By leaving the PC on, you can control it at any time remotely and can also use it (keyboard and mouse) from afar to be able to perform operations, download, open new programs, to turn off or restart the computer etc. Everything works via the Internet and with free programs, from another PC connected to the network or even using a smartphone with an active connection.
The methods I recommend below are also good for being able to remotely control the PC of other distant people or to monitor the use that is made of our computer by other family members.
READ ALSO -> Best remote control apps for PC and Mac from Android and iPhone, via the internet
1) TeamViewer
The best program we can use to remotely control a computer via the Internet is definitely TeamViewer, available for free download from here -> TeamViewer .
This program is actually a complete commercial solution but it is offered free of charge for all home users, who therefore do not have to pay anything (except to endure some advertising messages on TeamViewer products every now and then and some limitations for use on multiple machines).
Once the page is open, click on the green Free Download button to download the version suitable for our operating system: TeamViewer is available for Windows but also for MacOS and Linux.
Once installed on the PC, all we have to do is write down the code marked in the Your ID field and the password generated in the namesake field, as shown in the image below.
By indicating these two data, we can use them in another PC or smartphone with TeamViewer installed, first by entering the ID and then the password in the connection field.
After a few seconds we will have access to the desktop of our computer remotely, displaying everything that passes from the screen and also being able to control the mouse and keyboard.
Obviously every time the PC is restarted we will keep the ID but it will change the password for remote access, making it difficult to check the PC again.
In order to make access to our computer permanent we will have to create a free TeamViewer account and assign persistent access to the PC in question, leaving the program in auto startup with the computer.
First of all we create our TeamViewer account here -> TeamViewer registration .
Once you have registered our account, assign it to your home PC, simply by clicking on the contact book button on the program.
We enter the account data we just created and click on Maintain access, then on Login .
Now let's go to the main screen (the one with the two arrows) and confirm the mandatory steps to make the workstation persistent and add the PC to our account ( Start TeamViewer when opening Windows, Assigned and Allow easy access ).
We will be asked to generate a password for the PC in question (different from that of the account), so as to make auto-boot possible.
With the three items checked the PC will be assigned to the TeamViewer account, which can easily control it (just log in with our account and click on the PC icon assigned in the TeamViewer interface).
Note : TeamViewer uses an authentication system for new PCs on confirmed accounts, based on confirmation via Email.
As soon as we add a PC, we will be told to confirm the addition in the email using the link provided in the body of the message; we follow the link and confirm as a trusted device, then re-enter the access data on the PC in question to finally add it to the account.
If we want to install only a reduced version of TeamViewer to provide quick assistance to relatives' PCs or for work, we can download the TeamViewer QuickSupport program, available for download here -> TeamViewer QuickSupport .
We can either use the codes provided or assign the machine to a TeamViewer account which can thus intervene at any time to fix the PC in case of problems.
To control the PC remotely via smartphone or tablet, we will need to install the free TeamViewer app available here -> TeamViewer (Android) and TeamViewer (iOS).
We log in with ID and password or using a TeamViewer account to remotely control our PC wherever we are.
If, on the other hand, we want to remotely control Android devices, we can do so by installing the free app available on smartphones or TV boxes here -> TeamViewer Host (Android).
Also in this case, it is sufficient to assign the Android device to a registered account to be able to remotely control a smartphone or a TV Box from the PC.
2) Chrome Remote Desktop
The first real alternative to TeamViewer, really free and without any limit, is definitely Chrome Remote Desktop, available as an extension of Google Chrome here -> Chrome Remote Desktop .
First of all we download Google Chrome if we haven't done it yet; we can download it for free from here -> Google Chrome .
Once the browser is downloaded, we open the extension page and click on the Add button.
Chrome Remote Desktop will now appear on the Chrome app page.
We click on the icon to see the login window for a Google account, necessary to manage remote connections; we can use both an account we already have and create a new account using the link here -> Create Google Account .
Once logged in we will see the Google Chrome Desktop interface appear in a separate window.
We click on the Remote Assistance item to unlock the first two features offered by this application: Share and Login .
With the Share button we can obtain a code to allow you to control your PC remotely from another Chrome Remote Desktop.
With the Enter button we can instead enter the codes generated by other PCs to take remote control of them, so as to control the progress of the programs or assist the PC by also emulating the keyboard keys and mouse movements.
In order to be able to control PCs immediately without having to open the program and generate a code each time, we will have to assign them to our account by clicking on My computers .
We select the item Activate remote connections ; we will be asked to choose an access PIN so that we can add, as we run Chrome Remote Desktop, all our devices and control them from a single screen.
In order to make remote connections, we will have to install the specific host of the service on our PCs, which can be downloaded directly from the program when required (the installer is called Chrome Remote Desktop Host ).
The program will set itself to auto-start without having to do anything else, at least as long as we leave the Remote Connections item active in the My computers section.
To be able to remotely control the PC from a smartphone or tablet when we are away from home, simply install the free app downloadable here -> Chrome Remote Desktop (Android) and Chrome Remote Desktop (iOS).
3) Other programs
Those reported in this guide are the best programs that we can use in a simple way to remotely control a computer via the Internet, without being physically present in front of it.
In this way we will no longer be forced to be replaced and we will be able to keep everything under control or offer technical assistance to relatives and friends in difficulty in using a program.
TeamViewer is the complete solution with many features and settings, but it is offered free of charge only for home users (no control of PCs in the office, where a license is needed).
Chrome Remote Desktop, on the other hand, is free and can be used without limits even in the corporate environment, provided that you use Google Chrome as a browser in all positions.
Alternatively, we can use one of the programs recommended in the following guide to remotely control a computer via the Internet.
READ ALSO -> Best remote desktop programs to connect remotely to your computer
