How to Remotely Control PC over WiFi [Laptop & Mobile]

How to remotely control PC over WiFi?

“I bought a laptop, but for business reasons, I often need to use it to remotely control my PC. Therefore, now I need to know how to remotely control PC over WiFi, just like I’m really sitting in front of my PC. How can I solve it?”

In fact, there are two common solutions to remotely control PC under the same network, one is to use the Windows 10 built-in program Remote Desktop, and the other is to use professional third-party remote control software. In addition, some users need to remotely control PC from a mobile device. At this time, third-party software is needed.

Next we will introduce to you the methods to remotely control PC over WiFi from both laptop and mobile devices.

Remotely control PC over WiFi from the laptop

Two methods for remotely controlling PC over WiFi from the laptop will be introduced in detail in this part.

Method 1. Remote Desktop for Windows 10

Make sure the client computer and the host computer are connected to the same WiFi, then follow the steps below:

Set up the host computer

Step 1. Navigate here: Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop.

Step 2. Find User accounts and click Select users that can remotely access this PC.

Step 3. After opening the Remote Desktop Users window, click Add to add users who are allowed to access this computer (you need to add already existing users to realize remote desktop).

Start remote control on the client computer

Step 1. The client computer doesn’t need any configuration. Just search for Remote Desktop Connection in the Search box. And then open it.

Step 2. Enter the IP address and user name in the Remote Desktop Connection interface to achieve connection (if you don’t know what your computer’s IP address and user name are, follow the tutorial below).

How to query IP address and user name?

Step 1. Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “cmd” and press OK. Then type “ipconfig” and press Enter. Now you can see a group of IP addresses, of which the IPv4 address is the one you need.

Step 2. Then type “query user” to see the username.

Note: Windows 7 Starter/Home Edition, Windows 8/8.1 Home Edition, and Windows 10 Home Edition do not support Remote Desktop Connection (RDP). If you want to use it, please upgrade to Professional or Enterprise version.

Solution to the failure of remote control PC over WiFi

Although the Windows 10 built-in remote control program Remote Desktop is convenient, some users may fail to connect over WiFi because of the firewall. If you have problems during remote control, you might as well follow the following steps to repair them:

Step 1. Navigate here: Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.

Step 2. Click Advanced settings.

Step 3. Click Inbound Rules, and then enable all the inbound rules of Remote Desktop. You could enable or disable rule on the right pane.

The Windows 10 built-in Remote Desktop (RDP) has a high reputation. The biggest advantage is that there is no need to install anything as it is a built-in program, but its shortcomings are actually very obvious. For example, it can’t be used under different networks, it easily leads to delays, and it is always blocked by firewalls. Thus, users can choose to use the free and professional third-party remote control software AnyViewer.

Method 2. Free & professional third-party remote control software: AnyViewer

The Windows 10 built-in RDP supports limited operating systems and has poor stability. It has strict limitations on network environments and is easily blocked by firewalls. Overall, it is not suitable for novice users. Compared to other remote control software, AnyViewer is the easiest way to remotely control a PC.

AnyViewer is complete remote access, remote control, and remote support solution. It is easy to operate and has comprehensive functions. There is no need to make special configurations for the firewall. It can be applied to multiple Windows versions, such as Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 and Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012 R2. Please download and install AnyViewer on both the client computer and the host computer before remotely controlling PC over WiFi.

 Step 1. Download, install and launch AnyViewer on both computers. Go to Log in, and then click Sign up. (If you already have signed up on its official website, you can log in directly.)

Step 2. Fill in the signup information.

Step 3. Then you can see you successfully logged in to AnyViewer. Your device will automatically be assigned to the account you've logged in to.

Step 4. Log in to the same AnyViewer account on the two devices, then you can achieve a direct connection by clicking Remote control.

Note: You can also upgrade your account to Professional or Enterprise edition to assign more devices and to connect to another computer in privacy mode.

In addition, AnyViewer can also provide users with some practical functions for remote control after a successful connection. Such as lock, logout, restart, command prompt (cmd), etc.

Remotely control PC over WiFi from the mobile device

Remote Desktop and AnyViewer both have their mobile versions as well. Therefore, you can remotely access a PC over WiFi from your mobile devices using these two apps. Here we'll take iPhone as an example to show you how to do this.

Method 1. RD Client for iPhone

Preparation work:

• Make sure that the mobile device and the PC are connected to the same WiFi, where the mobile device is the controller device and the PC is the controlled device.
• Download RD Client on the mobile device.
• Enable Remote Desktop on the PC.

Set up the controlled PC

After confirming that the WiFi is connected normally, refer to the operation steps of remotely controlling PC over WiFi from laptop to enable Remote Desktop.

Set up the mobile device

The following operation steps take iOS system as an example, teaching you how to achieve iPhone remote control Windows 10. The steps are similar if you want to achieve Android remote control Windows 10.

Step 1. Search for “Microsoft Remote Desktop” in the App Store, open the APP after the download and installation is complete. Click the “+” sign in the upper right corner of the interface, and select “Add Computer” in the pop-up window.

Step 2. Add PC name and User Account, and then click Save. 

Step 3. Click the IP address icon just created, enter the user name and password of the controlled computer in the pop-up Enter Your User Account interface, and click Continue to successfully establish the connection.

Step 4. Then you could see the screen of the controlled PC on your mobile device, and control the mouse. 

Method 2. AnyViewer for iOS devices

Part 1. Set up AnyViewer on Windows 10

Step 1. Download AnyViewer for Windows on the host computer.

Step 2. Install and open it. Click Settings.

Step 3. Then click Recipient. Tick the third option and then set the permanent security code. Click OK to save the settings.

Part 2. Connect to your Windows 10 from your iPhone

Step 1. Download AnyViewer for iOS on your iPhone/iPad.

Step 2. Open it and then go to the Connect tab.

Step 3. Enter the device ID of the computer and then click Connect. Then you’ll be given two options.

Option 1. Send control request

If you choose Send control request on your iPhone, there will be a pop-up message on the computer. Click Allow.

Option 2. Security code

If you choose Security code on your iPhone, you need to input the security code you’ve set before on Windows 10 and then click Connect to achieve a direct connection.

Conclusion

Whether you are using a laptop or a mobile device to remotely control PC over WiFi, the Windows 10 built-in Remote Desktop and mobile Microsoft Remote Desktop software is only applicable when the two devices are connected to the same WiFi.

If two devices are not in the same WiFi, or there is a firewall in the intranet of the controlled PC, you need to contact technical professionals to configure the devices, and then forward the connection of the controller device to the specified port through port forwarding. This is very complicated for most users.

Besides, users also reflected that they often encounter problems like your credential did not work, user account did not work, and Windows 10 clipboard did not work when using RDP, making it more difficult to use it.

Therefore, AnyViewer, which can support remote control even the two devices are under different networks, maybe your best choice. AnyViewer can better adapt to different network environments and bring stronger connection stability and security. Under normal network speed, it can provide higher image quality. It can help you to become a master of remote control even you’re not a tech-savvy person.