How to Access Another Computer from Your Computer

Three Methods:TeamViewerChrome Remote DesktopWindows Remote DesktopCommunity Q&A

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" computer, allowing it to be controlled by another computer 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 any computer and can be accessed by other computers or even iOS or Android devices, whereas Windows Remote Desktop can be set up on a Windows host computer and accessed by other Windows or Mac computers.

Method1

TeamViewer

1. 1
   Go to the TeamViewer download site on the computer you want to access. Go to https://www.teamviewer.com/en/download/ in your preferred browser. TeamViewer will detect your operating system for you.
   

   • If TeamViewer incorrectly determines your operating system, click your computer's OS in the row of options in the middle of the page.
2. 2
   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.
3. 3
   Double-click the TeamViewer file. On Windows, this is a setup file called "TeamViewer_Setup", while Mac users will double-click the "TeamViewer.dmg" file.
4. 4
   Install TeamViewer. To do so:
   

   • 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.
5. 5
   View your computer's ID. 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.
6. 6
   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.
7. 7
   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.
8. 8
   Enter the first computer's ID into the "Partner ID" field. This field is on the right side of the TeamViewer window, just below the "Control Remote Computer" heading.
9. 9
   Make sure "Remote Control" is checked. If not, click the circle to the left of this option.
10. 10
    Click Connect to partner. It's near the bottom of the TeamViewer window.
11. 11
    Enter the password. This is the password you set in the "Allow Remote Control" section of TeamViewer on the host computer.
12. 12
    Click Log On. It's at the bottom of the TeamViewer Authentication window.
13. 13
    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.
    

    • 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.

Method2

Chrome Remote Desktop

1. 1
   Open Google Chrome. It's a red, green, yellow, and blue sphere-shaped app. Do this on the host computer.
   

   • If you don't have Chrome installed on your machine, you'll first need to install it.
2. 2
   Go to the Chrome Remote Desktop page. This will take you to the Chrome Remote Desktop page in the Chrome store.
3. 3
   Click ADD TO CHROME. This blue button is in the upper-right corner of the Chrome Remote Desktop window.
4. 4
   Click Add app when prompted. This will install the Chrome Remote Desktop app in your Chrome browser and open the Chrome Apps page in a new tab when finished.
5. 5
   Click Chrome Remote Desktop. It's an image of two computer monitors with the Google Chrome icon on one of them.
   

   • If the Chrome Apps page doesn't open type chrome://apps into the Chrome address bar and press ↵ Enter.
6. 6
   Authorize Chrome Remote Desktop. This step will vary based on your browser settings, but you'll likely need to select a Google account to use, then click ALLOW.
7. 7
   Click Get started. Click the Get started button below the My Computers heading.
8. 8
   Click Enable remote connections. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window.
9. 9
   Click Accept and Install when prompted. It's a blue button near the bottom of the pop-up window. Doing so will download a setup file (Windows) or a DMG file (Mac) onto your computer.
   

   • Depending on your Chrome settings, you may first have to select a download location and click Save.
10. 10
    Install the Chrome Remote Desktop app. To do so:
    

    • Windows - Double-click the Chrome setup file, then click Yes when prompted.
    • Mac - Double-click the DMG file. Click Okay on the pop-up window, then open the Apple menu 
      
       , click System Preferences, click Security and Privacy, click Open Anyway next to the "chromeremotedesktophost" message, and click Openwhen prompted. Click and drag the Chrome file onto the Applications folder.
11. 11
    Open the Chrome Remote Desktop app. Go back to the Chrome apps page and click Chrome Remote Desktop to reopen the app if necessary.
12. 12
    Enter a six-digit PIN twice. Do this in the "PIN" and "Re-type PIN" fields.
13. 13
    Click OK. Doing so will enable remote connections on the host computer, meaning that the computer is now ready to be accessed by another computer.
14. 14
    Download, install, and open Google Remote Desktop on the second computer. This should be the computer you want to use to connect to the host computer. Make sure you're logged into the same Google account on the second computer as you are on the host computer.
    

    • For example: your host computer might be a home desktop, and the second computer might be your work computer.
15. 15
    Click your computer's name. It will be beneath the "My Computers" heading.
16. 16
    Enter the six-digit PIN, then click Connect. This is the PIN you set for the host computer.
17. 
    

    
    17
    Use the remote computer. Your host computer’s display will be shown in your Google Chrome browser.
    

    • You may experience a slight delay when performing actions on the host computer, as commands need to be sent through the internet in order to reach it.
    • Click the Disconnect button in the top menu to end the connection.
    • Use the Send Keys button to send key commands to the host computer, such as Ctrl+Alt+Del and ⎙ Print Screen.

Method3

Windows Remote Desktop

1. 1
   Open Start 
   

   

    on the host PC. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press ⊞ Win.
2. 2
   Click Settings 
   

   

    . It's in the lower-left side of the Start window.
3. 3
   Click System. This computer-shaped icon is near the top of the Settings page.
4. 4
   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.
5. 5
   Note your computer's name. 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.
6. 6
   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.
7. 7
   Click Advanced system settings. It's in the upper-left side of the System window.
8. 8
   Click the Remote tab. This option is in the top-right corner of the System Properties window.
9. 9
   Check the "Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer" box. It's below the "Remote Assistance" heading in the middle of the page.
   

   • If this box is checked, you don't have to change anything.
10. 10
    Click OK, then exit the System window. This will save your settings.
11. 11
    Scroll up and click Power & sleep. This tab is near the top of the column of options on the left side of the Settings window.
12. 12
    Click both drop-down menus and select Never for each of them. This will prevent the host computer from going to sleep or shutting down when you are remotely connected to it.
13. 13
    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.
14. 14
    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.^[1]
15. 15
    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.
    

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