How to Remotely Access Another Computer Using Mac or Windows PC

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Remotely view, control, and troubleshoot other computers from your own

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: May 29, 2024 Fact Checked

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Chrome Remote Desktop

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TeamViewer

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Windows Remote Desktop

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

This wikiHow teaches you how to access and control a computer remotely from another computer by installing remote desktop software on both computers. Once installed on both computers, you can set up one computer to be the "host," allowing it to be controlled from anywhere, so long as both computers are connected to the internet, are powered on, and have the proper software installed. Programs like Team Viewer and Chrome Remote Desktop can be installed on both PCs and Macs, whereas Windows Remote Desktop can be set up on a Windows host computer (running Windows 10 Professional) and accessed by other Windows or Mac computers.

3 Ways to Remotely Access Another Computer

Download the Chrome Remote Desktop tool to access remote computers using the Google Chrome web browser.
Use TeamViewer to access computers using Windows or macOS. This software is free for private and non-commercial use.
Use Windows Remote Desktop to connect 2 PCs that both run on Windows 10 Pro. This tool does not work with any other Windows programs.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Chrome Remote Desktop

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1
Install Chrome Remote Desktop on both computers. This is a free tool from Google that lets you remotely control one computer with another. The tool requires using Google Chrome as your web browser, so if you don't have Chrome installed, you'll need to get it from https://www.google.com/chrome. Complete the following steps on both computers:
- Open Google Chrome.^{[1]
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- Go to https://remotedesktop.google.com/access
- Click the blue-and-white arrow icon. This opens a new window to the Chrome Remote Desktop page on the Chrome web store.
- Click Add to Chrome on the Chrome web store, and then Add extension to confirm.
- Close the Chrome web store window so the original page is once again visible.
- Click the blue-and-white ACCEPT & INSTALL button, and then give all requested permissions to continue.
- Enter a name for your computer and click NEXT.
- Enter and confirm a 6-digit PIN. Once confirmed, Remote Desktop will start.
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Generate a support code on the computer you want to access. Now that Chrome Remote Desktop is installed on both computers, you'll need to generate a code that the other computer can use to access it. The code will only be valid for 5 minutes from creation, so you'll want to do this right before you're ready to make the connection. Here's how to generate the code on the computer receiving the connection:^{[2]
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- Click the Remote Support tab near the top of the page.
- Click the GENERATE CODE button.
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Go to https://remotedesktop.google.com/support on the computer that will make the connection. Remember, you'll need to do this using the Google Chrome web browser.^{[3]
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It's the second blank on the page. An invitation will be sent to the computer that you're trying to access.
In a few moments, the remote computer's desktop will appear in Chrome on the connecting computer.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

TeamViewer

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1
Go to https://www.teamviewer.com/en/download in a web browser. You can use TeamViewer to remotely control another PC or Mac from your own. TeamViewer is free for private/non-commercial use.^{[5]
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- If TeamViewer incorrectly determines your operating system, click your computer's OS in the row of options in the middle of the page.
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Scroll down and click Download TeamViewer. It's a green button near the top of the page. Doing so prompts the TeamViewer setup file to begin downloading to your computer.
- Depending on your browser's settings, you may have to save the file or indicate a download location before the file will actually download.
On Windows, this is a setup file called "TeamViewer_Setup", while Mac users will double-click the "TeamViewer.dmg" file.
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Install TeamViewer. To do so:^{[6]
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- Windows - Check the "Installation to access this computer remotely" box, check the "Personal / Non-commercial use" box, and click Accept - Finish.
- Mac - Double-click the installer package, click OK, open the Apple menu, click System Preferences, click Security and Privacy, click Open Anyway next to the "TeamViewer" message, and click Open when prompted. Follow the on-screen prompts.
On the left side of the TeamViewer window, you'll see a "Your ID" section beneath the "Allow Remote Control" heading. You'll need this ID to access the host computer.
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Create a custom password. To do so:
- Hover over the current password.
- Click the circular arrow left of the password.
- Click Set personal password in the drop-down menu.
- Enter your preferred password into the "Password" and "Confirm password" fields.
- Click OK.
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Download, install, and open TeamViewer on your second computer. This should be the computer that you'll use to access the host computer.
- You can also download TeamViewer on your iPhone or Android.
This field is on the right side of the TeamViewer window, just below the "Control Remote Computer" heading.
If not, click the circle to the left of this option.
It's near the bottom of the TeamViewer window.
This is the password you set in the "Allow Remote Control" section of TeamViewer on the host computer.^{[7]
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It's at the bottom of the TeamViewer Authentication window.^{[8]
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View your connected computer's screen. After a brief moment, you'll see the first computer's screen appear in the TeamViewer window on the second computer's screen.^{[9]
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- Once you see the host computer's screen, you can interact with it as though it were your own computer.
- To disconnect, you'll click the X at the top of the TeamViewer window.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Windows Remote Desktop

