How to Use Remote Desktop on Windows 8

Download Article

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 8, 2020 Tested

Download Article

This wikiHow will teach how to use the Remote Desktop app in Windows 8 to connect to other Windows computers.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows Remote Desktop

Download Article

1
Click the Start button on the computer you want to connect to. While you can start a remote connection from any Windows 8 computer, you can only connect to computers running specific versions of Windows.
- Be aware that this will only work on local networks. It will not work over the internet. If you need to connect to your computer over the internet, you can use Chrome Remote Desktop instead.
Typing while on the Start screen will automatically start searching.

Advertisement
3
Look underneath the Microsoft copyright for your Windows version. You'll see the name of your Windows version written out underneath the Microsoft copyright information. Only the following versions of Windows 8 can be connected to:
- Windows 8.1 Pro
- Windows 8.1 Enterprise
- Windows 8 Enterprise
- Windows 8 Pro
4
Click the Start button again on the computer you're connecting to. If you've determined that the computer will support a remote connection, you'll need to enabled incoming connections for it.
- If the computer you're connecting to is not running a Pro or Enterprise version of Windows, you can use Chrome Remote Desktop instead.
Click the "Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop" option.
For example, if you want to be able to remotely access this computer yourself, enter your Windows username.
The user you've specified will now be able to connect remotely to the computer.
13
Find the remote computer's name. You'll need the full computer name to connect to it remotely:
- Click the Start button.
- Type system and press ↵ Enter.
- Find the computer name in the "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings" section.
14
Open the Remote Desktop app on your other computer. If you don't have this app, you can download it for free from the Windows Store.
- To quickly open the Remote Desktop app (if it's installed), click the Windows button, type remote desktop, and press ↵ Enter.
Make sure to enter in the complete full name you found earlier.
Once you're connected, you'll see the remote computer's desktop in the Remote Desktop window. You can control the remote computer just like your own local computer.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Chrome Remote Desktop

Download Article

1
Install Chrome on the computer you want to access. If you can't use the Windows Remote Desktop app because of incompatible versions, you can use Chrome Remote Desktop instead. This requires Google Chrome be installed on both computers.
- You can install Chrome from google.com/chrome. Click the Download button and follow the prompts to install it.
You'll find it on your desktop after installing it.
Go to chrome.google.com/webstore in your Chrome browser.
You'll see this result in the Apps section of the search results.
This will display your Chrome apps.
This PIN will be used to connect to the computer.
This will install the remote service.
You'll need to be signed in with a Google account in order to enable remote access.
Remote access is now enabled for that computer.
You'll need Chrome on the client computer as well as the host computer.
Go to the web store in Chrome and install the app as detailed earlier in this section.
This display the list of apps you have installed.
You'll see this in the My Computers section.
You'll see the computer that you set Chrome Remote Desktop up on earlier.
You'll have full control over the remote computer inside your Chrome browser window.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Can multiple users have access to the remote desktop extension on a single machine, based on which account is signed into Chrome on that machine?

Community Answer

Yes, this is possible.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How do I know my IP?

Community Answer

See How to Find the IP Address of Your PC.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

You can use Chrome Remote Desktop to access computers using different operating systems. For example, you could set it up on your Mac and Windows computers, and access your Mac from your Windows computer, and vice versa.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!