For most users a Windows PC or laptop is the only primary device that they use for work, entertainment or playing games. But what if you are outside and need to access or manage your PC remotely?
The good news is, that with an active internet connection and a decent Android smartphone, you can achieve this using a remote desktop feature. Here is a guide using which you can learn a bunch of different methods with which you can control your PC from your phone.
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Here’s How You Can Control Your PC From Phone
Here are two methods using which you can control PC using your phone.
Method 1: Using Windows Remote Desktop Feature
This first method uses the official Microsoft Remote Desktop app available on the Play Store and uses the built-in remote desktop feature of Windows. While the initial setup involves some steps, but once the setup is done the process thereafter is quite simple. Here is how to do it:
1. Enable Remote Desktop on your PC
– Navigate to the Settings app on your Windows PC.
– Now look for “Remote Desktop” or Navigate to “System” and you will find “Remote Desktop” settings.
– Toggle the switch next to “Enable Remote Desktop” to “On”.
2. Download and Install the App on Android
– Head over to to Google Play Store and “Microsoft Remote Desktop” app and select Install or CLICK HERE to download the app.
– Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app and complete the setup.
3. Access Windows Settings
– Click on Start (Windows logo icon) on your PC. Then, select the gear icon (Settings app) or search for “Settings“.
– Navigate to Remote Desktop: Within the Settings app, navigate to “System” section and then choose “Remote Desktop“
– Note the PC Name: In the “Remote Desktop” settings, take note of the “PC name” displayed. You’ll need this name later when connecting from your Android device.
– Enable Remote Desktop: If the “Enable Remote Desktop” toggle is disabled, toggle it to “On”.
– Confirm the Change: Click the “Confirm” button to activate the Remote Desktop feature on your PC. This might require administrator privileges for some users.
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2. The Smartphone Side of Things
With Remote Desktop enabled on your PC, it is now active to receive remote connection requests like the one you are going to establish using your Android phone.
1. Make sure that the Remote Desktop app is installed on your device and is set up.
2. Add Your PC:
Tap the “+” button in the top-right corner. Choose “Add PC”.
Now the PC’s name will pop up in the list and you can select the name of your PC from the list. If not, then you have to enter the PC details manually.
3. Enter PC Information
In the text box, enter the “PC name” you noted earlier from your PC’s Remote Desktop settings.
Under “User Account”, tap the “Ask when required” dropdown menu option. Select “Add user account”.
4. Finalize Setup and Connect:
Scroll through all remaining options and configure all relevant additional settings. Once finished, tap “Save” in the upper-right corner. You’ll see a new entry on the list, here look for the name of your PC. If you can see the name of your PC that means the setup is complete.
Once done, click on “Connect” to establish the connection.
Note: The remaining options include connection quality settings, security protocols, and multi-factor authentication. Choose the settings that best suit your needs.
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Once the connection is established, you can access your desktop remotely and control your PC using your phone.
Method 2: Google’s Chrome Solution!
If the official Microsoft app method stated above doesn’t suit your needs, another option exists for managing your PC remotely using your Android phone. This method requires a Google Chrome browser on both devices and the Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android.
1. Install and Set Up Tools
Download the Chrome Remote Desktop app: Visit the Google Play Store on your Android phone and download the “Chrome Remote Desktop” app.
Install the Chrome extension: On your PC, open the Google Chrome web browser and navigate to the Chrome Remote Desktop extension page. Click “Add to Chrome” and then “Add extension” to begin the installation.
2. Configure Remote Access on your PC:
To configure remote access on your Windows follow this guide:
Access control page: Visit the Chrome Remote Desktop control page in your Chrome browser.
Download and install host: Click the “Accept & Install” button to download a file named “chromeremotedesktophost.exe”. Locate and run this file from your downloads folder to complete the setup process on your PC.
3. Establish the Connection:
Set PC name and PIN: Choose a name for your PC and create a secure six-digit secure PIN for remote access. Click “Next” to proceed.
Start and connect: Click on the “Start” button on the popup windows on your PC and accept user account permission requests. Now, you should see your PC listed as “Online” within the Chrome browser window.
4. Connect from Your Phone:
Launch the app: Open the Chrome Remote Desktop app on your Android phone.
Select your PC: You should see your PC listed with the same name you chose earlier. Tap on the PC name to start the connection.
Enter PIN and connect: Enter the six-digit PIN you created earlier and tap “Connect”. You can also enable the option to remember the PIN for future connections.
5. Control Your PC Remotely:
Once the connection is established you can access your PC’s screen on your smartphone which even allows you to control it remotely and run any software or commands remotely.
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Conclusion
Both the Microsoft Remote Desktop app and the Chrome Remote Desktop app are easy to set up and can be used to manage your PC remotely from your Android smartphone. Once set up you can access your PC remotely and do a bunch of actions. This allows you to open documents, photos, or files located on your PC directly from your phone.
You can also run programs, launch games, or manage ongoing tasks on your PC remotely. The initial setup process requires some configuration on both your PC and phone, but it’s a one-time effort. Once set up, connecting to your PC takes just a few clicks and only requires reconfiguration if your login credentials change or you have reinstalled the Windows on your system.
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