Why Control Your PC from Your Phone
Your computer holds files and programs that your phone cannot run on its own. Sometimes you are away from your desk and you need one of those files, or you want to start a download.
Controlling your PC from your phone means seeing your computer screen on your phone and using your phone to move the mouse, tap, type, and open programs, as if you were sitting in front of the computer. The computer stays where it is, and your phone becomes a small remote control for it.
Your PC has to be switched on, awake, and connected to the internet for any of this to work. Remote control cannot reach a computer that is asleep, shut down, or offline. Set it up and test it at home before you rely on it when you are out.
Before You Start
Step 1: Decide which computer you want to control. Most people only need one: their main home or work computer. Pick that computer and do the setup on it.
Step 2: Check which version of Windows your PC runs. Microsoft’s own Remote Desktop only works as a host on Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education. To check, open Settings, then System, then About, and look at the Edition line.
Step 3: Make sure your PC has a password. A computer with no sign-in password is an open door once remote access is switched on. Set a strong one before you go any further.
Step 4: Keep your PC awake and online. A wired connection is the most reliable, but Wi-Fi works fine as long as the signal is steady. Open your power settings and stop the PC from going to sleep after a few minutes.
Step 5: Install the phone app now. Whichever method you choose, you will need its app on your phone as well as its program on your PC. Download it from the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on iPhone.
Step 6: Sign in to the same account on both devices. Chrome Remote Desktop, for example, only works when the PC and the phone use the same Google account. Signing in to two different accounts is a common reason a setup fails.
Which Method Should You Pick
Chrome Remote Desktop is the simplest choice for most people, and it is the method this guide sets up in full. It is free, it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and it works from both Android phones and iPhones. It needs a Google account and the Chrome browser on the PC.
Microsoft’s Remote Desktop, now reached through the Windows App on your phone, is the best choice if your PC runs Windows Pro. It is built into Windows and it is free. Its one big limit is the Windows edition: a PC running Windows Home cannot accept Remote Desktop connections at all.
TeamViewer is a well-known third-party option that works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iPhone. It is free for personal, non-commercial use, and it is popular for helping someone else, because it can connect to another person’s computer with a one-time code.
AnyDesk is similar to TeamViewer. It is free for personal use, it works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iPhone, and it is known for running well even on slower internet connections. The paid versions of both are aimed at businesses. If you are unsure, pick Chrome Remote Desktop.
How to Set Up Chrome Remote Desktop on Your PC
Step 1: Open Google Chrome on your PC. Chrome Remote Desktop is set up through the Chrome browser, so open Chrome and sign in with the Google account you want to use.
Step 2: Go to the Chrome Remote Desktop page. In Chrome, go to remotedesktop.google.com/access and sign in with the same Google account if you are asked to.
Step 3: Download the remote access setup. On the page, look for the section called Set up remote access and click Download. Chrome will download a small installer file.
Step 4: Install the host program. Open the downloaded file and follow the instructions on screen. You may be asked to allow the installer to make changes to your computer: click Yes to continue.
Step 5: Give your computer a name. Once the host is installed, the setup page will ask you to name your computer. Pick a name you will recognise on your phone, such as Home PC.
Step 6: Set a PIN of at least six digits. This is the code you type on your phone every time you connect. Choose at least six digits that nobody else would guess.
Step 7: Turn on remote access. Click Start or Turn On to finish the setup. Chrome Remote Desktop will now run in the background on your PC, waiting for you to connect.
Step 8: Check that your computer appears online. On the same page, your computer should now be listed under Remote Access, with a status showing it is online. If it says offline, check that the PC is connected to the internet.
How to Connect to Your PC from Your Phone
Step 1: Install the Chrome Remote Desktop app on your phone. On Android, download it from the Google Play Store. On iPhone, download it from the App Store if it is available. If you cannot find it on your iPhone, open remotedesktop.google.com/access in Safari and add the page to your Home Screen.
Step 2: Sign in with the same Google account. Open the app or the Home Screen shortcut and sign in with the same Google account you used to set up the PC. With a different account, your computer will not appear in the list.
Step 3: Pick your computer from the list. Your computers will appear under Remote Access. A computer that is offline will look dimmed. Tap the computer you want to control.
Step 4: Enter your PIN. Type the PIN you set during setup and tap the arrow or Connect button. After a few seconds your computer screen will appear on your phone.
Step 5: End the session when you are done. Close the app or tap Disconnect. Your PC will stay switched on, ready for you to connect again later.
How to Control Your PC from Your Phone
By default, the Chrome Remote Desktop app treats your phone screen as a virtual trackpad. Dragging your finger across the phone moves the mouse pointer on the PC, and tapping the phone screen clicks at that spot.
