Do you want to control your PC remotely? In this article, we look at different apps to remotely access and control another computer, such as your home computer or the PC of someone who asks you for help, via your network or the internet.
In a previous article, we looked at Windows’ built-in remote assistance solution: Quick Assist. This works, but the options are limited. If you’d rather look forward to a more flexible application and don’t mind an external app, we would like to refer you to SupRemo Remote Desktop (free for non-professional use).
This tool is available for various platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile devices), is easy to use, offers additional options such as file sharing and also allows you to take over an unattended PC. Let’s take the Windows app as an example.
In this article we mean by the person requesting help the PC that you want to control remotely (for example that of a family member or a PC of yours at another location. The care provider is you and the PC you are currently sitting in front of.
The help requester runs the exe file of the portable tool. He selects Start Supremo and click Accept. A dialog box appears with Your ID (a nine-digit code) and a password. The care provider also starts his SupRemo copy, and at Connect with he enters the ID of the requester. After his confirmation with To connect he enters the requester’s password – which both parties have exchanged in a secure manner. Moments later, he can take over the desktop.
The button bar at the top immediately reveals that the options are much more extensive than with Quick Assist. For example, you can exchange files (via File manager), messaging each other (via To chat) and you can join Check perform all kinds of special operations, such as remote reboot (in safe mode) or switch sides.
Unattended Takeover
You can therefore also take over an unattended device via SupRemo, for example your own PC at home when you are on the road yourself. This means that SupRemo must be active, even if no one is logged in. You can do that by running the app as a Windows service.
Start SupRemo and click Additional. Go to Security and fill a Secondary password in (2x). Open the section Options and put a checkmark Start Supremo with Windows (unmanaged access). Confirm with Save. Check whether the Supremo service is indeed active: press Windows key+R and feed services.msc from. If all goes well, Supremo is indeed enabled.
To set up a connection with such a PC, you only have to start the SupRemo app, enter the ID of the PC and enter the fixed password.
On the PC that was acquired, you will find the SupRemo app in the Windows system tray. Right click on the program icon and choose Open session manager to find out which PC has taken over your device.
web browser
Although a (client) app such as SupRemo is portable, you may also want to be able to take over a PC without having to use an external app, for example if you use a guest PC that does not allow external software. In this case you can use a tool like Consider DW Servicea free open source project that allows you to access a variety of systems, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
You do need to create an account for this, after which you log in to your online dashboard (via an encrypted https connection). Here you open agents and click the plus button New. Fill a Name and click To confirm. Write down the corresponding nine-digit code.
On the PC you want to take over, download the suitable DWService agent. Let’s take Windows as an example. Select to install and choose a suitable installation folder. After your confirmation with Yes choose you feed Enter the installation code and DWAgent service installation is complete.
Now let’s go back to your online dashboard. You open there agents the category Everything. You should now be able to reach your PC from your browser via headings such as Files and Folders, Screen and shell.
TeamViewer
SupRemo therefore offers clearly more options than, for example, the built-in Quick Assist, but if you want even more flexibility without sacrificing much ease of use, we can recommend TeamViewer. This is one of the most popular remote computer control tools.
A downside is that TeamViewer is only free for personal use. As soon as the company even slightly suspects that you are using the tool commercially, your account will be blocked and you can firmly make the cut to continue using TeamViewer: from around 30 euros per month.
You download the app for the desired platform on www.teamviewer.com/nl. We are going for the Windows 64bit version. Three installation types are available: Install with default settings, Install and set up unattended access on this device and Start only. We assume a typical installation here and therefore choose the first option. Place at preference a checkmark Advanced settings to show and confirm with Accept – Next.
In the next window you will be given the opportunity to print remotely, VPN to use and install the add-in for Outlook: you choose whether you agree to this. After completion and you agree to the license agreement, you can get started.
Make a connection
The main window looks a bit like SupRemo (or vice versa): here you will immediately find Your ID and password at. On the right you can also use a Partner ID Enter: you must of course first receive this from the person requesting help. The default option is Remote control selected, but via the arrow button you can also get there File transfer and optionally VPN Bee.
With the first option you can actually take over the PC and with the second you can (only) exchange files. The option VPN you choose if you want to set up a direct connection between the two computers, where both devices receive an extra IP address within the same virtual network, much like a VLAN.
Such a construction can be useful when, for example, you want to reach a printer or a USB disk that is connected to the other PC. This setup does require the installation of a VPN driver. You can install (and uninstall) that driver from Options / Advanced / Show advanced options / Un)install VPN driver.
Whichever option you choose, after a click on To connect you must first enter the password of the other PC. Click here Advanced if you’re with access control want to choose from several permission sets, such as Full access, Confirm all and View and show. click on Custom Settings / Access Control to grant one or more of the ten available permissions.
Extras
We assume that you have chosen remote control. A glance at the button bar immediately reveals the many possibilities.
This already starts with the Homebutton that shows you all kinds of system information about the other PC. Behind the Imagebutton hides many useful options for adjusting and optimizing the image display. In addition to the usual scalability and resolution options – if both PCs have different screen resolutions, choose Best Fit – you will find here, among other things, Speed ​​optimization versus Optimize quality, Show external cursor and Make monitors appear as individual windows.
You can also exchange files, of course, via the button Files and extras. This can be done via a two-part browser window (Open File Transfer) or by dragging files into the TeamViewer pop-up window (Share via File Box), after which your partner will also see it appear in his pop-up window and can download it from there.
During such a takeover it can also be useful to be able to communicate with your partner. Behind the button Communication you are not alone for this Chat and Whiteboard on, but also Video and Calling (through Telenet or Internet). In the main window, in the latest versions, you can even create a so-called Augmented Realityset up session. This allows you as a care provider to annotate or tag all kinds of objects during a live video session, and to type instructions for the person requesting help.
Unattended access
To be able to remotely take over an unattended PC, you can choose the option during the installation of TeamViewer Install and set up unattended access on this device. But this can also be set after installation. In that case, choose Options / Security and click Configure in Grant Easy Access.
A dialog box will now appear asking to assign the device to your TeamViewer account, so that you no longer have to enter an extra password when you want to access the device remotely. In this case it suffices to start TeamViewer on another system and via Sign Up (in the main window) with the same TeamViewer account. You can also ignore this question with Cancel and set a personal password instead. Go to Options / Advanced / Show advanced optionsscroll to Personal passwordenter a password (2x) and confirm with OK.
You open further Options / General and put a checkmark next to Launch Teamviewer together with Windowsso that the application is available as a service even when you are not logged in.
