Three Great Free Remote Access Software for Personal Use [with Pictures]

Why do you need to access a personal computer remotely?

Actually, there are various occasions where you need to access a personal computer remotely. Here are two examples

✔ Example 1: You want to view and manage the files saved on their work computer when they are at home. Then you can choose to access the PC on the computer from home using remote connection utility rather than go to the office.
✔ Example2:  You're asked to offer instant technical help to your friend who lives far away.  Then you can remotely access your friend's PC via remote access software and then you can offer remote assistance. 

Obviously, remote access computer enables you to save your time & energy and improve the efficiency. To complete the operation, you have to ask the help of remote desktop software. 

Three powerful free remote access software for personal use 

Next, I'll introduce three remote desktop software for personal use and all of them are free and reliable. You can pick up one after reading the pros & cons of them and how they work. 

☞ AnyViewer --- easy to set up and quick to connect 

AnyViewer is the first free remote desktop software that I want to recommend. It can perfectly work under Windows environments, whether you are using Windows Home edition or Professional Edition, you can turn to it. And it is secured by Elliptic Curve Cryptography encryption, protecting your data from leakage. And it is featured with many useful functions, like text chat, adjusting screen resolution, one-click to open Task Manager during the remote session.  Now, free download it and see how to use it to connect one Windows computer to another computer. 

Step 1. Install and run it on the personal PC that you want to remotely access.  Then, the device ID and the temporary security code of the PC will show on the main interface of the utility. Keep them in mind as you'll need them when connecting to the computer. 

Note: Temporary security code changes if AnyViewer restarts; you can click "Settings" and enable "Set my security code" to set a fixed security code for the personal computer.  Then, click "OK". 

 

Step 2. On the local PC, install and run AnyViewer. Type the device ID of the remote computer and click "Connect". 

 

Step 3. Choose the second way and type the security code of the remote computer. Then, click "OK" to remotely access the PC via AnyVeiwer. 

 

☞ 2. Chrome Remote Desktop ---- web client available 

If you are a Mac or Chromebook user, AnyViewer isn't suitable. You can try Chrome Remote Desktop (unofficially called Chromoting). It is free of charge and can exist as an extension of Chrome browser. That is to say, if the device support Google Chrome, you can use Chrome Remote Desktop. It allows you to access PC or mobile devices effortlessly. What you need to pay attention to is that Chrome Remote Desktop doesn’t offer advanced features, like drag-and-drop file transfer, reboot the remote host compute, text chat, and so on.  Here are the detailed steps on how to use Chromoting. 

Step 1. On the two computers, go to Chrome Remote Desktop download page and click the blue icon. 

Step 2. Click "Add to Chrome" to follow the prompts to complete Chrome Remote Desktp installation. 

Step 3. On the host PC, enter a name and click "Next". 

Step 5. Double-Enter a PIN for this computer. Keep it in mind as you need it for access to this comptuer. 

Step 6. On your local person comptuer, you can see the remote computer under "Remote Devices". Clcik it and Enter the PIN of it to access it from far. 

 

3. Remote Desktop - Windows built-in feature

If Chrome Remote Desktop is not your preference and your demand is limited, and you want to access a remote Windows PC, have a look at Windows built-in function, Remote Desktop, offered by Microsoft. And it’s not available in Windows Home edition. If the host PC and client device are in the same network, you can establish emote connection between the two devices effortlessly. If not, you need to do extra work, including configuring port forwarding on firewall, find out public IP, and so on. Have a look at how it works.

Step 1. Enable RDP on the host computer (Winodws 11/10/8.1/8/7). Press "Windows"+ "R", input "sysdm.cpl", click "Remote" and click "Allow REMOTE" under "Remote Desktop". Then, click "OK". 

Step 2. On the client computer, press "Windows"+ "R", input "mstsc.exe" to open Remote Desktop Connection window. 

Step 3. On the pop-up window, type the IP address of the host computer and click "Connect".

Step 4.  Input the user name and the password of the host computer account. Then, click "OK" button. And you can remotely access the PC. 

Conclusion

All in all, the three aforementioned utilities are easy and secure remote access software for personal use. If what you care about is powerful and comprehensive functions and easy setup even the devices are not using the same network, AnyViewer is suitable for you. If your PC is installed with Google Chrome, Chrome Remote Desktop is worth trying. When you want to access Windows PC without a third-party tool, Microsoft Remote Desktop isn’t a bad choice.