[Top 3] Best PC Remote Control Apps in 2024

Any recommendation on the best app for remote control PC?

The ability to remotely access and control a PC has become increasingly important. PC remote control app enables you to remotely control a PC from an Android device, iPhone, iPad, or another PC. Whether you're a business professional needing to access files from your office computer while traveling or a tech enthusiast providing remote assistance to family and friends, having the right app for remote PC control can make all the difference.

What qualities should a PC remote control app have?

With a plethora of options available in the market, what qualities should you look for to ensure you're choosing the right remote control app for PC? Here are some qualities that you can take into consideration:

✔ Security: The security of a control tool is the most important. A good remote control PC app should be secure enough to prevent data leakage.
✔ Ease of use: For a newbie, it will be frustrating if the PC remote controller is difficult to understand and use.
✔ Fluency: In the process of controlling the remote computer, the response speed should be fast, and you can take operations to the PC smoothly.
✔ Compatibility: A popular free remote control app for PCs should be compatible with both the latest and the old OS.
✔ Price: Using free apps to control PCs are popular. If users have to spend money, they expect a better experience within their budgets. 

Top 3 PC remote control apps [features & pricing]

Considering the five criteria mentioned above, we select the top three best PC and laptop remote control apps, offering outstanding features and compelling benefits.

1. AnyViewer [one-click control available]

AnyViewer stands out as one of the most renowned PC remote control apps, offering a comprehensive suite of features for remote desktop access, file transfer, and IT support. With its intuitive interface and cross-platform compatibility, AnyViewer caters to both personal and professional users.

◆ Key features:

• Unattended remote access: Easily access and control an unattended remote computer with one-click control.
• File transfer: Seamlessly transfer files between remote computers quickly and efficiently.
• Multi-monitor switch: Display one or all screens when connecting to a computer with multiple monitors.
• Text chat: Conveniently communicate with the user sitting in front of the remote PC via text chat.
• Screen walls: Create screen walls to monitor and manage multiple devices within one window.
• Remote power management: Reboot and shut off the remote PC directly from AnyViewer.
• Access in privacy mode: Control the remote PC in privacy mode by blacking its screen and disabling its physical keyboard and mouse to prevent unauthorized access.
• Group management: Easily manage a group of devices by grouping them into different groups.
• Mass deployment: Streamline the deployment process for a large number of devices.

◆ Pros:

• The free version is available: AnyViewer offers a Free plan that can satisfy all demands for common remote access.
• PC remote control over the Internet is easy: AnyViewer allows users to control a PC remotely from a different network without setting up VNP or port forwarding.
• Supports all editions of Windows: Users can access Windows Home or Standard computer with AnyViewer.
• Resolution adjustment in session is available: You can change resolution in a remote session.
• Control Android Devices perfectly: AnyViewer allows users to remotely control from and to Android devices seamlessly.

◆ Cons:

• Remote print is unavailable: It's not allowed to print remote files to a local printer.
• Mac and Linux computers aren't supported: AnyViewer doesn't access Linux or Mac computers remotely.

◆Pricing:

	Free Version	AnyViewer Professional	AnyViewer Enterprise	Availability
Yearly	$0.00	$42.96	$199.00	Upgrade now>>
Differences	2 devices can start sessions simultaneously	Unlimited devices can start sessions simultaneously	Unlimited devices can start sessions simultaneously
	One computer can control 2 computers at the same time	One computer can control unlimited computers at the same time	One computer can control unlimited computers at the same time
	Assign 3 devices for one-click control	Assign 10 devices for one-click control	Assign 100 devices for one-click control
	1 screen wall	1 screen wall	Unlimited screen walls
	It doesn't support privacy mode access	Supports privacy mode access	Supports privacy mode access

◆How to use AnyViewer:

Step 1. Click the following button to free download the PC remote control software on the computer and set it up. 

Step 2. Install and run AnyViewer on your PC. Create an AnyViewer account and log in to it. 

