How to access an Ubuntu desktop remotely

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   Step 1: Install the .deb

   On the Ubuntu PC, download the .deb from the download page, open a terminal in your Downloads folder and run the command the page shows:

   sudo apt install ./remoteaccessapp_*_amd64.deb

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   Step 2: Open it and enter a setup code

   Open RemoteAccessApp Agent from Show Apps. Choose Add a PC on your dashboard at remoteaccessapp.com, and type the 6-digit code into the Agent. Or sign in there with your account.

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   Step 3: Connect from anywhere

   On another computer, sign in at remoteaccessapp.com and click the Ubuntu PC, or open it from the Devices page of the Console on Windows or Linux. It sits in the same list as your Windows PCs (see one app for your Windows and Linux PCs). The Ubuntu PC asks Allow remote access?; once someone there clicks Allow, you see its desktop and can use its mouse and keyboard.

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   Step 4: The first time only: approve screen sharing

   Ubuntu's desktop runs on Wayland by default, so the first session also shows Ubuntu's own Remote Desktop dialog at the PC. Turn on Allow Remote Interaction, keep Remember This Selection ticked and click Share. Ubuntu remembers it, so later sessions start without it, even with nobody at the PC. On an Xorg session there's no such dialog.

The install guide has the details, including the .tar.gz for other distributions and how to uninstall. The Console in the same package lets you control a Windows PC from Linux as well.

• A prompt before anything is shared. Allow remote access? names the console asking. If nobody answers in 45 seconds, or the prompt is closed, the answer is no.
• A banner while you're connected, with an End button. Ubuntu also shows its screen-sharing icon in the top bar, and Stop sharing there ends the session.
• A switch for remote control. Turning off Allow remote control in the Agent's window makes the session view-only.
• The RemoteAccessApp icon at the top right of the screen. Ubuntu shows it through its AppIndicator support, which is on by default. If it's been turned off, the Agent's window stays open instead. The RemoteAccessApp on Linux help article covers a missing tray icon and other problems.

The Agent runs inside your desktop session and starts when you sign in. So the Ubuntu PC is reachable while it's on, online and signed in.

• Stop it sleeping. In Settings → Power, set Automatic Suspend to off while it's plugged in. A sleeping PC shows as offline. While you're connected, the Agent keeps it awake for you, and lets it sleep again when you leave.
• After a restart, someone has to sign in before the PC comes back online, unless Ubuntu signs you in automatically.
• If the screen locks, you can unlock it from your side in a session the PC allowed, with remote control on: type your Linux password, and the system checks it as it would at the PC. Our post on Linux remote desktop when the screen locks explains how it works.
• To reach it when nobody's there, turn on unattended access at the PC. See unattended access on a Linux PC.

The Agent is free, and the Ubuntu PC is one of the 5 PCs on the free plan, with 3 open at once. Sound and every monitor are part of Pro. With a free account you can also transfer files to and from a Linux PC and sync the clipboard. Our announcement, RemoteAccessApp is now on Linux, covers what's included and what isn't on Linux yet.