When you least expect it, you may find yourself in need of obtaining a file from your home computer while being away. A few years back, it would be unimaginable to gain remote access to data from a device in a different room, but today, there are dozens of tools, programs, and methods to access your PC from anywhere.
How to access your PC from anywhere:
Remote Access
Having remote access means that, no matter where you are, you will be able to enter some of your computer’s files, documents, photos, videos, and other data. Obviously, if you are away from your home, you will not be able to tele-transport your device and take it to where you are, but is nice to know that you can access some of the most relevant assets.
There are numerous programs out there that will help you gain remote access to your computer, and some of them are even cost-free. Other require some payment or subscription but can work as well or better.
What these applications or programs do is letting you log into your home PC or device directly from a web browser on the remote computer that you will use to gain access to yours, for example, one at work or a cyber café. Often, you can obtain remote access to your equipment even from a smartphone or tablet.
Some of the most popular programs for remote access are:
UltraVNC: You can configure UltraVNC to use it as you prefer. It is free, and it implements VNC technology (which means Virtual Network Computing) to gain remote desktop sharing capabilities. It has exciting features, such as encryption add-ons, Windows authentication, and unique graphics drivers.
GoToMyPC: Unlike UltraVNC, GoToMyPC involves having a paid subscription to the Citrix service. It is $19.95 for one PC or Mac. Users who hire this option could have access to drag and drop file transfer, a free trial period, and other offerings.
Remote Access to Windows
The Windows operating system has a built-in remote desktop tool, developed by the parent company Microsoft. The tool allows users to access a Windows computer from a Windows device.
However, the service only works for limited versions of Windows: the Enterprise, the Professional, and the Ultimate. With this tool, you should be able to configure remote access without the use of a third-party program.
How to access your Windows computer from a remote location
If you’re connecting from inside your network
- On your home computer, the one you want to access from a remote place, click Start and look for “allow remote access.”
- Select “Allow Remote Access to This Computer.”
- If you are trying to access from any Windows version other than the 7, select the “Allow connections from any version of Remote Desktop.” If you are trying to gain access to Windows 7, then you should use the “Allow connections only from Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication,” as it is safe.
- When you finish this configuration, click OK.
- On the remote computer, press the Start button and look for “Remote Desktop.”
- Select “Remote Desktop Connection.”
- Write the name of the computer you want to access, the one you assigned when you installed Windows.
- Sign in with the username and password you use on your home PC. It will make you gain access.
If you’re connecting from outside your network
- From the computer you are trying to gain access to, go to the administration page of your router.
- You need to forward TCP port 3389 to the PC you need to enter. To achieve this, go to www.whatismyip.org and write down the IP address, or use DynDNS to create a domain name.
- Click Start on the home computer.
- Look for the “allow remote access” option.
- Select the “Allow Remote Access to This Computer” option.
- If you are trying to access from any Windows version other than the 7, select the “Allow connections from any version of Remote Desktop.” If you are trying to gain access to Windows 7, then you should use the “Allow connections only from Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication,” as it is safe.
- When you finish this configuration, click OK.
- On the remote computer, press the Start button and look for “Remote Desktop.”
- Select “Remote Desktop Connection.”
- Write the IP address you found in the previous steps or the DynDNS name you configured.
- Sign in with the password from your home PC.
Remote Access to Apple
Apple computers provide two types of remote access: there is a free service called Screen Sharing, and there is the option of using an IT pro to help you install and configure a Remote Desktop program for Mac. It is not particularly cheap, though, at $80.
Signing into your iCloud account is an excellent way to access your home computer from other Mac devices. You need to go to the System Preferences, select Sharing and then Screen Sharing. After that, go to the iCloud section and pick “Back to My Mac Box,” and you are done.
How to access your Mac computer from a remote location
If you’re connecting from inside your network
- Go to System Preferences on the home computer and select the Sharing Pane. Check “Screen Sharing” and exit System Preferences.
- On the remote computer, go to the Finder and find “Shared.”
- Go to “All” and find the name of the Mac computer you want to access.
- Double click on the name.
- Select the Share Screen option.
- Sign in with the username and password you usually use on your home computer.
If you’re connecting from outside your network
- From the computer you are trying to gain access to, go to the administration page of your router.
- You need to forward TCP and UDP port 5900 to the computer you need to enter. To achieve this, go to www.whatismyip.org and write down the IP address, or use DynDNS to create a domain name.
- Go to System Preferences on the home computer and select the Sharing Pane. Check “Screen Sharing” and exit System Preferences.
- Leave that menu.
- Go to the Finder and then Go > Connect to Server.
- Write vnc://12.345.678.90 while using the IP address or DynDNS address from previously found.
- Then Connect and log in with the username and password you usually use on your home computer.
- You will see the Screen Sharing client pop up.
Remote Access to Chrome
Chrome-powered devices have a built-in tool to gain remote access, and the best part is that this resource is obtainable in all operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. You need to:
- Identify the computer you want to enter and there, install the Chrome remote access web app.
- Run the app and activate remote connections while using a PIN.
- The other computer also needs to have the app installed if you want to gain successful access.
- After you launch the app, you will see the My Computers menu.
- Click on the menu.
- Enter the PIN.
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a program that grants total access another computer. It is cross-platform, but you need to install it and create an account, albeit the process is very straightforward. To use it, you need to:
- Download the program on both computers.
- Run the file and then configure an account. You do this on Connection, then Set Up unattended Access.
- Sign in to your recently created account on your home computer, where you will see that it has been added to the program’s list of linked machines.
- To gain remote access, you should leave the program running at home.
- Open TeamViewer in the remote device and enter your session.
- Your home computer will be on the list of linked machines.
- To gain full access, double-click on your home computer in the list.
TeamViewer will allow you to share files between the two computers, watch multiple monitors, and configure the program to run on your terms. This program has an iOS and Android app to connect from mobile devices.
File sharing with a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device
What if you only need to access shared files on the Internet without remotely controlling the computer you have back home? Well, you could use a NAS Device to achieve what you want. NAS stands for Network Attached Storage and implements small file servers you can connect to your home network to your router with an Ethernet cable.
Adding an external hard drive to your home router
By adding an external hard disk drive to your home router can work as a remote file sharing option, as long as it enables file sharing. Netgear and Linksys have many models with this capability.
Use online backup and syncing services
This services can offer users automatic offsite storage of your files and documents, and you can download them individually from an app or browser. Online backup and syncing programs work with the cloud and can let you gain remote access from anywhere. A few examples of these services are Mozy, CrashPlan, Carbonite, DropBox, SugarSync and BackBlaze
Set up your own home server
You can set up a VPN on your own and that way, you will avoid using an external service or third party solution. Mac and Windows facilitate this in their respective configuration pages.
In conclusion, there are many ways that you can use to configure a remote access desktop and manipulate the files and documents in your home computer even if you are away. Being in the same network requires fewer steps and tools than if you were outside your house, but you can still do it on Windows, Mac, Chrome, and even from other operating systems and mobile devices if you use a tool like the TeamViewer.