Tips:

 Once logged in, the computer will be assigned to the account, and you can achieve one-click remote access between assigned computers.

Step 3. Now, users can control their PCs from their local devices.

▪  From Windows PC:

Install and fire up AnyViewer, and log in to the same AnyViewer account.  Click "Device" and locate the computer that you need to control. Click it and choose "One-click control".  Then, you can take full control of the remote PC from your local PC. 

▪ From iPhone/iPad or Android

Go to the App Store to download the iPhone app of AnyViewer or go to Google Play to download the AnyViewer Android app. Install and run it. Log into the same AnyViewer account, and you can see the computers that have been assigned to the account. Click the computer that you want to control and click "One-click control". 

2. Microsoft Remote Desktop [pre-installed solution]

The firstly introduced PC control app is Microsoft Remote Desktop. As its name suggests, it was developed by Microsoft.  It is pre-installed with Windows computers (only Windows Pro and Enterprise). It allows a PC to be controlled with RD client apps, like Remote Desktop Connection over WIFI, LAN, or the internet. 

◆ Key features:

• Unattended access: Users can control an unattended computer with an IP address, user name, and password. 
• Copy and paste: In Windows-to-Windows connections, users are allowed to copy and paste files between connected devices. 
• Remote print: Users can access and print files on remote computers. 
• Remote audio: The audio can be transmitted through RDP sound prediction in Windows-to-Windows access. 

◆ Pros:

• Completely free: It is a built-in Windows service. Thus you don't spend money to buy it or time on downloading it. 
• Cross-platform: Apart from controlling Windows from Windows, users can download the corresponding RD client app to control a Windows computer from Mac, Android, iOS, or Linux. 

◆ Cons:

• Complicated setup process from a different network: Users need to configure the network and router when accessing from an outside network. 
• Only included in Pro and advanced versions of Windows: Users can't access Windows Home versions with RD client apps. 
• Remote screen is locked: Once the remote computer is controlled, it will be locked automatically. Thus, users can't demonstrate a certain process to the remote user. 
• Ctrl+Alt+End is unavailable: You can't send Ctrl+Alt+End during RDP sessions.

◆ Pricing:

It is free with Windows Pro or an advanced version. Home users need to upgrade to Pro for PC remote control. Currently, the price of upgrading Home to Pro is $99. 

◆How to use Microsoft Remote Desktop:

Step 1. Users should enable Remote Desktop on the Windows computer to allow remote access via the Remote Desktop client app to this computer.

In the search box, type in "remote desktop settings", search for it, and open it. Drag the toggle to the "On" position to enable Remote Desktop. Then, confirm the operation.

Step 2. Then, users can control the PC remotely from their local devices.

▪ From another PC

Press "Windows" + "R", input "mstsc" and hit Enter to open Remote Desktop Connection on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. In the window, type in the IP address of the PC that you want to control and click "Connect". Then, do as the Windows login prompts to complete PC remote control.

▪ From Mac

Download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Mac App Store on your Mac. Click the "New“ button and fill in the necessary information, including PC name (IP address of the Windows PC), username, password, etc. Then, close this window.

▪ From Linux

Use Xterm to open the Command shell. In the window, type "desktop" to check whether the desktop is installed. If not, install the desktop package. If so, type "desktop" followed by the IP address, and hit Enter.

▪ From Android

Download the Remote Desktop app from Google Play on an Android phone or tablet, and install and fire up it. Tap the “+” icon and choose "Add PC". Input the IP address of the PC that you want to control and type in the username and password. Then, click “Save” to continue.

▪ From iPhone/iPad

Download the RD client from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, install it, and launch it. Click the "+" icon, select "Add PC", click "PC Name", input the IP address of the Windows PC, and then enter the user name and password of the account that is used to connect to the remote PC. Then, click "Continue" to take control of one PC from an iPhone or iPad.

