This wikiHow teaches you the steps you can take to remotely access and control your computer from another computer by installing a remote desktop application on both computers. Once the application is installed on both computers, you can set either computer as a host so that it can be controlled from anywhere, as long as both computers are connected to the internet, powered on, and have the right software. Apps like Team Viewer and Chrome Remote Desktop can be installed on both PC (Windows) and Mac computers. Meanwhile, Windows Remote Desktop can be installed and set up on a Windows host computer (with the Windows 10 Professional operating system), and accessed via another Windows or Mac computer.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Chrome Remote Desktop
Step 1. Install Chrome Remote Desktop on both computers
This free tool from Google allows you to control one computer through another. This tool requires Google Chrome as a web browser so if you don't have Chrome you will need to download and install it from https://www.google.com/chrome. Follow these steps on both computers:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Visit
- Click the blue and white arrow icon. A new window will open showing the Chrome Remote Desktop extension page on the Chrome Web Store.
- Click " Add to Chrome ” on the Chrome Web Store, then click “ Add extension ” to confirm.
- Close the Chrome Web Store window to return the previous page.
- Click the button " ACCEPT & INSTALL ” in blue and white, then grant all the permissions requested by the extension to continue.
- Enter the computer name and click “ NEXT ”.
- Enter and confirm the 6-digit PIN code. Once the code is confirmed, Remote Desktop will run.
Step 2. Get the support code on the computer you want to access
Once Chrome Remote Desktop is installed on both computers, you will need to get a code to be able to access the target (host) computer from the secondary computer. The code is only valid for 5 minutes from creation so you will need to request or get this code before you are ready to make a connection. Follow these steps to generate or get a code on the receiving computer:
- Click the tab " Remote Support ” at the top of the page.
- Click the button " GENERATE CODE ”.
Step 3. Go to https://remotedesktop.google.com/support on the connecting computer (secondary computer)
Keep in mind that you must access the site via the Google Chrome web browser.
Step 4. Type the support code into the "Give Support" field and click Connect
This column is the second column on the page. The invitation will be sent to the computer you want to access (host computer).
Step 5. Click Share on the receiving computer
After a few moments, the desktop of the target or host computer will appear in the Chrome window on the connection or secondary computer.
Step 6. Click Stop Sharing on the host computer to end the connection, whenever you need to
Method 2 of 3: Using TeamViewer
Step 1. Visit https://www.teamviewer.com/en/download via a web browser
You can use TeamViewer to remotely control another PC or Mac computer from your own computer. TeamViewer can be used free of charge for personal or non-commercial purposes.
If TeamViewer detects the wrong operating system, click the correct computer operating system in the selection bar in the middle of the page
Step 2. Scroll down and select Download TeamViewer
You can see the green button at the top of the page. Once the button is clicked, the TeamViewer installation file will be downloaded to your computer.
You may be prompted to save the file or specify a download directory before the file is downloaded, depending on your browser settings
Step 3. Double-click the downloaded TeamViewer installation file
On Windows computers, this file is named " TeamViewer_Setup ". Meanwhile, Mac users can double-click the " TeamViewer.dmg " file.
Step 4. Install TeamViewer
To install the program:
- Windows – Check the “Installation to access this computer remotely” option, check the “Personal / Non-commercial use” option, then select “ Accept - Finish ”.
- Mac – Double click the installation package file, select “ OK ”, open menu Apple, click " System Preferences, then select " Security and Privacy " After that, click " Open Anyway ” next to the “TeamViewer” message and select “ Open ” when prompted. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen afterwards.
Step 5. Review the computer ID
You can see the “Your ID” section under the “Allow Remote Control” heading, on the left side of the TeamViewer window. This ID is required to access the host computer.
Step 6. Create a custom password
To create a password:
- Place the cursor over the existing password.
- Click the circular arrow to the left of the password field.
- Choose " Set personal password ” from the drop-down menu.
- Type your password into the "Password" and "Confirm password" fields.
- Choose " OK ”.
