How to set up remote access on an Acer PC

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   Step 1: Install RemoteAccessApp on the PC

   Run the free installer from the download page. It installs without administrator rights. If Windows shows a SmartScreen warning, here's what to do.

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   Step 2: Choose Set up this PC

   Sign in, or type the 6-digit setup code from Add a PC on your dashboard. Leave Start RemoteAccessApp with Windows ticked so it's running whenever someone is signed in.

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   Step 3: Keep the PC awake

   In Settings > System > Power & battery, set the screen and sleep times to Never when plugged in. On Nitro and Predator models, NitroSense or PredatorSense manage fans and the power plan; pick a plan that doesn't put the PC to sleep. Tuning software on a custom-built PC can have power modes of its own; see remote access on a custom-built or gaming PC.

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   Step 4: Stop it locking itself

   Turn off anything that locks the PC on its own while you're away, such as Windows' Dynamic lock. RemoteAccessApp can't unlock the lock screen. Some makers add their own walk-away lock, such as HP Auto Lock and Awake and MyASUS's AdaptiveLock; see remote access on an HP PC and set up remote access on an ASUS PC.

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   Step 5: Turn on unattended access if nobody will be there

   Right-click the RemoteAccessApp icon in the taskbar tray and choose Unattended access. It can only be switched on at the PC itself. How to do it safely.

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   Step 6: Test it from another device

   Sign in to the RemoteAccessApp Console on another PC, or at remoteaccessapp.com in any browser, including your phone, and open the PC.

On Acer laptops, press F2 at startup to open the BIOS. Acer's own pages give different keys for desktops (Del or F10), so if neither works, use Windows: Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings.

Acer says to look on the Main or Advanced tab for Wake on LAN or Network Boot. If neither is there, the model can't wake from the network. On a laptop without an Ethernet port, waking from the network may need a dock; remote access on a Microsoft Surface shows how that works on a Surface.

Windows only wakes a PC with Wake-on-LAN from sleep, or from hibernate you chose yourself. With Fast startup on, which is the default, Microsoft says network adapters aren't armed for Wake-on-LAN from shutdown, so to wake a PC that's shut down, turn off Fast startup (Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do) and turn Wake-on-LAN on in the firmware.

In Device Manager, open your wired network adapter's Properties > Power Management and tick Allow this device to wake the computer and Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer. The Advanced tab may also have Wake on Magic Packet; the names depend on the adapter's driver.

Once the PC can wake from the network, press Wake up on the PC's tile in the Console or on the website: another of your PCs that's online on the same network, with an up-to-date RemoteAccessApp, sends it the wake-up packet. With no other PC of yours on that network, the packet has to come from another device there, such as a router with a wake feature. Once the PC is awake and signed in, it shows as online in RemoteAccessApp.

• Killer networking: Acer gaming PCs with Killer adapters can set app priorities. Make sure RemoteAccessApp isn't set to a low priority or blocked. Some Dell and MSI PCs have Killer software too; see remote access on a Dell PC and set up remote access on an MSI PC.
• Norton: select Acer models come with a Norton trial. If its firewall asks about RemoteAccessApp, allow it, or add it to the allowed apps.
• Windows SmartScreen may warn the first time you run a new download. What to do.

RemoteAccessApp starts when someone signs in to Windows, so after an update restart or a power cut someone has to sign in at the PC (or Windows has to sign in by itself) before it's online. Keeping a PC reachable after a restart.

RemoteAccessApp reaches a PC that's on, online and signed in to Windows, with the app running. If yours shows as offline, check it hasn't gone to sleep, restarted for updates, or lost its network. The can't connect to a PC help article walks through the rest.