A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer.
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A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
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A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
@82mhz Windows 11 has the Quick Assist app installed by default which will allow you of offer support without the need to install extra software.
https://windowsforum.com/threads/quick-assist-in-windows-11-built-in-remote-help-for-casual-support.384109/ -
A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
@82mhz Sunshine + Moonlight if you can get some network connection between PCs (I use ZeroTier for that);
Parsec would be easier because you don't have to set up a network but I don't remember if it's fully open source -
@82mhz Windows 11 has the Quick Assist app installed by default which will allow you of offer support without the need to install extra software.
https://windowsforum.com/threads/quick-assist-in-windows-11-built-in-remote-help-for-casual-support.384109/@droyls
That sounds good, but from what I read I'd need to be on Win11 too and have a Microsoft account, both things I don't have. So this unfortunately doesn't work for me :( -
@alatartheblue
I have to check... I've used Jitsi in the past, but I don't remember if it had the option to remote control another desktop. -
@82mhz Sunshine + Moonlight if you can get some network connection between PCs (I use ZeroTier for that);
Parsec would be easier because you don't have to set up a network but I don't remember if it's fully open source@INFU
Thanks! Sunshine + Moonlight is probably too complicated to set up; parsec looks interesting, but it's "sign up, log in", so I might as well use teams then... -
@alatartheblue I think this is pretty mandatory, otherwise the session will be "ok, now click the button. No, the one that says ok. At the bottom. Lower. Your mouse pointer is in the corner. Just click once. Now you clicked twice. Click the back arrow. In the top right corner. That's the left corner..." and that is incredibly frustrating for all parties. That's why I'd need the option to just take over if necessary.
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A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
@82mhz TeamViewer? It's not FOSS, but available on Linux and free to use as far as I'm aware.
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@82mhz TeamViewer? It's not FOSS, but available on Linux and free to use as far as I'm aware.
@irgndsondepp
But that's a subscription service, isn't it? I can't find anything about a free tier... -
@alatartheblue
Also a good point. I'll think about that :) -
@irgndsondepp
But that's a subscription service, isn't it? I can't find anything about a free tier...@82mhz sorry, I didn't know. It was the first thing that came to mind. It used to be free, but nowadays I only use it very rarely for work with a dedicated work account.
I seem to recall that there were some FOSS alternative available, but I haven't used any of them. -
@82mhz sorry, I didn't know. It was the first thing that came to mind. It used to be free, but nowadays I only use it very rarely for work with a dedicated work account.
I seem to recall that there were some FOSS alternative available, but I haven't used any of them.@irgndsondepp
No worries. I also remember it being free, but that was long ago... Maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet and use Teams. It's awful, but it works... -
A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
@82mhz A friend of mine recently used https://rustdesk.com/ to support their parents. I think you can even use their server free of charge but I am not 100% sure. I have configured a server for him. Its all open source.
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A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
@82mhz
I haven't done remote support for a while but perhaps you can get the client to turn on Remote Desktop Support and them use Remina to connect to it ... ? -
A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
Wish I could help and also wish you luck. I know that thing of talking someone through on the phone. I feel the pain.
My problem resolved when I installed Linux on their computer and then moved in to be on sight tech support. :-) Turned out good for me as a retired person with no other ties.
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@82mhz A friend of mine recently used https://rustdesk.com/ to support their parents. I think you can even use their server free of charge but I am not 100% sure. I have configured a server for him. Its all open source.
-
A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
@82mhz Is Chrome remote desktop still a thing? Last I used it I think it was similar to a Zoom call, but for the desktop and can allow the remote user to take control. Not open source, but easier for remote party as they might have chrome installed already.
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@82mhz Is Chrome remote desktop still a thing? Last I used it I think it was similar to a Zoom call, but for the desktop and can allow the remote user to take control. Not open source, but easier for remote party as they might have chrome installed already.
@cinimodev Never heard of this before honestly... I just checked, it seems to still exist, but it requires a google account to work 🙄
So many things are "make an account here, log in, give us all your data", it's crazy... -
Wish I could help and also wish you luck. I know that thing of talking someone through on the phone. I feel the pain.
My problem resolved when I installed Linux on their computer and then moved in to be on sight tech support. :-) Turned out good for me as a retired person with no other ties.
@ajlewis2
Tech support through the phone is indeed not great... but moving in with my parents is also not an option for me, so I need a remote solution ;) -
A family member is overwhelmed with their Windows 11 computer. I'm far away but would like to help remotely if possible. Which tool would be best to log into their machine and help them out through the internet? Ideally I'd see their screen and take control when necessary.I know Teams can do that, but is there an open source equivalent?
[Edit] I'm on Linux, I don't run Windows 11.
@thorsten @jason @SethBrown @rl_dane @alecsargent @clayton
Hey everyone, thanks for the suggestions! Rustdesk sounds good, I'll have a look at this :)
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