Learn how to access your PC remotely from your Android or iOS phone

With the hundreds of tools available to modern users, it has become even easier to integrate systems and control electronic devices in a third way. An example is the possibility of a person being able to browse and access their PC remotely through a simple smartphone. Today, we're going to show you how it works.

To access your PC/notebook remotely, you must first condition it to such functionality. So first of all, do the following steps on your desktop with Microsoft Windows operating system installed.

IMPORTANT: your operating system will display the functionalities explained in this text and can be used remotely from Windows 7, in its Pro or Enterprise versions.

Configuring your PC

Before we actually start, it's worth remembering that our tutorial shows screenshots taken on Windows 11. If your PC has another version, it's possible that some features are not exactly in the same markup, but in the same tab, for example. However, don't worry, the general scheme is the same.

Step 1: Click once on the “Start Menu”, located in the lower left corner of the screen or press the Windows key on your keyboard.

Step 2: Open “Settings”. If the icon is not visible in your menu lists or displays, just type “settings”. This action will bring up the option and you can click.

Step 3: Access the “System” option, the first option in the window that will open.

Step 4: In the left sidebar of the opened window, click on “Remote Desktop”.

Step 5: Enable the “Enable Remote Desktop” option. Open "Confirm" in the small window that appears to carry out the action.

Step 6: To use the functionality safely, click on the “Advanced Settings” option (or the downward pointing arrow in the same row as Remote Desktop in the case of Windows 11) that will appear after enabling the previous one and make sure that the box with the option “Require computers to use Network Level Authentication to connect (recommended)” is checked.

Note: If you are connecting to a computer through the same VPN network, just skip the “External Connections”. Your computer will find itself the best connection port to be accessed remotely.

Step 7: All ready for your computer to be accessed remotely! If you use a Microsoft administrator or corporate account on the Windows in question, your best bet is to use that at all times as well.

If you want to grant access to other account(s), in the “Remote Desktop” section there is a clickable option “Select users who can remotely access this computer”, Click on the button "Add" and then add the name of the user who will access the computer.

Accessing PC from Android Mobile

To access your PC through Android devices, download the application from the Google Play Store Remote Desktop 8. This is how your computer will be accessed remotely.

Step 1: Open the app and accept the app's terms and usage policies.

Step 2: Click on the small “+” icon in the upper right corner and then on “Add Manually”. Wait for your PC to be detected by the app in the list that opens and fills itself. If it is not recognized, you can manually add it in “Add Manually”.

Note: The app may ask for Bluetooth, Camera and Microphone permissions.

Step 3: On the Add Computer screen, you will configure remote PC access. Fill in the first field (“Computer Name”) with the exact name of your computer or with your IP address. The default name coming from Windows (or renamed by you) can be accessed on the same PC screen in Settings, in “How to connect to this computer” or in “PC/device name”. If you need it for later, it is recommended that you write it down.

Note: always keep the “User Account” with the option “Ask when needed” selected, ensuring more security. 

Step 4: In “Friendly Name”, write a title that will be fixed when accessing the mobile device, only at the discretion of your personal acknowledgment. O Switch from the “Admin Mode” option is only to connect you to the management of a Windows server, so you can leave it disabled normally.

Use the section Gateway only if your company uses some Remote Desktop Gateway to secure remote connections like this.

Step 5: Use the “Device and Audio Redirection” options at will for you to access each desired functionality of your desktop with remotely during remote connection.

Step 6: Press “Connect” in the upper right corner of the screen. At this point, the button will already be enabled.

Step 7: Set resource permissions that Remote Desktop will have access to and press the button "Connect".

Step 8: The app will recognize your computer's input port and will ask for your username and password. If you don't use a password to open your computer, just ignore the password field. That login is the same one you use to open your desktop with, that is, access the operating system after turning on the computer. You can look up your username on Windows at “Settings” > “Accounts” > “Your Information”.

Step 9: After completing the previous steps, your device should connect to your desktop and you will be viewing your computer screen as you left it. Now just browse and move at will, taking advantage of your computer through the established remote connection.

Accessing PC from Mobile iOS

To access your machine through Apple devices, download the app from the App Store Remote DesktopMobile. This is how your computer will be accessed remotely.

Step 1: Open the app and hit the small “+” icon in the upper right corner. Then select “Add Computer”.

Note: The app may ask for Bluetooth, Camera and Microphone permissions.

Step 2: On the Add Computer screen, you will configure remote PC access. Fill in the first field (“Computer Name”) with the exact name of your computer or with your IP address. The default name coming from Windows (or renamed by you) can be accessed on the same PC screen in Settings, in “How to connect to this computer” or in “PC/device name”. If you need it for later, it is recommended that you write it down.

Note: always keep the “User Account” with the option “Ask when needed” selected, ensuring more security. 

Step 3: In “Friendly Name”, write a title that will be fixed when accessing the mobile device, only at the discretion of your personal acknowledgment. O Switch of the option "Admin Mode” is only for connecting you to managing a Windows server, so you can leave it disabled normally.

Use the section Gateway only if your company uses some Remote Desktop Gateway to secure remote connections like this.

Step 4: Use the “Device and Audio Redirection” options at will for you to access each desired functionality of your desktop with remotely during remote connection.

Step 5: Press “Save” in the upper right corner of the screen. At this point, the button will already be enabled.

Step 6: Afterwards, the registered computer should appear in the application home in the form of a card. press this card and proceed to the next step.

Step 7: The app will recognize your computer's input port will ask for your username and password. If you don't use a password to open your computer, just ignore the password field. That login is the same one you use to open your desktop with, that is, access the operating system after turning on the computer. You can look up your username on Windows at “Settings” > “Accounts” > “Your Information”.

Step 8: After completing the previous steps, your device should connect to your desktop and you will be viewing your computer screen as you left it. Now just browse and move at will, taking advantage of your computer through the established remote connection.

For the experience on both OSs of the smartphones, in the icons pinned to the center and top, you can bring the keyboard (right button) from your mobile device, give zoom meeting on the screen (button on the left) and view current remote connection by the center button. In this central button, it is still possible to return to the home, where you can access other remote connections through the app; use the icon touch so that your screen taps act as your PC screen clicks too; and/or opt for mouse, tapping the respective icon, in which you will use a virtual cursor that resembles the usability of the mouse on the computer.

To close the remote connection, simply press the X in the upper right corner of the connection rectangle displayed in the same context menu. You can also press “Disconnect All Sessions from PC”, closing all the ones that are currently connected.

In the home of the application, in both OSs, if you want to edit any configuration of this access created, just hold the touch on the created icon of the added PC and touch "Edit". Doing the same, you can delete the access created in the button "Delete".

Make the most of the convenience that this type of remote access can offer. I hope this tutorial was useful for your daily life or, who knows, for your enthusiasm for technology. If you have any questions along the way, let us know in the comments!

See also:

Also check out other related content on Showmetech. Learn to use your smartphone as a WiFi router.

Sources: ecosystem, PCMag