CropShare
Share only the part of your Android screen that matters
CropShare shares a rectangle you choose, not your whole screen, with other devices on the same Wi-Fi. Viewers need no app: they scan a QR code and watch in a browser.
Two viewers free · No internet needed · No server
What it is for
Full screen sharing shows too much, and sharing a single app is too coarse. CropShare sends exactly the rectangle you need.
Slides, not your script
Keep your script on one side of the screen and share only the slide area. Your audience sees the slides, not your notes.
Keep the answer key private
Keep the answer key on your screen and share only the working area. Nobody sees the answers before you get there.
Just the game or video
Share a game or a video with a group. Chat windows, notifications and personal details stay outside the region, so they are never sent.
How to share part of your Android screen
Setup takes about a minute. Touches pass straight through the box, so you keep using the app underneath, and you can move or resize the box at any time while sharing.
Set up
Start sharing setup. A green box appears on your screen.
Pick the region
Move the box and drag any of the four corners to resize it.
Start sharing
A QR code and a six digit number appear.
Join
Viewers scan the QR code and they are in. If they type the address instead, they enter the six digit number.
Features
Viewers can point things out, not just watch.
What you control
- Drawing lock – stop and resume viewer pens and lasers at once
- Pause – viewers keep the last frame while you look at something else
- Reset views – put every viewer's zoom and rotation back in one tap
- Save slots – keep three regions you use often and switch in one tap
- Enter numbers – set position and size in pixels, lock the ratio
- Hide or move the bar – hide the control bar or place it in any of 12 spots
- Full lock – lock every button before handing the device to someone
What viewers can do
- Pen – neon, marker or highlighter · 3 sizes · 20 colours
- Laser – a mark that fades away
- Ping – tap once and rings mark the spot
- Themes – 10 looks, set by the presenter or by each viewer
It all shows up on the presenter's screen right away.
How it behaves
- Text is sent sharp, motion is sent smooth
- On a slow connection it sends lighter frames while the screen moves, then the full picture once it stops
- The box keeps its place when you rotate the screen
- If Wi-Fi changes, the address and QR code update on their own
Compared with other options
There are several ways to show part of an Android screen. Pick the one that fits your situation.
| Option | What is shared | Viewers use | Requires | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CropShare | A rectangle you choose | Any browser (QR code), can draw and point | Same Wi-Fi or hotspot | Presenting, teaching, watching together in the same room |
| Android built-in single app sharing | One whole app | A sharing app such as Meet or Discord | Android 14 QPR2 / 15 or later | Showing one whole app in a remote meeting |
| scrcpy (desktop program) | A region set with its crop option | The connected computer | A computer, USB debugging | Mirroring or recording on a PC, streaming via OBS |
| Mirror, then crop in OBS | The region cropped in OBS | Stream viewers | A computer, a mirroring tool, OBS | Live streaming over the internet |
Pricing
Free
- Two viewers at a time
- The first hour each day has no ads
- After that, watch a short ad to share for another hour, no cap on repeats
Subscription
- Up to 24 viewers at a time (with many viewers, constantly moving content may stutter)
- No time limit
- No ads
- Cancel any time in the Play Store
Good to know
- Everyone must be on the same Wi-Fi. Other networks cannot connect.
- Some office and school networks block device to device connections.
- Apps with content protection, such as Netflix, appear black. That is enforced by the system, not by this app.
- Picture quality and responsiveness depend on your Wi-Fi: the router, signal strength and how many devices are using it.
- Traffic is not encrypted within the local network. Do not use it on a network you do not trust.
- Permissions: Screen recording (captures the region you chose, only after system consent) and Display over other apps (shows the region box).
FAQ
Can I share only part of my Android screen?
Yes. With CropShare a green box appears on your screen; move it and resize it, and only what is inside that rectangle is shared with other devices. Scripts, notes, notifications and chat windows outside the box are never sent.
How is this different from Android's built-in single app sharing?
Android 14 QPR2 / 15 and later can share one whole app. CropShare shares a rectangle you define regardless of app boundaries, so you can show one part of an app and keep another part private. Viewers also watch in a browser without installing anything.
Do viewers need to install an app?
No. They scan a QR code or type an address and it opens in a browser. Android, iPhone, iPad and laptops all work. Viewers who type the address enter a six digit number.
Does it need the internet?
No. Devices talk directly over the same Wi-Fi with no server. Everyone must be on the same Wi-Fi or hotspot; other networks cannot connect.
How many people can watch at once?
Two viewers at a time for free. A subscription allows up to 24 viewers; with many viewers, constantly moving content such as video or maps may stutter.
Is it free?
Yes. The first hour each day has no ads. After that, watch a short ad to share for another hour, with no cap on repeats. A subscription removes the time limit and ads and raises the limit to 24 viewers. You can cancel any time in the Play Store.
Can viewers draw or point on the screen?
Yes. Viewers can use a pen (neon, marker or highlighter, 3 sizes, 20 colours), a fading laser, and a ping that marks a spot with rings. It shows up on the presenter's screen right away, and the presenter can lock and unlock drawing for everyone at once.
Can I share Netflix or other protected apps?
Apps with content protection, such as Netflix, appear black. That is enforced by Android, not by CropShare.
It does not connect on my office or school Wi-Fi.
Some office and school networks block device to device connections. You can instead connect the viewing devices to your phone's hotspot. A bookmark to http://cropshare.local:8080 keeps working even when the address changes.
Is it secure?
A six digit number that changes every session guards each share, and repeated wrong entries lock a device out for a while. Nothing about your screen is stored anywhere. Traffic within the local network is not encrypted, so do not use it on a network you do not trust.