How can I access my Windows computer remotely from my Android tablet?
Hi, I’m looking for a way to control a Windows computer on an Android device. How can I remote desktop from Android tablet to Windows PC?”
- Question from Windows Forum
How to remote desktop from Android tablet to Windows PC
For the majority of people, a remote connection with PC from mobile devices, for example, an Android tablet is becoming increasingly vital. If you remotely control your PC from an Android device, you can view the screen, open files, and even utilize Windows apps on your mobile devices just like you were in front of that computer. Here’s how to remote into Windows PC from Android.
Case 1. Remote desktop to Windows PC on the same network
If your Windows PC and Android tablet are on the same network, you can use RDP or VNC to have a remote connection by the following steps.
Way 1. Access PC from Android with RDP
As the RDP released app for iOS and Android, you can control a remote Windows computer from your Android tablet.
Pros & Cons
✔ Pros:
▷It is a Windows built-in feature, and you can use it without downloading.
▷Its client-side support multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.
✖ Cons:
▷It can only be used when the two devices are connected to the same Internet or WiFi.
▷It only supports Windows Pro, Business, or Ultimate versions as the server side, Home and Standard editions are not supported.
▷It doesn’t allow rebooting the remote computer and it locks the remote screen during the session.
▷It has an unstable connection. The entire remote desktop connection may break down if you don’t have a working and reliable network connection.
✍Part 1. Preparation work on Windows PC
Step 1. After you enable Remote Desktop on your PC. Press Win + R to invoke the Run dialogue box, type in “sysdm.cpl” and hit OK.
Step 2. Go to the Remote interface, and ensure that "Allow remote connections to this computer" is checked. And then click OK.
Step 3. Press Win + R, input “cmd” and hit OK to open Command Prompt. Then type in “ipconfig” and press Enter. Now you can see a list of IP addresses, keep in mind the IPv4 Address.
Step 4. Then type “query user” and note down the username.
✍Part 2. How to remote into Windows PC
Step 1. On your Android tablet, download and install RD Client. You can download it from Google Play.
Step 2. Open the software. Tap the “+” icon and choose Add PC.
Step3. The app will scan for the remote computers nearby. Tap the remote computer you want to connect to.
Step 4. If you can’t locate the target PC in the list, tap Add manually, fill in the necessary information, select the related settings based on your need, and tap Save.
Step 5. Then the remote session you just created will be present in the interface. Tap it to remote control the PC.
Step 6. If there is a message mentions that the certificate can’t be verified, check the box Never ask again for connection to this PC and tap Connect.
Step 7. Once you get access to the remote desktop, you can control your PC successfully.
Way 2. Access PC from Android via VNC
VNC is also available for you to remote PC from Android.
Pros & Cons
✔ Pros:
▷It is compatible with multiple systems, they are Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android, and iOS.
▷It supports remote printing, real-time chat and file sharing.
✖ Cons:
▷It does not support multiple monitors.
▷It uses a lot of bandwidth, so you have to lower the resolution for quicker transfers.
▷It runs slower because most of basic form of VNC code uses raw encoding.
✍Part 1. Activate your VNC subscription
VNC requires a license to operate, and you must create an account to obtain the license. Here are two options for you to choose from:
►Home license. If you are looking for personal use, you can activate a Home subscription at no cost, which provides basic remote control of one computer.
►Professional or Enterprise license. It is available to control between 2 and 10 computers. These types of licenses cost money, but you can enjoy 14-day free trials for the first time.
Step 1. Go to VNC official website and follow the on-screen instructions to create an account, such as a home account. Click Next.
Step 2. Fill in the information and click Next to log in.
✍Part 2. Download VNC Server on the host computer
Step 1. Download VNC Server and install it on the computer you want to remote into.
Step 2. License the VNC Server program when the installation finishes. If not, select Licensing from the VNC Server shortcut menu.
Step 3. Sign in to your RealVNC account to apply for your subscription.
✍Part 3. Remote desktop from Android tablet to Windows PC
Step 1. Download VNC Viewer on your Android tablet. You can download it from Google Play.
Step 2. Log in to your RealVNC account.
Step 3. Then you can see the available computers, tap the target one and tap Connect.
Step 4. If there is a pop-up window, type in the username and password. Tap Continue to achieve the connection.
Case 2. Remote desktop to Windows PC in different network
How to remote desktop from Android tablet to Windows PC in a different network? You can use AnyViewer or Chrome Remote Desktop.
Way 1. Remote Windows PC from Android using AnyViewer
AnyViewer is a professional remote desktop software that allows you to remote Windows PC from Android.
Pros & Cons
✔ Pros:
▷It is easy to set up both on the same or different networks.
▷It offers you a stable and fast connection.
▷It allows unattended remote access with only one click.
▷It supports multiple monitors.
▷It offers several considerate features. For example, virtual mouse and keyboard, hide desktop wallpaper, rotate the screen, etc.
▷You can change the image quality manually due to your network environment.
✖ Cons:
▷File transfer is not supported at present.
▷It only supports Windows, Android, and iOS at present.
✍Part 1. Preparation work on remote computer
Step 1. Download AnyViewer on your Windows computer, install and open it after that.
Step 2. Go to Log in and click Sign up. (Log in directly if you have already signed up.)
Step 3. Fill in the information and click Sign up.
Step 4. When you logged in to AnyViewer successfully, you can see the assigned devices.
✍Part 2. Control Windows computer from Android tablet
Step 1. Download, install and open AnyViewer for Android.
Step 2. Log in to the same account you registered on the computer.
Step 3. Go to the Device interface and tap the target computer you want to control.
Step 4. Tap One-click control option to achieve an unattended remote connection.
Step 5. Then you can control Windows PC from Android. Besides, there are three operation options at the bottom right corner you can use.
- The first button: Turn on/off the virtual mouse.
- The second button: Open the virtual keyboard.
- The third button: Open the shortcuts menu, then you can rotate the screen, hide desktop wallpaper, etc.
Way 2. Remote Windows PC from Android via Chrome Remote Desktop
If you have a Google account and a Chrome browser on both of your devices, you can also use Chrome Remote Desktop Android version to remote into Windows PC from Android.
Pros & Cons
✔ Pros:
▷It’s convenient to download if you have the Chrome browser installed.
▷It works fine for short-term individual use.
✖ Cons:
▷It only works with Google Chrome browser and a Google account is required to use the program.
▷It may cause security issues because it has a dubious safety level and an unknown encryption algorithm.
▷The connection is unstable and it has limited features. For example, no chat box, no resolution scaling, etc.
✍Part 1. Set up Chrome Remote Desktop extension on computer
Step 1. Launch the Chrome browser and search for the Chrome Remote Desktop website. Click Remote Access on the left panel and click the download button.
Step 2. Click Add to Chrome to add the Chrome Remote Desktop extension to your Chrome browser.
Step 3. Click Accept & Install to install this program.
Step 4. Choose a name for your computer and click Next.
Step 5. Enter and re-enter a PIN with six or more digits.
✍Part 2. Achieve remote connection on Android tablet
Step 1. Download the Chrome Remote Desktop Android app, then install and open it.
Step 2. Use the same Google account you logged on to your computer. From the list of computers, tap the target one you want to remote control.
Step 3. Enter the PIN for the remote computer.
Step 4. Now you can control your computer from your Android tablet.
Conclusion
This post introduces how to remote desktop from Android tablet to Windows PC. Besides, we listed the pros and cons of the application in each part, so you may have a general understanding of them and make your own decision. Among all the applications, we recommend you use AnyViewer, which is highly appreciated for its operations and features.