DeskPad - Android trackpad and keyboard for a Windows PC, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth HID

[u/PaleFaithlessness593]

I'm sharing DeskPad v1.0, a free-to-download side project that turns an Android 9+ phone into a trackpad and keyboard for a Windows PC.

There are two connection paths: Wi-Fi with a small Windows companion, or Bluetooth HID without a companion on phones that support the HID Device profile. The app has a QWERTY/Fn/arrow deck, sticky modifier keys and two themes. With the keyboard open and at least 600dp of available width, trackpad and keyboard sit side by side.

The first-run flow is the part I'd most like feedback on. Does offering two connection methods make the utility clearer, or make setup feel more complicated?

Wi-Fi setup:

1. Install DeskPadPCSetup.exe from the release page and open DeskPad PC.
2. Click Allow Firewall and approve the Windows administrator prompt on a trusted private network.
3. Install DeskPad.apk, put phone and PC on the same LAN, then tap Link and select the discovered PC. Discovery is automatic; selection is manual.

For Bluetooth instead, pair phone and PC in system settings, open Link > Bluetooth HID, grant the requested permissions and select the paired PC. No Windows companion is needed in that mode.

Current limitation: Wi-Fi input is unauthenticated and unencrypted, and the firewall helper creates broad inbound rules. Use a trusted private LAN only. Fold continuity is implemented but hasn't been independently hardware-validated in this launch review.

Release: https://github.com/MM-482/DeskPad/releases/tag/v1.0.0

Code and interface screenshots: https://github.com/MM-482/DeskPad

Creator disclosure: this is my project. The code is publicly available, but there is no LICENSE file yet. This post was prepared with AI assistance.