Step 1: Move the mouse pointer. Drag one finger across the phone screen. The mouse pointer on your PC will follow your finger, just as it follows a trackpad on a laptop.
Step 2: Click on something. Move the pointer over the item you want, then tap the phone screen once. This is the same as a left-click with a mouse.
Step 3: Right-click when you need a menu. Tap the phone screen with two fingers at once, or tap and hold, to open the right-click menu. Try both and see which one your app uses.
Step 4: Scroll up and down. Drag two fingers up or down on the phone screen to scroll through a web page or a document, in the same way you scroll on a laptop trackpad.
Step 5: Zoom in to read small text. Pinch outward with two fingers to zoom in on part of the screen, and pinch inward to zoom back out. This is useful when a PC window has small buttons or tiny text.
Step 6: Switch to direct touch mode if you prefer it. In direct touch mode, tapping the screen taps that exact spot on the PC, like using a tablet. To change modes, open the session menu and look for the touch input setting.
Step 7: Open the on-screen keyboard to type. Tap the keyboard icon in the app to bring up your phone keyboard. You can then type into any program on the PC, including passwords and search boxes.
Step 8: Use the session menu for extra controls. The app menu gives you useful extras, such as sending the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys together, which you cannot do from a phone keyboard alone.
How to Use Microsoft Remote Desktop from Your Phone
Microsoft’s own Remote Desktop is built into Windows, and it is a good choice if your PC runs Windows Pro. On your phone, the connection is made through an app called Windows App, which replaced the older Microsoft Remote Desktop app. The Windows App is free, and it is available for Android and iPhone.
The PC must run Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education, because only those editions can act as a host for Remote Desktop. A PC running Windows Home cannot accept Remote Desktop connections, and the option will not even appear in its Settings.
Step 1: Check your Windows edition. On the PC, open Settings, then System, then About, and look at the Edition line. If it says Home, stop here and use one of the other methods in this guide.
Step 2: Turn on Remote Desktop on the PC. Open Settings, then System, then Remote Desktop, and switch on Enable Remote Desktop. Windows will ask you to confirm: click Confirm. Note down the name of the PC, shown on the same screen.
Step 3: Make sure the PC has a password. Remote Desktop will not let you connect to a user account with no password. If your Windows account has no password, set one now in Settings, under Accounts, then Sign-in options.
Step 4: Install Windows App on your phone. Download Windows App from the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on iPhone. Open it and sign in with your Microsoft account if it asks you to.
Step 5: Add your PC and connect. In the Windows App, tap the plus sign or Add PC, and type the PC name you noted down in Step 2. Tap the PC to connect, then type your Windows username and password when asked.
How to Use TeamViewer from Your Phone
Step 1: Install TeamViewer on your PC. Download TeamViewer from its official website and install it on the computer you want to control. During setup, choose the personal use option.
Step 2: Create a TeamViewer account and sign in. Open TeamViewer on the PC and create a free account, then sign in. Signing in ties the computer to your account, so you can find it later from your phone.
Step 3: Set up unattended access. In TeamViewer on the PC, set a personal password for unattended access. This is the password you will type on your phone to connect when nobody is sitting at the PC.
Step 4: Install TeamViewer on your phone. Download the TeamViewer app, which is called TeamViewer Remote, from the Google Play Store or the App Store. Open it and sign in with the same TeamViewer account you used on the PC.
Step 5: Connect to your PC. Your PC should appear in your list of computers. Tap it, enter your personal password when asked, and your PC screen will appear on your phone.
Step 6: Help someone else with a one-time code. If a family member needs help, ask them to open TeamViewer on their computer and read you the ID number and one-time password shown on their screen. Type those into the app on your phone, and you will see their screen.
How to Use AnyDesk from Your Phone
Step 1: Install AnyDesk on your PC. Download AnyDesk from its official website and install it on the computer you want to control. When it opens, you will see an address made of numbers: this is the AnyDesk address for that computer.
Step 2: Set a password for unattended access. Open AnyDesk settings on the PC, find the security section, and set a password for unattended access. This is the password you will type on your phone when nobody is at the PC.
Step 3: Install AnyDesk on your phone. Download the AnyDesk app from the Google Play Store or the App Store and open it. Signing in makes it easier to keep a list of your computers.
Step 4: Connect using the PC’s AnyDesk address. Type the number address from Step 1 into the app on your phone and tap Connect. Enter the unattended access password when asked, and your PC screen will appear on your phone.
Step 5: Learn the touch controls. AnyDesk uses the same basic gestures as the other apps: drag to move the pointer, tap to click, and use the on-screen keyboard to type.