3. Chrome Remote Desktop [browser extension]

Chrome Remote Desktop can exist as an independent application or an extension of Chrome browser for remote access and support. That is to say, as long as users can use Chrome browser on the platform, they can use Chrome Remote Desktop.

◆ Key features:

• Permanent access via PIN: Set up Chrome Remote Desktop with PIN on the to-be-accessed computer; users can permanently access it via PIN.
• Temporary access via code: It's also available to generate code for one-time access.
• Transfer files supported: Users can transfer files via uploading and downloading files between two computers.
• Remote audio: Chrome Remote Desktop can stream audio when controlling a remote PC from a local device.
• Functional options: Users can send Ctrl+Alt+Del, PrintScreen, and F11 to the remote computer by clicking the options.

◆ Pros:

• Widely compatible: Users can use it to set up Windows, Linux, or Mac computers running the Chrome browser to be a host computer and can control the PC from any device.
• Supports resolution adjustment: In the CRD session, users can update the remote resolution to match the window.
• Supports access over the internet: Users can connect to a computer with CRD from a different network without configuring a router or network.

◆ Cons:

• Remote print is unavailable: Users are unable to print remote files to a local printer.
• No chat function: users can't chat with the one on the remote computer.
• Unstable connection: It's not rare to encounter issues like Chrome Remote Desktop freezing or stuck on loading.

◆Pricing:

Chrome Remote Desktop extension is completely free.

◆How to use Chrome Remote Desktop:

Step 1. Users need to add the Chrome Remote Desktop extension to the to-be-controlled PC and set it up. 

On Linux, Windows, or Mac computers, open the Chrome browser and access Chrome Remote Desktop from the Chrome Web Store.  Click the "download" icon and click the "Add to Chrome" and follow the prompts to download the remote control extension.  After downloading, click on "Accept & Install" to install Chrome Remote Desktop. Then, set up the compute name and PIN manually.

Step 2. Now, users can control PCs remotely from their local devices.

▪ From computer 

Open Chrome on your computer, log into the same Google account go to the Remote Access interface, and click the to-be-controlled computer. Type in the PIN that you have set for the remote computer and then you can control the PC from your local computer successfully.

▪ From Android

 Download the Chrome Remote Desktop app from Google Play. Install and open it. Tap the computer you need to access and type in the PIN. 

▪ From iPhone or iPad

 Download the Chrome Remote Desktop app from the App Store. Install and open it. Tap the computer you need to access and type in the PIN. 

Tips:

 It's available to control the PC in two methods from mobile devices: virtual mouse and touch mode.

 

Conclusion

Choosing the right PC remote control app is crucial for smooth and easy access. With so many options out there, it's important to look for features that matter to you, like security and how easy it is to use. After exploring different apps, three stand out: AnyViewer, Microsoft Remote Desktop, and Chrome Remote Desktop. Each has its strengths, whether it's lots of features, working on different devices, or being simple to use. Picking the best one for you means thinking about what you need most and making a smart choice.

FAQs about Remote Control Apps for Computer

What can I do with a PC remote control software?

PC remote control apps provide a range of functionalities, including controlling the mouse and keyboard, launching applications, managing files, and even accessing the desktop. Some apps also offer features like remote shutdown, screen sharing, and media control.

Is it safe to use apps for remote control?

Generally, PC remote control apps are safe to use, especially if you choose reputable and secure applications such as AnyViewer. AnyViewer supports two-step verification for your desktop and mobile logins. Additionally, use strong passwords and keep the remote control app updated to the latest version to ensure security.

Do I need to install any software on my PC to use a remote control app?

Yes, most PC remote control apps require you to install a corresponding application or software on your computer. This software facilitates the connection between the controlling device and the PC. Make sure to follow the installation instructions provided by the remote control app.

Any other PC remote control apps?

All the above computer remote control apps are easy to download, install, and use, and are free or offer a free version for all users. For users who focus on gaming when they control a PC with an Android or iOS phone, other apps like Monect PC Remote and Remote Unified are alsogood choices.