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Best Free remote desktop software for windows? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Not looking for things that are only trial or pro purpose, I use chrome remote desktop but I imagine there's better options?

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

I'm not sure if they are the best, but two good ones I know of.

Nomachine

RustDesk

And if some reason your using windows. Just use RDP.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (3 children)

RDP is kind of limited because it's a virtual session. It's useful if you only need to do stuff while you're actively connected but you can't, for example, remote in and start an app or process going and then disconnect and have that app continue. When you d/c your profile is essentially logged out. Your activity also can't be viewed by a user on the remote system, if you needed to collaborate or assist somehow.

UltraVNC has worked ok for me for windows systems. It has some of that open-source clunk to the UI, but is pretty straight forward and does what I need.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 months ago

What do you mean by logged out if you disconnect? I disconnect and leave sessions logged in all the time.

[–] otherbarry 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

RDP is kind of limited

It’s useful if you only need to do stuff while you’re actively connected but you can’t, for example, remote in and start an app or process going and then disconnect and have that app continue.

Sure you can, I do this all the time on the work RDP server. Maybe you need to tweak your group policy so it doesn't kick you out right away.

When you d/c your profile is essentially logged out.

Nope, depends on what group policy you configured. If you've never configured that before as a starter launch gpedit.msc (with admin privileges) and head to Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Remote Desktop Services / Remote Desktop Session Host / Session Time Limits. The other settings in there are also useful for other things you may want to configure.

Your activity also can’t be viewed by a user on the remote system, if you needed to collaborate or assist somehow.

Yes this is true, the only way to do that is to have admin privileges on the host and then take over that user session. But of course that's not collaboration, that's just you taking a user's current session without them being able to see what you're doing.

On Windows the official way to do that is via Quick Assist (on Windows 10, not sure if it got renamed on Windows 11), it's sort of a shared RDP session where both the user and the remote user can share the same session. I've never needed to use it myself - with the work system users are pretty content with just having me "fix" whatever they needed without them watching, they usually don't care how to fix the problem themselves LOL.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

What? This just isn't true? I RDP into work all time and it picks up my user session with all open apps from the last time I was physically at the machine. Then next time I'm at the machine, it picks up the session from last time I remoted in. In other words, as long as you always use the same account, it's always the same session.

Your activity also can't be viewed by a user on the remote system

You are right this, but this is actually a benefit in my opinion. The last thing I want is for someone to turn on my monitor and see everything I'm doing. I like that it's a private session of sorts.

Also RDP is better at adapting resolutions (I want my session to use my local monitors' resolution, not the remote one) and forwarding system key shortcuts than any other remote solution I've used.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

RustDesk says that it's compatible with Windows. Is RDP better still?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Depends on use case. If your trying to remoting to a friends PC to help them do something. Rustdesk.

If your remoting to your own PC. Say connecting to a windows machine at home from your work computer. RDP.

Also as others have mentioned. Best to use RDP through something like tailscale or zerotier. So you don't have to open a port for it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

Thank you!