PlainApp: Phone Web Portal
Manage your phone on the web! Access files, contacts, videos, music & more.
Screenshots
Description
**PlainApp** is a free, open-source Android app that turns your phone into a self-hosted management hub you can access from any web browser on the same network — no accounts, no cloud, no subscriptions. Whether you need to transfer files, read SMS, browse photos, or mirror your screen, PlainApp puts full control back in your hands.
## Why PlainApp?
Most phone-management tools either route your data through their own servers, lock features behind subscriptions, or plague you with ads. PlainApp is different:
- **100% local** — your data never leaves your network
- **End-to-end encrypted** — every connection is secured with TLS + XChaCha20-Poly1305
- **Completely free and ad-free** — no purchases, no upsells, ever
- **Fully open-source** — audit the code, build your own binary, or contribute
## Features
### 🌐 Web-Based Phone Management
Open a browser on any desktop or laptop connected to the same Wi-Fi network and get a full dashboard to manage your Android device — no app installation required on the computer side. Supports PWA so you can pin it to your desktop like a native app.
| Category | What you can do |
|---|---|
| **Files** | Browse internal storage, SD card, and USB drives; upload, download, rename, delete |
| **Media** | View and manage photos, videos, and audio; stream them directly in the browser |
| **Contacts** | View, search, and manage your contacts |
| **SMS & Calls** | Read messages and call logs; send SMS from your desktop |
| **Apps** | List installed apps and export APKs |
| **Notifications** | Mirror phone notifications to the browser in real time |
| **Screen Mirror** | Live-stream the phone screen to the browser with audio and remote control support |
| **Device Info** | Check battery, storage, network, and system details |
### 📱 Built-in Android Tools
PlainApp is also a capable standalone app — not just a server:
- **Markdown Notes** — write and organize notes with a clean editor
- **RSS Reader** — follow your favorite websites with a distraction-free reader
- **Video & Audio Player** — full-featured media player with playlist support
- **TV Cast** — cast media to any DLNA/Chromecast-compatible TV
- **Peer-to-Peer Chat & File Sharing** — share files and messages directly between devices without a server
- **Pomodoro Timer** — stay focused with a built-in work timer
- **Sound Meter** — measure ambient noise levels in real time
### 🔒 Privacy & Security
- No Firebase Analytics or Messaging — crash reporting (via Firebase Crashlytics) is optional and opt-in
- Zero data sent to any third-party server
- All traffic between phone and browser is encrypted (TLS + XChaCha20-Poly1305)
- No account registration required
Github: https://github.com/plainhub/plain-app
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/plainapp
Versions
Permissions
What the app asks the system for. Android only grants sensitive access after you confirm it.
- Exact alarmsTrigger actions at a precise time.
- Prevent sleepingKeep the device from going to sleep.
- Phone stateDetect ongoing calls and read device information.
- READ_PHONE_NUMBERS
- Display over other appsDraw content on top of other apps.
- Internet accessSend and receive data over the internet.
- Network stateCheck whether and how the device is connected.
- Change networkChange network connections.
Show 34 more permissions
- Wi-Fi stateRead information about the Wi-Fi connection.
- Change Wi-FiTurn Wi-Fi on and off or switch networks.
- CHANGE_WIFI_MULTICAST_STATE
- MULTICAST
- MicrophoneRecord audio.
- Read SMSRead text messages.
- Send SMSSend text messages (may cost money).
- Read contactsAccess the address book.
- Change contactsCreate and change address book entries.
- READ_CALL_LOG
- WRITE_CALL_LOG
- Place callsCall phone numbers without asking again.
- REQUEST_DELETE_PACKAGES
- Installed appsSee which apps are installed.
- Full file accessAccess all files on the device.
- Write storageCreate and change files on the device storage.
- REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS
- Foreground serviceKeep running in the background, visible in the status bar.
- FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK
- FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PROJECTION
- FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE
- BluetoothConnect to Bluetooth devices.
- BLUETOOTH_ADMIN
- Bluetooth connectionConnect to paired Bluetooth devices.
- Bluetooth scanSearch for nearby Bluetooth devices.
- CameraTake photos and videos.
- Precise locationDetermine the location via GPS.
- Approximate locationDetermine the location via the network.
- NotificationsShow notifications.
- Install appsStart the installation of other apps.
- FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC
- Run at startupStart automatically after the device is switched on.
- plain.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
- Read storageRead files on the device storage.
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