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The original was posted on /r/samsungdex by /u/EDLLT on 2024-01-12 01:05:35.
Original Title: 2024 [TUTORIAL] [ALL VERSIONS] How to start Samsung Recorder from Samsung Dex[Root and None root solution], how to dim brightness, Map keyboard shortcuts, how to force windows to work in Dex and be resizable, how to enable widgets, run linux applications/emulate windows applications
I discovered Samsung Dex very recently while I was trying to achieve something else and from then onwards I loved it so I went on further trying to see what I could do from running complete hardware accelerated linux programs(via termux-x11 and virgl) to enabling widgets[Weird behavior, will post it soon]) as well as other trivial things like dimming the screen and what not. So I'd like to share my findings
Anyways, so I wanted to record my Dex screen so that I could show yall how to enable widgets but the problem was that the screen recorder was missing and I couldn't find any working solution online so after a while of searching, I made my own solution that should work on all versions of samsung using ADB
To start the native screen recorder in Dex[ROOT][HAS AUDIO],
execute this either in Termux or in an adb shell (Note: You need root in both cases unfortunately) adb shell (Note: You need root in both cases unfortunately)
If using Termux
su
am start -n com.samsung.android.app.smartcapture/com.samsung.android.app.screenrecorder.ScreenRecorderStarterActivity -a com.samsung.android.app.screenrecorder.ACTION_START --ez FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK true
If using adb
adb shell su -c "am start -n com.samsung.android.app.smartcapture/com.samsung.android.app.screenrecorder.ScreenRecorderStarterActivity -a com.samsung.android.app.screenrecorder.ACTION_START --ez FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK true"
NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER INTO WHETHER IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO WITH NO ROOT
Here's the filtered logcat output for screenrecorder
You could look into the app Automate by llamalab as it allows you to access android APIs through simple block programming.
Specifically, there was one for interacting with system widgets and starting activities and we might be able to start the screen recorder that way. There's a community tab in the app allowing you to see what others have created.
r/AutomateUser
Record the screen without root natively[NO MEDIA AUDIO]
Despite this, you can still record the screen without root using a native android binary called screenrecord with the caveat being that it does not record audioTo see the help menu(if using adb, just append adb shell at the beginning of the command)
/system/bin/screenrecord --help
To get your physical display ids(required to specify the screen to be recorded)
dumpsys SurfaceFlinger --display-id
#OUTPUT
Display 4613571866842539268 (HWC display 1): port=4 pnpId=AUS displayName="VG27AQL1A" Display 4630947232161729153 (HWC display 0): port=129 pnpId=QCM displayName=""
In my case, the physical display id of my monitor is 4613571866842539268, I plug that value into the screen recorder using the display-id flag and i'll be able to record the screen(without audio) and then save it to a file called tmp_file_1.mp4
screenrecord --display-id 4613571866842539268 /sdcard/Download/tmp_file_1.mp4
To stop recording press CTRL + C in the same terminal while it's focusedThis will then cause the file to get saved to the path you specified, in my case that was /sdcard/Download/tmp_file_1.mp4
How to dim screen in Samsung Dex natively
This one is straight forward,
goto Settings > Accessibility > Visibility Enhancements > Extra Dim > Intensity
Modify the intensity bar, with higher being dimmer then enable Extra Dim
How to map keyboard shortcuts
For this, you could either use
Keymapper(FOSS)
Automate by llamalab
Use the former if you want to do simple things like remapping a keybind, opening an application, etc
And Automate if you want to create complex things.
Or you could use both and make them communicate with each other through broadcasts/intents, etc. Using Automate you could also create a shortcut for the thing you created in the home screen which is neat.
How to force windows to work in Dex and be resizable
By now, you would've noticed that some applications just flat out refuse to work in Dex or inconviently restart themselves everytime you attempt to resize them or don't even allow you to resize them to begin with.
In order to fix that, we could do the following
Enable Samsung Dex Developer mode(It's not the normal developer mode)
In Samsung DeX, open Settings -> Samsung DeX -> About Samsung DeX, then tap/click the "Samsung DeX" title 5 times very fast. You'll see a pop-up "Turn on developer options?", press OK. After restarting DeX, the change will take effect.
Also, I recommend enabling the following option which'd allow you to resize apps even for apps that don't allow you to
Settings -> Advanced Features -> Labs -> Multi window for all apps
Settings -> Developer Options -> Multi window for all apps
This will allow all apps to be work in Dex, be resizable, not require the app to restart to be resized
How to enable widgets
Now this last one is actually more of a bug than a feature which allows you to access the normal home launcher from a Dex environment
Install an app called Swift Backup from the play store(don't worry, we aren't gonna backup anything or even use the program's features)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.swiftapps.swiftbackup
From there, open the app, then press the Apps tab, and select any app through there(any app), and then press the vertically stacked dots and press on "Add to home screen" then press Add.
This will for some reason make your Dex launcher basically the normal launcher in your phone. you can still access the apps in multiwindow but also see your normal apps and widgets(will upload a screenshot/video in a bit)To go back to normal Dex just disconnect the HDMI and connect it back or you could also press WINDOWS + W then WINDOWS + W again to toggle Dex
Here's how it looks like
An image containing the OneUI launcher along with Dex windows and taskbar
How to run Linux Applications/Windows applications with hardware acceleration
This one will need another whole tutorial of its own, luckily someone's done just that
Video demonstrating performance of some linux applications with hardware acceleration
PROOT ENVIRONMENT(Without ROOT)
CHROOT ENVIRONMENT(Requires ROOT)(FASTEST PERFORMANCE)
With linux deploy(easier)
Without linux deploy(More steps, greater understanding)
How to setup the Termux X11 client(a billion times better in performance than a VNC viewer)https://ivonblog.com/en-us/posts/termux-x11
FOR HARDWARE ACCELERATION(CHROOT AND PROOT)
Read both
I think that summarizes all the tricks I've learned so far. Pretty sure there are tons more to come soIf anyone has figured out a better way or enhancement for Dex, then feel free to comment below!
