Troubleshooting computer problems for family members has become a common task in this digital age, especially when their computer is located far away and you need to fix it.
It’s easy to give remote technical help if you work from Windows to Windows or macOS to macOS. You won’t even need to install any extra software. While it’s harder to help someone on a different platform, we can point you in the right direction.
“How to Remotely Troubleshoot Your Relative’s Computer” is a complete guide with a lot of different starting points that can help you fix technical problems remotely. Check out the things that EveryReview has to give.
Allow us to begin!
Table of Contents
For connecting Windows to Windows
Help Right Away: For Windows 10 and 11
Quick Assist is a remote access tool for easy debugging that works with Windows 10 and 11. To start the process, go to the Start menu and look for Quick Assist. You can also find it in the Windows Accessories folder. There are features on the user screen for both giving and getting help.
As the person who wants to help, click “Help someone” and then sign in with your Microsoft account. It is important to note that the person offering help does not need a Microsoft account, but the person getting help does. After making a six-digit code with a time limit, the helper must send it to the receiver by copying and pasting or talking to them directly.
When someone needs help, they type the code in Quick Assist’s “Get Help” section. The person offering help can click the “Give instructions” link to make step-by-step steps for the person they are helping. That person gives permission to view the screen after the code is entered correctly.
Once the link is made, the helper can use the remote computer as if it were in the same room. The tool even has a Remote Reboot option that lets you restart your computer and automatically reconnect through Quick Assist. This is a useful feature, since turning your computer off and on again often fixes problems.
Help with Windows remotely for Windows 7, 8, and 10
The older Remote Assistance tool is what you need to help people who are using Windows 7, 8, or 10, while you are using Windows 10. There are some links between it and Quick Assist, but it is less user-friendly.
In Windows, your friend or family member can start this process by looking for “invite” and choosing “Invite Someone to Connect to Your PC.” They can also go to the Control Panel and do the same thing that way.
If they agree, they’ll have to send you a file via email to set up the link and give you the password to get into their computer. There’s also a choice called “Easy Connect,” where all they have to do is give you a password. However, this might not be available in some situations and will look grayed out.
For Windows 10, 11, Pro, and Enterprise, you can connect to a remote desktop
For people who use Windows 10 or 11 Pro or Enterprise editions, the Remote Desktop Connection lets you easily connect to someone else’s computer from afar, making it feel like you’re there in real life. To accept connections from outside the network, turn on the feature on the recipient’s computer by going to Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
From the Windows Start menu, run the Remote Desktop Connection tool once it is set up. Type in the remote computer’s name or IP address, then enter your login information and click “Connect” to start the link. Read our full guide to learn more about how to use a remote desktop connection to connect to a computer that is not on your home network.
To connect two Mac computers to each other
When both people are using Macs, easy-to-use built-in features in Messages and FaceTime make screen sharing possible. If the other Mac is listed under your account, Apple’s built-in VNC (Virtual Network Computing) client can give you remote access to the computer. This is a useful tool for online learning.
In Messages, turn on screen sharing
With the Messages app on a Mac, users can give help from a further distance. To use this tool, users must be logged in to Messages with their Apple ID. It has been available on newer Macs since OS X 10.10 Mavericks.
To start screen sharing, open the Messages app on your Mac and pick out the chat with the family member or friend you want to help. Make a new chat if the one you want doesn’t already exist. Make sure the chat has blue bubbles that show that iMessage is being used. In the top right corner of the window, click the “i” button. Then, choose “Share.”
Ask the other person to let you see their screen. On older versions of macOS, you can also right-click on the chat and pick “Ask to Share Screen.” The other person will see a pop-up asking for permission to share their screen. They should choose “Control My Screen” before clicking “Accept.” Afterward, you can take over their machine and help them with any problems they might be having.
Play SharePlay in FaceTime
Using SharePlay in FaceTime gives you another way to share your screen during a call. This feature can be found in macOS Monterey or higher versions. In addition to its main job of sharing content from certain apps across screens, SharePlay can also be used for technical help.
Make sure that SharePlay is turned on in FaceTime’s settings before going any further. Go to FaceTime > Preferences and click on the SharePlay tab. If it hasn’t already been chosen, confirm the choice by checking the box next to SharePlay.
Either player can start a FaceTime call to start SharePlay. For the other person to join, they need to be on a Mac. During the call, have them go to the top menu and click on FaceTime. Then, have them choose Screen Share and choose to share the whole screen. With this setup, you can see their whole screen without being able to change any of the functions.
The VNC Client for Apple
According to Apple, its own remote access software is built right into the operating system. This lets users view and control their Macs from afar. Because both computers in this process need to be linked to the same wireless network, it can only be used for certain things.
To set this up, you’ll need to log in as an administrator on the computer you want to control, then turn on screen sharing and give your account permission. You can then link to their Mac using the VNC client on your computer and ask them to let you see their screen.
It’s important to note that this function can also be used to quietly watch what your child does on the screen if you want to. Check out our thorough guide for more information on how to use Apple’s VNC client.
To connect across platforms
The above choices do not allow screen sharing between different operating systems, which is a shame. To make a link between two users who each have a Windows PC and a macOS computer, a third-party tool is needed. Luckily, there is already software out there that can bridge this gap and make cross-platform screen sharing possible. You may even already have it.
Video conferencing software lets you access from afar
If you have a favorite videoconferencing app, it probably has screen-sharing tools. One thing that makes Zoom stand out is that it has a remote control option that lets you share your screen and give someone else access.
In a Zoom call, go to the View Options page and select Request Remote Control to ask to be in charge. The host of the meeting can then give you power. In the same way, you can give someone power while sharing your screen by choosing the Remote power option and naming the person.
You can do the same thing in Microsoft Teams as well. If you click Request Control while someone is screen sharing, you can take over their screen. If you’re sharing the screen, go to the sharing menu and click on “Give control.” Then, choose the person you want to share control with.
Launch Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop is the best option for people who want to have full power over someone else’s screen. Both ends of the process need to open Google Chrome and go to the Remote Desktop page. No matter what it says, you need to click “Share My Screen” to start the process.
After that, the other person needs to click the blue download arrow next to “Share This Screen” to get a small helper app that they need to install on their PC. After setting up, they should go to their screen-sharing page and hit the “Generate Code” button. This will give them a 12-digit access code.
In the “Connect to Another Computer” part of the Remote Desktop site, type this code to make the connection. The person you want to help must then give you permission to take control of their computer and help them fix any problems. Once the initial setup is done, it’s easier to start future remote sessions.
FAQs
1. How do I get someone to control my computer?
You can set up remote access to your Mac, Windows or Linux computer.
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- In the address bar, enter remotedesktop.google.com/access .
- Under ‘Set up remote access’, click Download .
- Follow the on-screen directions to download and install Chrome Remote Desktop.
2. How do I control someone else’s computer Mac?
On the client computer, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sharing. Select Remote Management, then click the Computer Settings button. Select the “Anyone may request permission to control screen” checkbox.
3. How do I control someone else’s computer Windows 10?
On your Windows, Android, or iOS device: Open the Remote Desktop app (available for free from Microsoft Store, Google Play, and the Mac App Store), and add the name of the PC that you want to connect to (from Step 1). Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete.