The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to work from home. This has included the need to access computers remotely with Microsoft's Remote Desktop tool, which most people will use to connect their computer at home to the one in the office. But if you’re on the go, you can also access a remote PC from an Apple or Android device.
You can view the screen, open files, and work with applications on your mobile device as easily (though maybe not as quickly) as if you were right in front of that computer. Here’s how to use the Remote Desktop mobile app to access a remote computer.
Allow Remote Access
In order to access a computer remotely, it must first be set up properly. Go to Settings > System > Remote Desktop on the computer you wish to access and make sure the Enable Remote Desktop switch is turned on.
By default, the options for Keep your PC awake for connections when it is plugged in and Make my PC discoverable on private networks to enable automatic connection from a remote device may both be enabled. To view or modify either option, click the corresponding Show settings link, but you can leave both turned on at this point.
Click the Advanced settings link and make sure the box for Configure Network Level Authentication is checked. This feature provides an extra layer of protection to ward off uninvited guests and malicious users.
If you’ll be connecting to the computer on the same network at home or at work via a VPN or other means, ignore the section for External connections. The section for Remote Desktop port shows the default port to listen for and accept a remote connection.
While you’re here, note the name of the PC, as you’ll need it when you set up the connection.
By default, any user who has an administrative account on the remote PC can access it. Assuming you're using a Microsoft Account or company account to sign into Windows, your best bet is to use that account to sign in remotely.
If you want to give remote access to a different account, click the Select users that can remotely access this PC link at the bottom. Click Add and enter the username for the account you want to use.
Set Up Remote Access From iPhone or iPad
Now, you can turn to your mobile device. To access the computer from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, download and install the Remote Desktop app from Apple’s App Store. Open the app, tap the + button in the top-right corner, and choose the option Add PC.
At the Add PC window, enter the computer name or IP address in the PC Name field. Type the account name you want to use in the User Account field, or leave the field set to “Ask When Required” if you’d rather enter the name each time for security reasons.
Type a name in the Friendly Name field to add a more convenient label for this connection. Turning on the switch for Admin Mode connects you to a console session to manage a Windows server; normally you would leave this turned off. The option for Swap Mouse Buttons swaps the left and right mouse buttons.
In the Gateway section, you would need to enable and set up the option for Gateway only if your organization uses a Remote Desktop Gateway to secure remote connections.
Swipe down to the Device & Audio Redirection section to enable any features on your device that you wish to use during a remote connection. You’d likely want to direct the sound to play on this device. You may also want to enable the clipboard if you plan to copy and paste back and forth. You can enable the microphone, camera, and remote storage as well. When finished, tap Save in the upper-right corner.
An icon for the computer you want to access will appear in the app. Tap that icon to make the connection. The first time you try to access the computer, Remote Desktop may ask to verify the connection to that computer. Enable Don't ask me again for connections to this computer and then tap Accept.
You should then be connected to the remote computer. You can now open apps and windows, manage the desktop, and do just about everything you can do if you were sitting in front of the computer.
To help you control your remote session, the app displays a small toolbar at the top that lets you zoom in and out on the screen, display your device’s keyboard, or jump to another remote connection.
Tap the middle icon to view all your remote connections. Select a remote connection to jump to another session. This page has its own toolbar at the top. Tap the Home icon to return to the home screen, where you can set up or access another connection. Tap the Hand icon to switch to touch-screen mode and tap the Mouse icon to switch to mouse mode.
Tap the X button in the thumbnail of a remote connection to sever the connection for that session. Otherwise, tap Disconnect All PCs to end every current session.
Set Up Remote Access From an Android Device
Remote Desktop for Android works similarly to its iOS/iPadOS counterpart, though the setup process differs slightly. Download and install the app from Google Play. After you launch the app, tap the + icon and choose Add PC.
If you happen to be near the remote computer, the app will scan for it at this point. If the PC is detected, its name will show up on the screen. Otherwise, tap the Add Manually link.
Type in the computer name or IP address. For User name, tap the field that says Enter every time and then either leave that option as is or tap the Add user account and type the username and password. Tap Show additional options, then enter a friendly name if desired.
You can add the gateway if your organization uses a Remote Desktop Gateway. Opt to play sound from the remote PC on your device. Unless you need to adjust the options for display resolution, mouse buttons, admin session, and local storage, you can leave those turned off. When done, click Save.
Tap the name and icon for the remote session you just created. If you receive the message that the certificate can’t be verified, check the box Never ask again for connections to this PC and then tap Connect.
Once you are connected to the remote desktop, use the toolbar at the top of the screen to zoom in and out, display the onscreen keyboard, or view other remote sessions. Tap the hamburger icon to display the sidebars.
From there, you can tap the Start New icon to start another remote session to a different computer. Tap the Home button to return to the app's home screen. Hit the Mouse Pointer icon to display a mouse pointer. Tap the X in the thumbnail window of your computer to disconnect the current remote session.
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