By Ellie / Last Updated December 21, 2023

How Can I Remote into My Friend's Computer?

 

I have a friend who lives in a different area from me and he's trying to get rid of something on his computer, but it's hard for me to help just over the internet. So I was wondering if it at all was possible to remote into my friend's computer from mine?

- Question from Toms Hardware

When your friend needs your help with computer or IT issues, I guess most people may have wondered how can you remotely control your friend's computer. Thanks to remote access tools, controlling other PCs remotely to assist is accessible for all of us, even though we are not experts in the IT domain.

In this post, we mainly introduce the 2 most useful ways to remotely access your friend’s computer.

How to Remote Into a Friend’s Computer from Anywhere - AnyViewer

★Advantages:
Secured by Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) encryption, AnyViewer can safeguard your remote session all the way.
☛ The easy operation and fast connection of AnyViewer are appreciated.
☛It’s suitable with all Editions of WindowsServer 2022/2019/2016/2012 R2 and Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, including Windows 10 Home Edition and Windows 7 Standard Edition.
☛It provides the client version for iOS, which can help you conveniently access a friend’s PC.
Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7
Secure Download

Remote into a Friend's PC from a PC

Step 1. Install AnyViewer on 2 PCs. Sign up and fill in the information to create an AnyViewer account. Once logged in, the PC will be assigned to the account automatically. (If you sign up on the official website, you can log in directly.)

Log in AnyViewer

Step 2. Go to the “Connect” tab, and then you can see the device ID. Ask your friends or family members to tell you the device ID of the host PC.

Log in Device ID

Step 3. Enter the device ID of the remote PC and then click on “Connect”.

Log in Connect

Step 4. For the 2 options, choose the first one “Send a control request to your partner”, and then click on “OK”.

Send a Control Request

Step 5. There will be a pop-up window on the host PC. Click on “Allow” to receive remote support. And then the connection will be realized.

Request to Control Your Device

Note: Are you looking for how to offer Remote Assistance without permission? It’s easy. Log into the AnyViewer account on the host PC, and then go to "Device" on the local PC, locate and click the PC that you need to control. And then click "Remote control" to achieve a remote connection with one click.

Connect to My Devices

Remote Control a Friend's PC from iPhone or iPad

Step 1. On your friend's PC, download AnyViewer for Windows.

Step 2. On your iOS device, download AnyViewer for iOS from the AppStore.

Download Freeware iOS 10.0 or later
Secure Download

Step 3. Then all the devices that have been logged in to the same account will be displayed here. Choose the device that you want to control.

My Device iOS

Step 4.ClickRemote control to achieve unattended remote access to the specific computer.

Remote Control iPad

Step 5. Then you'll successfully remote into a friend's computer. It supports both vertical and horizontal screens, you can switch freely.

Remote Desktop iPad

Step 6. Click the menu icon, you can also see multiple shortcuts. You can make the adjustments here.

iPad Shortcuts

How to Remote Into a Friend’s Computer On the Same LAN

If your computer and your friend’s PC are on the same LAN, it’s convenient and time-saving to use a Windows built-in feature, Remote Assistance. In this part, we’ll show how to remote into a friend’s computer by using Remote Assistance.

 On your friend’s PC

Step 1. Right-click on “This PC” and then select "Properties".

Properties

Step 2. Locate "Remote settings" on the left pane.

Remote Settings

Step 3. Switch to the "Remote" tab, and then tick the option “Allow Remote Assistance to this computer”.

Remote Tab

Step 4. Press "Win + R", then type in “msra” in the box, and hit “OK” to open Remote Assistance.

Step 5. Choose “Invite someone you trust to help you” and click “Save this invitation as a file”.

Windows Remote Assistance

Step 6. Save this file on the desktop and a pop-up window that contains a password will appear. Ask your friend to send the file and password to you.

Invitation

☞ On your PC

Step 1. Choose “Help someone who has invited you”.

Help Someone Who Has Invited You

Step 2. Double-click on the file, enter the password, and click "OK".

Step 3. Then a pop-up request will display on your friend’s PC, click on “Yes”. Then the screens on both sides are the same.

Allow See Screen

Step 4. On your PC, click on “Request control”. 

Request Control

Step 5. Then a window will pop up on your friend’s PC. Ask your friend to click on OK, and then you can remotely access a friend’s PC.

Allow Share Screen

Conclusion

Remote Assistance is kind of useful for those who need help and want to see the screen at the same time. However, according to the feedback of some users, they ran into different kinds of errors like “request control not working” in the course of using Remote Assistance. To make your remote access friend’s computer easier, we recommend AnyViewer to help you achieve the goal.

We show you the top 2 ways to help you realize how to remote into a friend's computer. If 2 devices are on the same network, Remote Assistance seems the most suitable choice for you to remote access. But if 2 devices are not on the same LAN or you meet with errors, AnyViewer can be your best helper.