What Microsoft Phone Link Does Not Do
Many Windows users have heard of Microsoft Phone Link, and it is easy to assume it lets you control your PC from your phone. It does not, and the confusion is worth clearing up before you waste time setting it up for the wrong job.
Phone Link works in the opposite direction. It shows your phone on your PC screen, so you can read your phone messages, see your phone notifications, and look at your phone photos, all from your computer. In other words, it lets you control your phone from your PC, not your PC from your phone.
Staying Safe When You Control Your PC Remotely
Step 1: Use a strong, unique password for your PC. Your Windows password is the first line of defence, so make it long and hard to guess, and do not reuse a password from another website.
Step 2: Use a different PIN for each computer. If you set up Chrome Remote Desktop on more than one computer, give each one a different PIN. That way, if one PIN is ever seen or shared, your other computers are still protected.
Step 3: Only connect to your own machines. Never set up remote access on a computer you do not own. If a stranger calls or messages you and asks you to install a remote access app so they can fix your computer, say no: this is a common trick used by scammers.
Step 4: Turn off remote access when you do not need it. If you only need remote access for a holiday or a work trip, turn it off when you come home. In Chrome Remote Desktop, disable remote access on the PC; in Windows, switch Remote Desktop off in Settings.
Step 5: Never leave unattended access on without a password. Every remote access tool asks you to set a password or PIN for unattended access. Never skip this step, and never leave the password blank.
Step 6: Lock your phone. Your phone is now a key to your computer, so protect it like one. Use a strong lock screen code, fingerprint, or face unlock. If your phone is lost or stolen, change your remote access PIN and your PC password straight away.
Step 7: Keep your software up to date. Update Windows, Chrome, and your remote access apps when updates appear. Updates often fix security problems.
Step 8: Check your sessions now and then. If your PC screen lights up or the mouse moves when you are not connected, something is wrong: disconnect the computer from the internet and check what happened.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Your computer does not appear in the list on your phone. This usually means you are signed in to a different account on the phone than on the PC, or the PC is switched off or offline. Check the account on both devices, and check that the PC is switched on and connected to the internet.
Your computer appears dimmed or offline. The PC may have gone to sleep, lost its Wi-Fi connection, or been restarted after an update. Wake the PC, check its internet connection, and make sure your sleep settings are not putting it to sleep after a few minutes.
The PIN is rejected even though you are sure it is right. Check that you are connecting to the right computer, because each computer has its own PIN. If you have forgotten the PIN, sit at the PC, open the Chrome Remote Desktop page, and set a new one: there is no way to recover a forgotten PIN from your phone.
The screen is laggy or blurry. Remote control needs a steady internet connection on both ends. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router, switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi if you can, and close other apps on your phone that are using the connection.
Remote Desktop is missing from Settings on Windows. This means your PC runs Windows Home, which cannot host Remote Desktop. The option is not hidden or broken: it simply does not exist on Home. Use Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or AnyDesk instead, or upgrade to Windows Pro if you specifically want Microsoft’s built-in option.
You can connect at home but not from outside. Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, and AnyDesk should work from anywhere with an internet connection, because they connect through their own servers. Microsoft Remote Desktop usually only works on the same network unless you have set up a VPN or port forwarding. If you need to connect from outside the house, switch to one of the other three methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to control your PC from your phone? Yes, for personal use. Chrome Remote Desktop is free, Microsoft Remote Desktop is free, and both TeamViewer and AnyDesk are free for personal, non-commercial use. You only pay for the business versions of TeamViewer or AnyDesk, or for a Windows Pro upgrade.
Can I control my PC from an iPhone as well as from Android? Yes. Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, and AnyDesk all work from both Android phones and iPhones, and Microsoft’s Windows App is available for both as well. The setup steps are the same on both kinds of phone, apart from where you download the app.
What is the easiest method for a beginner? Chrome Remote Desktop. It is free, it works on Windows Home as well as Pro, it works from Android and iPhone, and it needs no router or network changes. Set it up once while you are sitting at your PC, test it from your phone, and you are done.
Final Thoughts
Controlling your PC from your phone sounds complicated, but for most people it comes down to one free app, one account, and one PIN. Set up Chrome Remote Desktop while you are sitting at your computer, connect from your phone while you are still at home, and learn the basic gestures: drag to move the pointer, tap to click, and use the on-screen keyboard to type.
If your PC runs Windows Pro and you mostly connect from home, Microsoft Remote Desktop through the Windows App is a good alternative, and TeamViewer or AnyDesk is worth installing if you often help family members. What matters is that you pick one, set it up before you need it, and keep it safe with a strong password and a private PIN.
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