Fix Portrait Camera Preview When Mirroring Android to TV
The Black Bar Annoyance
When you cast your Android phone screen to a big TV via Chromecast, Miracast, or built-in Smart TV protocols, the native camera preview usually stays stuck in portrait mode. This leaves two massive black bars on the sides, wasting 60% of your screen real estate. It ruins video calls, live demonstrations, and baby monitors.
Forced Landscape Output
MirrorCam intercepts the camera feed and forces a 16:9 landscape output specifically optimized for TV mirroring. No more turning your head sideways. The output fills your entire TV screen naturally, just like a real webcam.
Pure Android Native Capabilities
This app does not use any proprietary streaming servers or cloud processing. It purely relies on Android’s underlying MediaProjection and DisplayManager APIs (the system-level screen casting framework). Because it uses the OS’s native casting hooks, it offers the lowest possible latency and doesn’t require root access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t this on the Google Play Store?
Google charges a one-time $25 registration fee for developer accounts. Since this app is a free hobby project with no in-app purchases or ads, adding that fee would make it financially unsustainable. By distributing the APK directly, I keep it 100% free for everyone without any hidden costs passed to you.
What are the default video specs?
The output is locked at 1080p at 60 frames per second (fps). 1080p ensures crisp clarity on large 4K TVs without overworking your phone’s CPU, while 60fps provides buttery-smooth motion tracking—crucial for reducing blur when you move the phone around.
Will you add more features (e.g., filters, recording)?
I’m open to it! Since this is a community-driven side project, new features depend entirely on user interest and donations. If I see enough traction and feedback requesting specific tools, I’ll invest the time to build them. For now, the current feature set perfectly solves my own use-case—and hopefully yours too!
Is this APK safe to install? Do I need to grant risky permissions?
Yes, it’s safe. The app only requests the Camera, Display over other apps (for screen mirroring detection), and Storage permissions. The storage permission is required because the app saves recorded videos to your device. It has NO internet permission, meaning it physically cannot upload your video anywhere. It’s offline-only.
Does this app record the screen, or just the camera?
It specifically targets the camera preview stream and records it into a video file saved on your device. While the TV mirrors your entire phone screen via Android’s casting, MirrorCam modifies only the camera output within that stream to landscape, then saves the result. It does NOT record your desktop, other apps, or any on-screen UI elements—only the camera feed.
Which Android versions and TVs are supported?
Requires Android 9 (Pie) or above (API level 28+). It works with any TV that supports standard Android screen casting—including Google Chromecast, Samsung SmartThings, Sony Bravia, and generic Miracast dongles. No brand restrictions.