We explain everything you need to do to access your computer remotely from an Android device.
Microsoft has been addressing other operating systems for some time, especially those related to the mobile world. That is why its catalog of Android applications has not stopped growing. One that’s been with us for quite some time is the Remote Desktop Client , which makes it easy to access and control Windows 10 PCs from mobile. If you’ve never taken advantage of this capability, you may be wondering how to use remote desktop on Android and Windows 10 . Well, we recommend that you stay because what we tell you here interests you, and a lot.
The sections that follow include all the relevant information you need to know to discover how to use remote desktop on Android and Windows 10 . We have exploited both operating systems for reference when making this guide. However, you can follow the steps mentioned here to access a Windows 11 PC from an iOS device, just to give you an example. The combinations are varied. For now, we start configuring the remote desktop in Windows.
Index of contents
- Remote Desktop on Android and Windows 11: Getting Started
- Set up remote desktop in Windows 10
- Download the Remote Desktop app on your computer
- Connect remote desktop on Android and Windows 10 step by step
- Know the IP of your computer
- Create a new connection in the Android client
Remote Desktop on Android and Windows 11: Getting Started
Before you can establish a connection between an Android device and a Windows 10 device, you must meet these requirements:
- Have a compatible phone or tablet with Microsoft’s Remote Desktop application . In the Google Play Store file it is indicated that, at a minimum, you must have Android 9 or higher.
- Have the Pro version of Windows 10. The Home variant does not have the possibility to enable remote access.
- Open the ports. Remote desktop requires certain ports to be open. Normally, you do not have too many problems in this regard. But, just in case, we leave you a complete guide so you know how to do it.
In the event that you do not comply with any of these requests, you will not be able to use the Windows remote desktop on Android. Fortunately, all is not lost. You can always take advantage of the capabilities of some of the best remote desktop solutions that we have already proposed to you before.
Set up remote desktop in Windows 10
Before establishing a remote desktop connection, it is necessary to start the service in Windows 10. In the guide How to configure remote desktop in Windows 10 and Windows 11 we explain what are the indications that you must follow. In any case, here is a brief summary:
- Using the keyboard shortcut Windows + I, access the computer options. There, you need to enter the System section .
- Click on the Remote Desktopsection that you will see in the left list.
- Enable the Remote Desktopoption by clicking the slider.
When you have done this, you will see how the following options are enabled:
- Keep my computer awake for connection when plugged in. Provides the ability to configure computer timeout, along with server-side screen off and sleep.
- Make my PC discoverable on private networks to allow automatic connection from a remote device. Thanks to this setting, you will be able to determine the type of networks that should be used for the remote connection.
- Advanced Settings. This is the place to go to determine if it will be necessary to request the credentials on the computer that intends to access our host computer. Likewise, it shows information regarding the connection port, which will come in handy if you need to open it.
Download the Remote Desktop app on your computer
Once you have Remote Desktop activated in Windows 10, you need to obtain the application that acts as a client on your mobile. The truth is that it is very easy:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Enter the keywords remote desktop.
- Install the app on your device.
And, the time has come to connect both devices!
Connect remote desktop on Android and Windows 10 step by step
Now you have everything ready to start the remote desktop connection on Android and Windows 10. Here’s how to do it step by step.
Know the IP of your computer
The first thing you need to know is the IP address of your computer. It is true that it is also possible to establish the connection with the name of the computer (it appears in the Remote Desktop section of the settings, under the heading How to connect to this computer). However, we have always obtained better results by entering the IP address.
This is how you know the IP of your computer in Windows 10:
- Type CMDin the system browser.
- In the console, type the ipconfigcommand .
- Look up the address of your computer and write it down somewhere to have it handy.
The IP that you will see here is used to establish connections to devices that are connected to the same network . If you want to access a computer that is connected to another network, follow the steps to get up and running with remote desktop over WAN provided by Microsoft .
Create a new connection in the Android client
The last step will be to create a new connection in Remote Desktop for Android. Tap on the top right button to get started. Initially, the application will try to automatically detect the computer on the network. If this doesn’t work, add it manually.
On the connection creation screen, enter the following data:
- IP of the computer to which you want to connect.
- Username and password.
- Connection parameters, including sound or mouse control mode.
The appearance of Windows 10 on a 5.5-inch Android is what you see in the screenshot that we attach below:
And how do you control the team? The touch screen of your mobile will become a trackpad . Slide your finger across it to move the cursor. A one-finger tap equals a click, and a two-finger tap equals a right click. If you move two fingers up and down (and vice versa), you can enable vertical scrolling on websites and other similar screens. With a little practice, you’ll quickly be operating your computer from your phone.
And you, do you frequently use Remote Desktop on your mobile? Tell us how you get the most out of this Microsoft app. The Professional Review community awaits you!
