sndcpy is an Android audio forwarding tool that captures sound from an Android device and streams it to a computer without requiring root access.
The tool solves the problem of missing audio when mirroring an Android screen to a computer. It works by installing a small application on the Android device that captures audio output and forwards it over USB to the computer, where VLC plays the stream. The approach requires Android 10 or later and VLC to be installed on the receiving computer. Audio continues playing on the device while also being forwarded, and volume can be adjusted independently on each end.
This tool suits developers and users who need complete screen and audio mirroring from Android devices, particularly those using scrcpy for screen mirroring who want audio to accompany the video. However, potential adopters should be aware that the project is explicitly a proof-of-concept with limitations. Many Android apps restrict audio capture based on their manifest settings, so not all apps will forward audio successfully. Apps targeting Android 9 or earlier do not permit playback capture by default, while those targeting Android 10 and later allow it by default unless explicitly disabled. Additionally, audio forwarding may introduce variable latency, and VLC's buffering can occasionally cause noticeable delays that require restarting the stream. The README notes that scrcpy 2.0 now supports audio forwarding natively, which may be a more integrated alternative for users already using that tool.
Development activity shows the project receives occasional maintenance with environment variable configuration options available for customizing the adb executable path, VLC path, APK location, and forwarding port. The tool is distributed as pre-built releases for multiple platforms, with Windows users provided a bundled version that includes adb for convenience.
