Remote PC control over the internet lets you access your computer from anywhere. This guide covers the best tools and simple setup steps to ensure a secure and smooth remote connection.
Compared with remote control over LAN, the advantages of remote PC control over the internet are more obvious. It perfectly solves various problems whenever you are out.
Although remotely controlling a PC over the internet has many advantages, not everyone can successfully use it. For the majority of novice users, finding a simple and effective method of remotely accessing a computer via the Internet is the most important thing.
This tutorial lists the 3 most commonly used methods for remotely accessing a computer over the internet and guides users in choosing the most appropriate one.
If you're looking to remotely control your PC over the internet, there are several options available. While the built-in Windows RDP feature is widely used, many third-party remote desktop software solutions provide easier processes and more advanced features. In this section, we'll explore some of the top third-party remote desktop software options for controlling your PC over the internet.
AnyViewer is a safe and fast remote desktop software for Windows and Mac. With its user-friendly interface, you can quickly and securely access your PC from anywhere over the internet. The software requires no complicated setup, making it perfect for beginners and professionals alike.
Key Features:
Here's how to remotely access another computer outside your network using AnyViewer:
Step 1. Download, install, and launch AnyViewer on both computers.
Step 2. Click Sign up to create an AnyViewer account. (If you already have signed up on its official website, you can log in directly.)
Step 3. Then you can see you successfully logged in to AnyViewer. Your device will automatically be assigned to the account you've logged in to.
Step 4. Log in to the same AnyViewer account on the two devices, then you can achieve unattended remote access by clicking One-click control.
Microsoft Remote Desktop is a built-in Windows feature that lets you access your PC remotely from another device over the internet. Although it's a dependable option, it requires some configuration for smooth operation.
To enable Remote Desktop over the internet, you can either set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or configure your router to forward incoming requests to a specific port. This port forwarding ensures that data is directed to the correct private IP address on your local network.
The steps to set up remote desktop access over the internet using Microsoft Remote Desktop are broken down into three main parts:
Let's get started!
Steps to enable Remote Desktop
The first and essential step in accessing a remote computer over the internet with RDP is to ensure that Remote Desktop is enabled on the remote computer. While detailed instructions for configuring Remote Desktop Connection on Windows are available, you can follow these simple steps for this guide:
Step 1. On the remote computer, go to Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
Step 2. Turn on Enable Remote Desktop.
Option A: Configure VPN
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure way to share your desktop without exposing your computer to the internet. A VPN creates a protected tunnel between your local computer and the VPN server, allowing the RDP server to connect to the client as if they were part of the same local network. No matter your location, connecting to the VPN ensures reliable and secure access to Remote Desktop and other remote services that are typically unavailable outside the local network.
There are many VPN applications available, and if you find your settings are incorrect, it's best to consult your IT team to resolve issues and configure the VPN correctly. If you're using Windows 10 or 11, you can use the built-in VPN service. For this, you'll need the following details:
Step 1. Open Windows Settings.
Step 2. Go to Network & Internet > VPN.
Step 3. Click on Add a VPN connection.
Step 4. Enter the required details (VPN provider, server address/name, VPN type, sign-in information, username, and password) and click Save. Your new VPN connection will now appear in the list of available connections.
Option B: Router port forwarding
Port forwarding is a method that enables external devices to access services on a private network. It works by mapping an external port to an internal IP address and port. To set up port forwarding, you first need the following steps:
How to configure a static IP address in Windows 10 or Windows 11
Step 1. Click Start and then click Settings. Find Network & Internet and then click it.
Step 2. On the Network & Internet interface, find Advanced network settings, and click Change adapter options below.
Step 3. Right-click your network and then click Properties.
Step 4. Tick Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and click Properties.
Step 5. Turn on Use the following IP address in the General tab, change the IP address to a valid local IP address outside the scope of the local DHCP, set the Subnet mask, and set the Default gateway. Then turn on Use the following DNS server addresses, set the corresponding address in the Preferred DNS server, and click OK.
How to find the public IP address
After completing the above steps, it means that you’ve finished setting the static IP. But the static IP can only be used in a LAN environment; we also need to get the external IP address (that is, the public IP address) for remote desktop over Internet.
First, open the Chrome browser, enter “what is my IP” in the search box, and then you can see the public IP address (remember not to share your public IP address with anyone to avoid security issues).
How to implement port forwarding
Step 1. Press Win + R to invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “cmd” and press OK. Then type “ipconfig” and press Enter to check the IPv4 Address and Default Gateway.
Step 2. Enter the device gateway address in the browser address bar, enter the correct user name and password to log in to the router, confirm that port forwarding is enabled, and find and click Add profile.
Step 3. Fill in the corresponding information to create a new port; you can refer to the following:
How to remotely control PC over the internet over RDP
After completing all the steps, you can now start using Remote Desktop over the internet.
Step 1. Search for Remote Desktop Connection in the Search box. And then open it.
Step 2. Enter the public IP address we found above and the user name in the Remote Desktop Connection interface to achieve connection.
Chrome Remote Desktop, a browser extension of Google, enables you to remotely control another computer or be controlled by another computer from different operating systems. It is fully trans-platform, supporting iOS, OS X, Chrome OS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Here are the detailed operating steps of Chrome Remote Desktop:
Preparation work:
Part 1. Enable remote control on the host computer
Step 1. On the host computer, open the Chrome Remote Desktop download page. Click Remote Support first and then click the blue download button.
Step 2. After automatically jumping to the Chrome web store, click Add to Chrome to download Chrome Remote Desktop.
Step 3. Click Add extension to confirm the installation.
Step 4. Then turn back to the previous page, and then click Generate Code.
Step 5. Remember the automatically generated code. Note: the code is only valid for 5 minutes.
Part 2. Start remote control on the client computer
Step 1. On the client computer, find Connect to another computer on the Remote Support page. Input the automatically generated code of the host computer. Then click Connect.
Step 2. On the host computer, there will be a pop-up window asking whether the host computer allows the control of the client computer. Click Share to establish the connection.
Chrome Remote Desktop is relatively simple in operation and can adapt to different network environments. However, both devices need to be installed with the Chrome browser, making it inconvenient for users of other browsers. In addition, users complain that they always encounter Chrome Remote Desktop offline problems.
Among the 3 easy methods of remote desktop over the internet, Anyviewer is the easiest way to remotely control a PC. RDP requires a tedious configuration process. Chrome Remote Desktop requires users to register an account. By contrast, AnyViewer is not only easy to operate but also has lots of additional practical features. It is the best choice for novice users!
Remote PC control typically involves installing software or using built-in features that establish a connection between the local and remote computers over the internet. This connection enables the transmission of screen images, keyboard and mouse inputs, and other data necessary for remote control.
Yes, many remote PC control software applications offer mobile apps that allow users to access and control remote computers from smartphones and tablets.
Yes, remote PC control can be used for both personal and business purposes. Individuals can use it to access their home computers while away, while businesses can utilize it for remote IT support, telecommuting, and collaboration among team members.
