How to set up remote access on an HP 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 HP business laptops, HP Power Manager has its own battery settings; keep the PC plugged in and on a plan that doesn't put it to sleep. Staying plugged in also matters on laptops with Modern Standby, where Windows may disconnect from networks on battery, as remote access on a Microsoft Surface explains.

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   Step 4: Stop it locking itself

   HP Auto Lock and Awake (on many 2022 and later PCs; older ones had HP Presence Aware) locks the PC when you walk away. RemoteAccessApp can't unlock the lock screen, so turn it off in its dashboard on a PC you'll reach remotely. Dell and ASUS have their own versions; see remote access on a Dell 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.

Press F10 repeatedly as the PC starts to open the BIOS. On HP consumer desktops, look on the Power tab for S4/S5 Wake on LAN and enable it. On business desktops and workstations it's under Advanced > Device Options as S5 Wake on LAN, and S5 Maximum Power Savings must be Disabled, or the network card is switched off when the PC is. On many motherboards in custom-built PCs, a setting called ErP has the same effect; see remote access on a custom-built or gaming PC.

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.

Many HP desktops have After Power Loss under Power-On Options in the BIOS: Power off, Power on or Previous state. Choose Power on or Previous state for a PC you reach remotely. Lenovo ThinkCentre desktops use the same name; see remote access on a Lenovo PC.

When it starts, Windows still needs someone to sign in before RemoteAccessApp is online. Keeping a PC reachable after a restart.

• McAfee or Norton: HP says its PCs may come with a trial of one of them. If its firewall asks about RemoteAccessApp, allow it, or add it to the allowed apps. Select Acer models come with a Norton trial too, as setting up remote access on an Acer PC notes.
• HP Wolf Security: if it ever quarantines or isolates RemoteAccessApp, check its allowed or quarantined apps and restore it.
• Windows SmartScreen may warn the first time you run a new download. What to do.

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.