vncpatch

Patches the RealVNC 4.x Android app to fix bugs and improve usability.

Currently supports VNC Viewer 4.9.1.60165 (May 2024).

For VNC Viewer 3.x, see here for a patch to fix the double-backspace bug.

Tip

Fun fact: RealVNC Server 7.17.0 has hidden Wayland support.

You need to bind-mount or replace vncagent-x11 with vncagent-wlr and run it in user mode (e.g., /usr/bin/bwrap --bind / / --bind /usr/bin/vncagent-wlr /usr/bin/vncagent-x11 /usr/bin/vncserver-x11). It will use Xwayland (via DISPLAY) for the UI, but vncagent will use the WAYLAND_DISPLAY.

It uses the following protocols: zwlr_screencopy_frame_v1 zwlr_screencopy_manager_v1 zwlr_virtual_pointer_manager_v1l zwlr_virtual_pointer_v1 zwlr_data_control_offer_v1 zwlr_data_control_source_v1 zwlr_data_control_device_v1 zwlr_data_control_manager_v1 zwp_virtual_keyboard_manager_v1 zwp_virtual_keyboard_v1.

Features

• Renamed package so it can be installed alongside the official one.
• Fix bug where taps are frequently ignored on certain devices (e.g., Pixel 9).
• Fix bug where rapidly pressing non-lockable-modifier extension keyboard keys would only send half the expected number of key presses (also so pressing arrow keys isn't as painful).
• Add long-press key-repeat support to the extension keyboard (so pressing arrow keys isn't as painful).
• Add a pin-to-home button to the connection details toolbar (since the dynamic shortcuts only includes the first four connections).
• Replace annoying floating toolbar with invisible touch regions (top-left corner is disconnect, top is connection info, bottom is keyboard, bottom-right corner is mouse).
• Dark theme.

Usage

1. Install dependencies:
   • git
   • Java 11+
   • zipalign
   • apksigner (>= 0.9) (this repo contains a vendored copy)
   • apktool (= 2.8.1) (newer versions will probably work, but the patches may need to be updated) (this repo contains a vendored copy)
   • wget (only needed if downloading the APK)
2. Run ./vncpatch.sh (see ./vncpatch.sh -h for options). To modify the patches, you can amend or add new commits to the git repo created at ./src, then run ./vncpatch.sh again.
3. Uninstall the original app, then install build/signed.apk.