Sometimes it is useful to control your PC or laptop from another computer. In this article we will show you how to control that PC from Windows 10, for example with Remote Desktop, VNC and TeamViewer.
In this article, we'll explain how you can remotely control another computer regardless of its Windows version or even if it's running Ubuntu or OS X. We will do this using a number of programs, such as Microsoft's own Remote Desktop, but also VNC and TeamViewer. In addition, we'll show you how you can even use your PC from your smartphone and tablet. Also read: How to log in at home with TeamViewer.
Windows Remote Desktop
01 Configure Remote Desktop
If you're running a Pro edition of Windows on the computer you're about to take over, the built-in Microsoft Remote Desktop (Remote Desktop) solution is nice and easy to use. It is then only possible to connect to this PC within your local network. You set up Remote Desktop as follows (partly depending on your operating system).
For Windows 7 click Start, right click Computer and choose you Characteristics. Then click on the left Remote Connection Settings. Check the last option called Only allow connections to computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (more secure) to make sure you can log in. Your own user account will then receive access by default. If you also want other users to be able to log in remotely, click Select users and then on Add. Enter the user's username here, or type Everybody to give all users access. click on OK and then again OK to save the changes. On Windows 8.1, the steps are largely the same. Before we can continue, it is necessary to save the name of the computer. With this, your Windows 10 system will soon know which PC it should connect to. You can find the computer name by going back to the properties of via the start menu Computer request. In this system information window, near the center of the screen is the Computer name.
Remote Desktop by Windows edition
Unfortunately, Remote Desktop is not available for every edition of Windows. It is only possible to connect to a PC if it is running at least a Pro edition of Windows, i.e. Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8.1 Professional or Windows 10 Pro. With the Home editions it is possible to connect to a PC running a Pro edition, but it is not possible to log in remotely on a PC with a Windows Home edition. For that you better get started with TeamViewer on Windows.
02 Sign up
Now to connect to the computer on which you enabled Remote Desktop, make sure that this computer is turned on. Next, on your Windows 10 system, go to Start and open the program Remote Desktop Connection. Bee Computer name enter the name you just found on your other system. click on To connect. Windows will now ask for your credentials, ie your username and password. click on Using another account and fill in the login details. Tick the option My references remember to not have to fill it in every time and click OK. A warning will now appear, you can ignore it, just tick Don't ask me again for connections to this computer at and click Yes. A connection is established and the desktop of the other computer appears. To close the session, click on the cross in the blue bar at the top.
03 Optimal settings
To set the connection quality, click Show options before you sign up. Then go to the tab User experience to set the quality and performance. By default, Windows tries to determine the optimal experience itself, but you can deviate from that. click on Automatically detect connection quality and choose for example LAN (10 Mbps or faster) which will soon be the case on a local network with a good quality router. If you have some problems with your connection, you can also select a lower speed from the list.
04 Access from mobile
To be able to access the computer on which you have enabled Remote Desktop via a smartphone or tablet, get started with the mobile apps. First you need the IP address of the computer. We were unable to connect using just the PC name. The IP address of the PC you want to log in to can be found by opening Command Prompt and entering the command ipconfig to fill in. Then in the list is the IPv4 address. For Android you can find the official app from Microsoft here and for iOS you can download it here.
