WINDOCK 0.3.0 · ON YOUR COMPUTER
PC found, but the secure connection fails?
Discovery and the secure connection use different ports. A PC can appear in the list while its firewall blocks pairing. A timeout can also come from guest Wi-Fi, a VPN or an unavailable PC.
- On Linux, run
windock network. On Windows, open Pair a phone securely → Connection help and paired phones.
- Expand Phone finds this PC but cannot connect?, then select Check connection. Use the ports shown there; the secure port is usually 8621 but can change.
- Choose only the network shared with your phone. Review the suggested commands. Linux supports instructions for UFW and firewalld; unknown firewall setups need your administrator. On Windows, first allow WinDock’s bundled runtime on your trusted Private network. The optional PowerShell commands also require an administrator.
- Run only the rules you need. Secure phone access and discovery are listed separately from optional browser/older-client access. Your operating system requests administrator permission; WinDock never asks for your password.
- Show a fresh QR code and scan again. Keep your saved pairing and dock. If you switch to USB tethering, enable tethering first and check again: it may create another network and need a separate rule. On Windows, classify the tethered network as Private only if it is your own trusted phone.
These checks do not change your firewall and cannot prove a phone can reach the PC. Keep the firewall enabled; do not forward router ports. On a managed work or school computer, ask its administrator. Older versions without Check connection need a matching updated companion first.
I opened WinDock on Windows, but nothing appeared.+
The companion lives in the system tray. Click the hidden-icons arrow beside the clock, right-click WinDock, and choose Show connection info. The secure connection also has Pair a phone securely. See the marked tray screenshot above.
My phone can’t find the PC.+
Check that WinDock is running on the PC, the PC is awake, and both devices use the same trusted network. Avoid guest Wi-Fi or router client isolation. Allow WinDock through the firewall on that private network. For public PIN pairing, enter the PC’s displayed address and port manually. In the secure connection, pair using the PC’s current QR code; an address by itself does not establish trust. Never enter 127.0.0.1 from the PC’s local pairing-page link into the phone.
USB tethering is greyed out, or Find USB PC finds nothing.+
Unlock the phone, reconnect it, and try a different USB port or data-capable cable. A charge-only cable cannot carry the connection. Turn USB tethering on in Android Settings before returning to WinDock. Keep the PC host running, then retry Find USB PC. To return to wireless, choose Connect by Wi-Fi.
How do I change the PC or enter another address?+
In the updated secure connection, tap Connection at the top-left of the dock. Enter an address under Use another address, choose Saved & nearby PCs, or scan the new PC’s code. Automatic reconnection pauses while this page is open. Return to saved PC reconnects to your existing computer without removing its pairing or tiles. During a connection attempt, tap Change connection to stop waiting. Older versions use Switch PC → Enter address from the drawer, or Android Back after closing any open panels.
I don’t see Scan computer code or Pair a phone securely.+
QR pairing needs the updated 0.3.0 on both devices. Public 0.2.6 uses the displayed address and PIN. Check Updates to see which versions you installed; don’t use preview instructions for older apps. Use the public PIN guide.
The QR code expired or my camera won’t scan it.+
Choose Show a new code on the PC and scan it within two minutes from Android’s Scan computer code. Each code pairs only one phone. Allow camera access if you want to scan. Alternatively use Copy pairing text → Enter pairing text. The example QR in this guide is deliberately unusable.
I’m asked to pair again after a restart.+
That can happen with public 0.2.6 because the host’s PIN sessions are reset when it restarts. The secure connection keeps pairing across ordinary restarts: start the PC companion, unlock your phone, and open WinDock. If app data was cleared, pairing revoked, or the session expired, pair again using your own PC’s fresh code. An unexpected certificate or identity warning should be checked on the PC; don’t bypass it or install a random certificate.
The APK won’t install or says “App not installed.”+
Confirm the phone runs Android 7.0 or newer, has free storage, and downloaded the complete APK from the official source. Allow installation for the app opening the APK. A different signing key or an older version can prevent an in-place update. Check the version and source first; uninstalling clears phone settings and pairing. It does not delete your PC dock.
Typing pauses until I press Space or Enter.+
Phone keyboards often compose a word before committing it. WinDock forwards committed text, so Space or Enter can send the current word. First focus a text field on the PC. Use your phone keyboard’s microphone for supported dictation; you don’t need a dedicated WinDock voice feature.
A file transfer stopped or the destination won’t accept files.+
Keep WinDock in the foreground, check the connection and free PC storage, and confirm receiving is enabled in the PC’s Files & Media settings. Retry or check status before sending the same batch again. Use a compatible local destination such as NTFS on Windows or ext4 on Linux; FAT/exFAT and some network shares cannot safely finalize transfers. The current preview allows up to 50 files per batch, 8 GiB per file, and 32 GiB total; smaller batches are easier on a slow connection.
The interface is blank or slow on an older phone.+
Install the latest compatible Android System WebView update from your device’s official update source, then reopen WinDock. On some older Android versions, Chrome supplies WebView, so update Chrome too. Try Appearance → Performance mode → On if Auto does not help. This reduces visual effects. Keep the app open during use.
Can I connect away from home or use a browser?+
The public version can open the PC’s displayed browser address and pair by PIN on a trusted network. If you already use Tailscale on both devices, the public Android app can use the PC’s numeric Tailscale address manually; discovery remains local. WinDock doesn’t set up a VPN or relay. Don’t expose its ports directly to the internet. Secure preview pairing still requires the updated Android app; browser access uses the legacy path.
Brightness says “Control sent,” but the screen does not change.+
Some monitors accept brightness commands while HDR or a picture mode prevents a visible change. Check Windows Settings → System → Display → HDR for the affected display. If HDR is on, you can temporarily turn it off and try again. WinDock never changes HDR for you. The updated preview shows an amber hint after a brightness command when Windows reports an active HDR display.
For an external monitor, also check DDC/CI in its own menu. For a built-in laptop panel, check the display driver. If it still fails, report the PC and display models, Windows and WinDock versions, HDR status, and the exact message.
How do I update without losing my dock?+
Check Updates in WinDock. On Windows, quit the tray app before running the new installer, then reopen it. On Linux, install the new package and reopen WinDock. On Android, install the matching-signed newer APK over the existing app. Keep the PC’s saved app data: that is where the dock and secure identity live. Downloading an update alone doesn’t install it.
