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Remote Utilities is a free remote access program for Windows. You can connect to as many as 10 computers for free from a mobile device or desktop program.
Six Tools for managing multiple remote desktop sessions on windows and mac Friday, February 22, 2013 at 11:50PM I use both mac and windows at work, and I do a lot of remote desktop stuff as well.
There are 15 different tools for connecting to a remote computer with Remote Utilities, which makes it one of the better remote desktop applications.
Keep reading to find some pros and cons on Remote Utilities, how it works, and what I think about the software.
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This review is of Remote Utilities version 6.10.10.0, released on July 2, 2019. Please let me know if there's a newer version I need to review.
More About Remote Utilities
![Windows remote desktop tools Windows remote desktop tools](https://cdn.lifehack.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Mikogo.jpg)
- Remote Utilities works with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
- Windows Server 2012/2008/2003 are also supported
- Can launch the client and host program from a USB drive (like a flash drive) without installing any software
- Supports viewing a remote screen in view only mode so as not to interfere with anything
- Remote Utilities works well behind routers. This means you don't need to make any port forwarding changes to your router's settings
- The host software can be run without installation to accommodate spontaneous support
- Some remote tools can be launched without displaying messages or prompts on the host computer
- The address book of remote connections are backed up every day, and you also have the option to back them up online to a self-hosted server
- Some of the supported tools include power control, Task Manager, voice, and video chat, remote execute, and screen recorder
Remote Utilities Pros & Cons
Best Remote Desktop Program For Mac
With as many tools as Remote Utilities has, there are certainly several advantages:
Pros:
- 100% free for both business and private use on up to 10 PCs (over 50,000 if you purchase a license)
- Remote printing
- Spontaneous support
- Supports text chat
- File transfer
- Remote Command Prompt
- Can connect via desktop software or an iOS/Android app
- Wake-on-LAN (WOL) is supported
- Unattended access
- Running processes can be shut down remotely with ease
Cons:
- Configuring the host software can be confusing
- Doesn't work on macOS
How Remote Utilities Works
Remote Utilities communicates by creating a pair between a host and client PC. The host computer installs the Host software and the client installs the Viewer program. The 'Host' here means the computer that should be remoted into, while the 'Viewer' is the one that's doing the remoting in—the computer that needs to control the other one.
There are two versions of the host software: A regular installer version that actually places the program on the computer, called 'Host' on the download page, and the program that runs without installation that makes it really easy to quickly connect to the host computer, called 'Agent' on the download page.
When the Host software is launched, the first thing you're told to do is set a password. This is an important step to secure your computer from unauthorized access. This password will be used by the Viewer program to access the host computer.
The host computer then needs to open the settings for the Host program and access the Internet-ID connection setting option to generate a 9-digit code that the Viewer software can use to access the host.
Now the client PC that has the Viewer program installed can create a new connection using the Internet ID and password that was configured on the host computer. The Viewer program, like the Host software, can also be downloaded and ran as a portable program.
At this point, when the connection has been established, the client can begin launching remote tools against the host computer.
To sum things up, if you're looking for the quickest and easiest way to connect to a computer using Remote Utilities, download and install the 'Agent' program on the computer that you'll be connecting to and then download and run 'Portable Viewer' to connect to it.
My Thoughts on Remote Utilities
There are some really great tools included with Remote Utilities that, in my opinion, pushes it over the edge when comparing it to similar remote desktop software.
The host software is a little confusing when you try to set up security options, but once you've got it all figured out and the Viewer software can make the connection, the tools are really great.
You can choose to view the remote screen in view only mode or full control, which is helpful if you're providing remote support but are just wanting to watch what the user is doing and not interfere yet. It's then just a few clicks away to change the mode while you're in the remote session.
I like the file transfer feature in Remote Utilities because it doesn't prompt the host user for a confirmation. You can open the file transfer tool from the Viewer, transfer files to and from the computer, and never even see the remote screen. This surely speeds things up when you're just wanting to access the remote files and not the screen as well.
There's also a remote Command Prompt that looks just like a regular one but runs commands against the host computer and not the client, which is a really neat feature to try out.
I also like the Inventory manager, which shows amazing detail about the host operating system, hardware, and installed software, complete with version numbers and manufacturer names.
When trying out the mobile Viewer application, I was able to connect without any issues and view multiple monitors at once with great clarity, which was excellent.
As you're installing the program, choose the Free license option during setup to avoid the 30-day trial.
![Mac Mac](https://3nlm2c1gjj0z2ju16293909h-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/best-remote-desktop-for-mac-royaltsx.png)
For anyone whose work follows them wherever they go (and whose doesn't?), a remote access solution is an easy sell. With a remote access tool, your office computer can be reached from home, your home computer can be reached from the office, and both can be reached from your hotel in Omaha or Maui or wherever you happen to be. Remote access means nothing ever gets left behind -- except maybe your laptop.
Best of all, a good remote access tool doesn't have to cost you a dime. There are plenty of good free tools available, and some of them are downright excellent. In this review, I examine seven of the most popular free remote access tools available for Windows and, in four cases, Mac users. Many of the free tools listed here also have paid versions that offer additional features (such as support for remote printing) or licensing (extra host computers or clients). For some users, the paid version will be the only true option.
Remote Desktop App For Mac
[ Also on InfoWorld: They're great, and they're free: Top free troubleshooting tools for Windows | More great free troubleshooting tools for Windows | Top 10 Windows tools for IT pros | The best free open source software for Windows ]
As you read about each tool, you'll notice that I put a lot of emphasis on remote printing. I rely on remote access tools on a daily basis, and in most cases I need to be able to print to my remote PC. For someone that just wants to check their home/office email account or view documents from outside the office, all of the utilities here will work fine. But for those trying to get some serious work done, remote printing may be the deal breaker.
Remote Desktop For Mac Download
Check out these free remote access tools for Windows and Mac.
DESKTRA Freedom Desktop 1.1InfoWorld's Free RAS score: Fair
Best Remote Desktop For Mac
DESKTRA Freedom Desktop is a Windows-only utility that provides good remote access but is limited in functionality. Only available for 32-bit versions of Windows, DESKTRA's host component installs as a service and allows two users to access the same Windows PC at the same time without interrupting each other. While it does pass audio to the remote client, it does not provide remote printing capabilities or file transfers.