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1
Open Start
on the host PC. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press the Windows key.
- Remote Desktop can only be used to connect PCs running Windows 10 Pro edition.^{[10]
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  Microsoft Support
  Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
  
  Go to source} If the remote computer is using a different version of Windows 10, such as Windows 10 Home edition, you'll need to use a different method.
It's on the lower-left side of the Start menu.
This computer-shaped icon is near the top of the Settings page.
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Scroll down and click the About tab. It's at the bottom of the column of options on the left side of the window.
- You'll have to scroll with your cursor hovering over this column.
It's at the top of the page, right next to the "PC name" heading. You'll need this to connect the second computer to this one.
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Click System info. It's beneath the "Related settings" heading in the top-right corner of the page.
- This option may also be at the bottom of the page if you haven't updated to the Windows 10 Creator version.
It's in the upper-left side of the System window.
This option is in the top-right corner of the System Properties window.
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Check the "Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer" box. It's below the "Remote Assistance" heading in the middle of the page.^{[11]
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- If this box is checked, you don't have to change anything.
This will save your settings.
This tab is near the top of the column of options on the left side of the Settings window.
This will prevent the host computer from going to sleep or shutting down when you are remotely connected to it.
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Open Remote Desktop on the second computer. To do so:
- Windows - Open Start
  , type in remote desktop connection, and click the Remote Desktop Connection app.
- Mac - Download Microsoft Remote Desktop from the App Store, open Launchpad, and click the orange Microsoft Remote Desktop app.
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Enter the host computer's name. Do so in the "Computer:" field near the top of the Remote Desktop window.
- On Mac, first click + New in the top-left corner of the app window, then enter the computer's name in the "PC Name" field.
- You can also type the host computer's IP address into the computer's name field.^{[12]
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  Microsoft Support
  Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
  
  Go to source}
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Click Connect. It's at the bottom of the Remote Desktop window. When the connection is made, the host computer’s display will appear in a window on your computer.^{[13]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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- On Mac, double-click the connection name you just created in the My Desktops drop-down list.

Community Q&A

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Question

Will the user at the host computer know their computer is being viewed?

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Community Answer

Yes (if you're using the RDC tool that Windows has). If you're using more illicit software, the host shouldn't be able to tell if someone is looking at their PC.

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Question

Can I access my computer from a different country?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as there is an internet connection with both of the computers.

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Can I access a remote computer when it is off?

Community Answer

You can't. But you can turn it on with the Wake On Lan (WOL) command if you are in the same network, and then you can connect.

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Tips

If you don't have a password on your Windows computer while attempting to use Remote Desktop, you'll need to set one up before you can use Remote Desktop.

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Consider disabling "Sleep" or "Hibernate" time limits on the host computer, since you can't connect to a computer that is sleeping or hibernating.

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Warnings

The computer that you are trying to access remotely must be powered on, otherwise other computers will not be able to access it.

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