Free Remote Desktop Software

Looking for Software Forum
1

I’m looking for a free remote desktop software that meets a few specific requirements:

  • It should allow me to connect to my remote PC without needing to be on the same LAN.
  • I’d prefer it to be unrestricted by time limits.
  • It should start with the operating system.
  • I need to connect to the remote desktop without having to log into a user account first.
  • Ideally, it would have the option to turn on the target PC remotely.

I want to use this to connect to my desktop PC from my laptop while I’m traveling, so I really need something that lets me access my PC without needing someone else’s help.

2

Here are a few options I use that meet almost all your requirements, except for the remote power-on feature (for that, your best bet is Wake on LAN with some specialized setup):

  • Chrome Remote Desktop
  • RustDesk

You’ll need to do some basic configuration on either of these to eliminate the login requirement.

3

RustDesk, open source and free. It meets your 1,2,3,4. For 5 (WOL), it only works if you have another alive machine in the same intranet, because WOL requires magic packet sent via MAC address.

4

I use Microsoft RDP. Is that a good option?

5

How does it achieve cross-LAN access?

6

95% sure you would need a VPN

7

I’ve been severely hacked multiple times while using Windows RDP, so now I rely on Chrome Remote Desktop, and I haven’t had any issues with it.

8

I’ve been using Google Remote Desktop for about five years now. It allows me to connect to all my office PCs overseas five in total, as well as two here in the States.

I even access them from a Raspberry Pi while I’m in my car, my laptop on construction job sites, and sometimes from my phone when I find myself in a tight spot.

9

You might want to check out XRDP and ThinLinc.

10

What about TeamViewer? Have you considered using that?

11

TeamViewer is so frustrating these days. It now requires an account to use, and it’s become really picky about versions. I have a license for it, but it won’t work on any modern version, and I can’t use my old version either because it won’t connect to the newer ones. It’s really infuriating!