The ability to connect to a remote computer is even in outdated Windows XP, and even more so in 7 and 10. If the Pro version or older is installed, you can easily start dancing with a tambourine.
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Why use remote access
The technology that allows you to get stable remote access to a second computer has been updated after the changes associated with the pandemic. People began to move to online services even where they used to act the old fashioned way. Examples of the benefits of remote access:
- In an organization with branches in different cities, if there is one IT department. Complex programs need to be installed / updated periodically. Computer technicians from the head office do this work remotely.
- An employee of the company, who mostly works at home, periodically logs into his office PC to obtain information, perform some tasks on the local network, etc.
- The user receives educational services remotely. We are not talking about schoolchildren and students on distance learning, but about courses that are conducted individually, for example, they teach entrepreneurs to create websites, work in CRM, and so on.
- An experienced user helps a less advanced friend solve problems on a computer without going anywhere.
These 4 options involve communication between computers that do not belong to the same local area network. In offices where PCs communicate through a router or other technology, remote access is used:
- system administrators (relevant if a person serves a hundred or two users in a multi-storey building);
- leaders to control subordinates.
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How to enable and configure remote access to a Windows 10 computer
An important advantage of Windows , which allowed it to become the # 1 operating system, is a desktop (PC) with a user-friendly interface. To be able to do something on the second PC, you need to know how to enable the PC for remote access on a computer under Windows 10. To do this, on the second computer, go to “Settings”, and then to “System” and to “Remote Desktop” … There is a switch that needs to be turned on. We confirm the choice and continue the configuration. We add a user under which it will be possible to log into the PC. We click “Select users …”, and add.
It remains to find out the IP address. To do this, open “Search” and type the cmd command. A line appears for entering commands. In it we type ipconfig, and boldly press Enter. A plate will be displayed, in which there will be an ip_shnik.
Thus, now there is all the data of the second computer that will be needed to access it remotely:
- PC IP address;
- Username;
If we are talking about a local network, you can use the full name of the PC instead of the IP address. Logging into another computer without using third-party software is easy when both machines are in the same LAN or the second PC has a static IP.
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How to connect to a remote computer
The connection process is simple and straightforward. We click the “Search” button, write “connection”. The icon of the classic application for connecting to a remote PC appears. We click, and write to the connection window of the second computer’s ip_shnik. Next, fill in the username and password. If a window appears with a warning about the impossibility of identifying the remote computer, we confirm our intention to go to the remote desktop, since this message is of a reassurance nature. You can check the box in the warning box so that it does not appear again. The window of the remote PC is minimized at the user’s command, you can reduce its size or close it.
An alternative option for logging into a remote PC is the mstsc application launched from the command line.
Another relevant related subtopic is how to disable remote access to a computer with Windows 10. First of all, let’s discard the safe option: if the user has a home version of the OS, he shouldn’t worry about unauthorized hacking by connecting the PC. Access can only be made on Windows Pro or older, and for this the attacker must know the IP and other login information. It’s easy to hedge against a hack. We go to the “Control Panel”, go to “System and Security”, and get into the “System”. Uncheck the “Allow connection …” checkbox.
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What to do if Remote Desktop won’t connect
| Problem | Solution |
| On the second computer, the checkbox “Allow the connection …” | Tick |
| An attempt to log into a remote PC using a user account that is not endowed with administrator rights | Give the account admin rights or use another account with the appropriate rights |
| On another PC, a home version of Windows | Upgrade to professional version or install fresh RDP service on old Windows |
| Doesn’t let its firewall on the second computer | We go to the “Control Panel”. In the hidden menu “View”, click on the category “Small icons”. Open the “Windows Firewall” that appears. Click on the “Allow interaction …” icon. Scroll in the list that opens to the item “Windows Remote Control”. Check the box |
| The second computer is connected via a router | Configure port forwarding |
| The second PC fell asleep | Disable auto-sleep. In this case, the monitor may turn off |
| Network discovery is not enabled on the second computer | Enable network discovery. Through the “Control Panel” go to the network management and change the sharing parameters |
| Disabled port 3389 | Enable port 3389, it is needed for connection. If it was blocked by a firewall – remove the block |
If the remote desktop of the computer does not connect, the problem must be looked for on the second computer. When set up correctly, everything usually works with a bang.
In conclusion, here are a couple of ways how to set up a remote desktop on a computer under Windows 10 using free third-party programs:
- Teamviewer is an application with a free non-commercial use option. To work with a remote PC, a program of the same version must be installed on both computers. Access is provided by passing the ID and password.
- Remote PC Chrome is a browser extension that needs to be configured on both PCs. To use the application, you must have a Google account. Extension versions can be different.
Third-party programs make it possible to make friends with each other computers / laptops and phones . Developers provide multiplatform software.