Step 7. Download, install and open TeamViewer on the second computer
This computer will be used to access the first computer or host.
TeamViewer can also be downloaded to your iPhone or Android device
Step 8. Type the ID of the first computer (host) in the "Partner ID" field
You can see this column to the right of the TeamViewer window, under the " Control Remote Computer " heading.
Step 9. Make sure the “Remote Control” option is checked
If not, click the circle button to the left of the option.
Step 10. Select Connect to partner
This option is displayed at the bottom of the TeamViewer window.
Step 11. Type in the password
The password that needs to be entered is the entry you previously set in the "Allow Remote Control" section of TeamViewer on the first computer or host.
Step 12. Click Log On
This option is displayed at the bottom of the “TeamViewer Authentication” window.
Step 13. Review the screen contents of the connected computer (host computer)
After a while, you can see the contents of the screen of the first computer or host in the TeamViewer window on the monitor of the second computer.
- Once the content of the host computer's screen is displayed, you can interact with the first computer, as if you were using it directly.
- To end the connection, click the button “ X ” above the TeamViewer window.
Method 3 of 3: Using Windows Remote Desktop
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
on the first PC or host.
Click the Windows logo displayed at the bottom left side of the screen. You can also press the Windows key on the keyboard.
Remote Desktop can only be used to connect computers running Windows 10 Pro Edition. If the second computer is using a different version of Windows 10 (e.g. Windows 10 Home Edition), you will need to try another method
Step 2. Select “Settings”
This option appears on the lower left side of the “Start” menu.
Step 3. Select System
This computer icon appears at the top of the “Settings” page.
Step 4. Scroll through the screen and select the About tab
You'll see this tab under the options column, on the left side of the window.
You may need to place the cursor in the column first to scroll through the screen
Step 5. Write down or remember the computer name
The computer name appears at the top of the page, next to the " PC name " heading. You need this information to connect the second computer to the first computer or host.
Step 6. Click System info
This link is under the " Related settings " heading, at the top right of the page.
This option may appear at the bottom of the page if you haven't updated your operating system to the Creator version of Windows 10
Step 7. Click on Advanced system settings
This link is in the upper-left side of the “System” window.
Step 8. Select the Remote tab
This option is displayed on the top right side of the “System Properties” window.
Step 9. Check the box "Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer"
You'll see this box under the " Remote Assistance " heading, in the middle of the page.
You don't need to change any settings if the box is checked from the start
Step 10. Click OK and close the “System” window
Settings will be saved afterwards.
Step 11. Scroll the screen and select Power & sleep
You can see this tab at the top of the options column, to the left of the “Settings” window.
Step 12. Click both available drop-down menus and select Never for each menu
With this option, the host computer will not enter sleep mode or shut down while you are accessing it remotely via a second computer.
Step 13. Open Remote Desktop on the second computer
To open this program:
-
Windows - Open menu Start ”
Windowsstart first, type remote desktop connection, then select program Remote Desktop Connection.
- Mac – Download the program Microsoft Remote Desktop first from the App Store, go to " Launchpad ”, then click the program icon Microsoft Remote Desktop which is orange.
Step 14. Type in the host computer name
Enter the computer name in the " Computer: " field at the top of the “Remote Desktop” window.
- On Mac computers, first click the “ + New ” in the upper-left side of the program window, then type your computer name into the "PC Name" field.
- You can also enter the IP address of the first computer or host in the name field.
Step 15. Click the Connect button
You can find this button at the bottom of the “Remote Desktop” window. After the connection is established, the contents of the host computer's screen will be displayed on the second computer.
On Mac computers, double-click the connection name that was previously created in the drop-down list “ My Desktops ”.
Tips
- It is a good idea to disable the sleep mode (" Sleep ") or hibernation (" Hibernate ") timeout on the host computer because you cannot connect the two computers and access the host computer if it is in sleep or hibernation mode.
- If your Windows computer does not have a password when you want to use the Remote Desktop program, set or enable a password first before Remote Desktop can be used.
