When you’re not at home, your desktop PC or favourite laptop doesn’t have to be out of reach. You don’t have to carry around your MacBook or Chromebook in a case or bag to use these web-connected devices while you’re on the go. All you need is a smartphone!
We mean what we say when we talk about remote desktop access. This pretty basic technology has been around for a while—it lets you connect with a virtualized copy of your PC—but it keeps getting better every year. To make sure this mobile mirroring works right, you’ll need to use specific tools and follow specific steps.
So, let’s do this one step at a time. We know how to show you how to log into your home computer.
Chrome Remote Desktop
One of the fastest and easiest ways to mirror your screen to your phone is with Chrome Remote screen. It gives you complete control over everything, even the sound.
The name “Chrome” means that the app is meant to make you feel like you are actually on your computer. You can use it to access file browsers, user tools, or anything else you want. You can easily connect to your computers with Google’s interface, even when you’re on the go. If you add the extension to the Chrome browser on your desktop, you can also use it on other mobile or desktop computers.
Step 1: Launch Chrome or the Chromium-based browser of your choice. Find the Chrome Remote Desktop page and select “Access my computer.” Verify that you are on the “My Google” tab.
Step 2: Click the arrow-shaped blue button next to Set up remote access. If it takes you to the Chrome extension page, click “Add to Chrome” and then “Agree to Add extension” in the pop-up window.
If you need to, click the blue arrow button to get the Remote Desktop app.
Step 3: Pick a name for your system and click the blue “Next” button.
Step 4: Make a PIN code that you can remember, then click the blue “Next” button. After that, your PC should show up as Online under “available remote desktops.”
Step 5: Get your phone and either open the Chrome Remote Desktop app you downloaded or go to the Chrome Remote Desktop page.
Step 6: Pick the name of the PC you want to link to from afar. After that, enter your PIN and press the blue arrow button to move on.
Step 7: You should now be able to control your PC from your phone. Now, you can tap and drag on the screen to move the mouse between places. Taps will work like left clicks, and you can hear any sound coming from your computer on your phone as well.
Alternative ways to remote access your desktop
There are other ways to connect to your PC from afar besides Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop app, which we like because it’s simple to use and works with most PCs thanks to its web app feature. Here are some excellent options that you might want to think about:
Windows Remote Desktop: This is Microsoft’s remote desktop option, and people who have used Windows for a long time will know about it. You can get it on Android, iOS, and other devices, but it will only connect to Windows computers (and even then, only “Professional” versions of Windows or better). The app also lets you connect to a Windows Virtual Desktop through a safe connection, which could be helpful for workers who are always on the go.
TightVNC: Engineers and power users have loved the VNC system for a long time, even before smartphones became widespread. The original design is open source, which means that there are many clients for computers and smartphones, some of which are paid and some of which are free. The important thing is to find solutions that can be used in a number of different scenarios. People who use Windows should use TightVNC, but people who use Macs might want to try RealVNC instead.
RemoteMouse: You can control your PC from away with this tiny app called RemoteMouse. In a unique twist, you can use the gyroscope on your phone to control things with gestures. You can also use the buttons on your device to change the volume on your PC or move between slides in a presentation. For some reason, it makes your phone into a… mouse.
Unified Remote: Unified Remote is another popular way to handle your PC from afar. It also gives you quick access to media controls, which is helpful in changing how an HTPC is set up. You can also use Wake on Lan to wake up your PC, which is excellent if you have an HTPC in a different room.
Can you remotely access a computer when it’s turned off?
In order to use virtual desktop apps, you need to have your computer on. In fact, if you’re going to be near your PC for less than a day, you should also turn off any sleep or hibernation modes. Your remote desktop software might not work right if your PC goes into one of these “incubation” states.
This can be changed to something called Wake-on-LAN, but it can only be used if your computer is linked to the internet through Ethernet.
What are the drawbacks of remote desktop applications?
While remote desktop software is handy, some problems can arise. The main issue is the speed of your internet link. You need to connect your phone or tablet to the internet as well as your home computer. If you’re somewhere that doesn’t need better cell service or public Wi-Fi, you might be in trouble.
Another big worry is overall safety. Someone or something that is linked to or knows your PC’s IP address can get to your personal information. Using networks that require a password is the best way to keep things like this from happening.
Finally, it might be a good idea to clear the cache of any remote desktop apps that are on your phone (if you can).
Are there remote desktop apps that work with Mac computers?
Windows computers aren’t the only ones that can connect remotely to a PC. The “alternatives” area above has a lot of products that work with both Mac and Linux computers.
For macOS, there is even a tool called Apple Remote Screen that lets you connect to a remote screen. But this software may not work for you, especially since it’s not free and some users have mentioned bugs and other problems.
