Getting Help in Windows 8.1 using Remote Assistance

Windows has a built-in tool so you can let someone you trust see your computer screen or (with your permission) take control of your mouse and keyboard. Here are instructions on how to use this feature.

There are two steps involved:

  • Enabling Remote Assistance
  • Sharing your computer through Remote Assistance

Enabling Remote Assistance

If you’ve never used Remote Assistance before you need to enable it. You only need to do this once.

  1. Click the Windows start icon (in the lower left corner)
    ClickStartIcon
  2. Type “remote assistance”. On the right side of your screen you will see search results for what you just typed… click the icon for “Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be sent from this computer
    AllowRemote_step1
    Note: if you are on Windows 8.0, the search results will display some category roll-ups with numbers next to them. You will need to expand one of these to find the icon described above.
  3. A dialog box will appear. Check the box “Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer” then click OK.
    AllowRemote_step2

Sharing your computer through Remote Assistance

Once you have Remote Assistance enabled, you have to invite someone (friend/family) to connect to your computer.

  1. Click the Windows start icon (in the lower left corner) then type “invite someone
  2. On the right side of your screen you will see search results for what you just typed… click the icon for “Invite someone to connect to your PC and help you
  3. A dialog box will appear. Click the text “Invite someone you trust to help you
  4. On the next screen of the dialog click the text “Use Easy Connect
  5. The Easy Connect password will appear. Read this password to the person helping you.