or directly on your desktop background. Great for quick demos, streaming videos, or just having a play. Just remember, there’ll usually be some lag—Wi-Fi isn’t perfect. Occasional disconnects are common, but a quick toggle or reboot often sorts it out.
Honestly, it was a bit of a headache to figure all this out at first. Felt like hunting for a needle in a haystack. A quick summary of what to double-check:
- Wireless Display feature is installed and enabled on Windows 11
- Both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
- Your PC is set to accept projections in Projecting to this PC
- Your Android device’s cast setting is toggled on and can see your PC
Hopefully, this helps you out — it took me ages to crack all the settings, mostly because Windows loves hiding these options away. Anyway, if you’re stuck, just recheck everything, reboot if needed, and keep your Wi-Fi stable. Good luck!