Can I connect to a remote computer using PowerShell?

PowerShell Remoting is a powerful feature that allows administrators to manage Windows machines remotely. By enabling it, you can execute commands, manage services, and troubleshoot systems without physically being at the device.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to enable PowerShell Remoting and establish a connection using different methods.

Prerequisites for PowerShell Remoting

Before you start to connect to remote computer via PowerShell, ensure the following conditions are met:

• Administrator Rights: Both local and remote computers must run PowerShell as Administrator.
• Same Network: By default, PowerShell remoting works best on the same LAN or Domain.
• WinRM Service: The Windows Remote Management (WinRM) service must be running.

Phase 1: Enable PowerShell Remoting on the target PC

It's well-known that Windows Remote Desktop allows a computer to be accessed by Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC). Actually, you can also use PowerShell Remoting to connect to a remote computer and manage it. Before that, you should enable PowerShell Remoting on the computer to which you want to connect by following the steps below:

Step 1. On Windows 11/10, press Windows + X, and choose PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.

Step 2. In the PowerShell window, input the following command and hit Enter:

Enable-PSRemoting -Force

Phase 2: How to connect to a remote computer via PowerShell

Once enabled, you can connect from your local device using several methods depending on your needs. Here are detailed steps on how to connect to a remote computer using PowerShell.

Method 1: Start an interactive session (Enter-PSSession)

Use this if you want to stay connected and run multiple commands as if you were sitting at the remote PC.

Step 1. On the local computer, run PowerShell as administrator.

Step 2. Enter the following command and hit Enter:

Enter-PSSession -ComputerName COMPUTER -Credential USER

Step 3. In the pop-up window, input the password of the account and click OK.

Method 2: Execute a single command (Invoke-Command)

Use this for a "quick hit" without entering a full session.

Step 1. Run PowerShell as administrator.

Step 2. Run the command below and hit Enter:

Invoke-Command -ComputerName COMPUTER -ScriptBlock { COMMAND } -credential USERNAME

Step 3. In the pop-up window, input the password of the account and click OK.

Phase 3: Launching Remote Desktop (RDP) from PowerShell

If you prefer a GUI (Graphical User Interface), you can trigger a Remote Desktop Connection directly from the PowerShell console. What you need to pay attention to is that this requires you to enable Remote Desktop on the remote computer in advance.

Step 1. Run PowerShell as Administrator.

Step 2. Run either one of the following two commands:

• mstsc /v:[IP address of the remote PC]:3389
• Start-Process "$env:windir\system32\mstsc.exe" -ArgumentList "/v:$[the computer name of the remote computer]"

Step 3. Now, input the username & password of the account that you want to log in to on the remote computer. After a while, you can see the desktop of the remote PC and use it.

Better alternative: Access remote PC across different networks

While PowerShell is robust, it has significant limitations:

• Network Barriers: It is difficult to set up over the Internet (requires VPN or complex Port Forwarding).
• Security Risks: Opening WinRM ports on public networks can be risky.
• Technical Steepness: Beginners often struggle with "Access Denied" or "WinRM TrustHost" errors.

AnyViewer solves these problems. It is an all-in-one remote desktop solution that works across different networks (LAN, WAN, or 5G) without complex configurations.

Why choose AnyViewer?

• No Port Forwarding: Connect through firewalls and NAT effortlessly.
• One-Click Control: Access unattended remote computers with one click.
• Mobile Support: Control your Windows PC or MacBook from an iPhone or Android device.
• Built-in Tools: Integrated File Transfer, Chat, and Task Manager.

How to use it:

Step 1. Get AnyViewer on both your local and remote PCs.

Step 2. Create a free account and log in on both devices.

Step 3. Go to Devices, select your remote PC, and click One-click control.

Conclusion

Connecting o remote computer using PowerShell is an efficient way to handle remote tasks via command lines. However, for a more stable, visual, and user-friendly experience, especially across different networks, AnyViewer is highly recommended as a comprehensive remote desktop solution.

FAQs