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Guide

Turn a spare PC into an always-on PC you can reach from anywhere

An old desktop or a retired laptop is more useful switched on than in a cupboard. Set it up once and it becomes the PC at home you can always reach: for long downloads, files you keep at home, waking your other PCs, and getting to the rest of your home network from anywhere.

This guide covers the Windows settings that keep it reachable, the RemoteAccessApp setup, and what you can do with it.

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  • Windows 10 or 11
  • No port forwarding
  • Free for up to 5 PCs

Updated · Works on Windows 10 and 11

What makes a good always-on PC

  • Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. An older PC that runs either is fine for this job.
  • A network cable to your router if you can. It's steadier than Wi-Fi, and it lets the PC wake others with Wake-on-LAN.
  • A quiet spot with airflow, plugged in. A laptop works too: keep it on its charger.
  • A screen and keyboard you can plug in now and then, for the times someone has to sign in at the PC.

Set it up

  1. Step 1: Install RemoteAccessApp

    Download the free installer from the download page and run it. Choose Set up this PC and sign in. Leave Start RemoteAccessApp with Windows ticked.

  2. Step 2: Stop it sleeping

    In Windows Settings, under System and then Power (Power & sleep on Windows 10), set the PC never to sleep while it's plugged in. Letting the screen turn off is fine.

  3. Step 3: Keep it signed in

    RemoteAccessApp works inside your signed-in Windows session, and remote tools can't get past the sign-in or lock screen. Leave the PC signed in, and don't use Lock during a session, or you may not get back in until someone signs in at the PC.

  4. Step 4: Turn on two-step verification and unattended access

    On the website, open Dashboard, then Security, and turn on Two-factor authentication. Then, at the PC, right-click the RemoteAccessApp icon in the taskbar tray and choose Unattended access. Your own browsers and consoles now go straight in.

  5. Step 5: Add a connection password

    For an extra check, choose Connection password… in the same tray menu and set a password that anyone connecting has to type first. The PC checks it itself. See protect a PC with a connection password.

Then test it from outside before you rely on it, for example from your phone on mobile data. The post on how to make sure you can get back into your PC before you leave home has a short checklist for that.

Restarts and updates

RemoteAccessApp updates itself in the background and never while someone is connected. Windows Update is different: when it restarts the PC, the PC shows as offline until someone signs in to Windows again (or Windows signs in by itself). Check on it after big Windows updates.

What you can do with it

  • Leave long jobs running. Start a big download, a backup or a render, then check on it from your phone or any browser.
  • Keep files at home and reach them. Copy files to and from it from your other PCs, free with an account. See send large files between your PCs.
  • Wake your other PCs. When another of your PCs at home is asleep, press Wake up on its tile and the spare PC sends it the wake-up signal. The sleeping PC needs Wake-on-LAN on and, ideally, a cable. See how to wake a sleeping PC remotely.
  • Reach your home network. The website's SSH terminal can reach a Raspberry Pi, a NAS or a Linux box on your home network through one of your PCs, so the spare PC becomes your way in, with no port forwarding. See Raspberry Pi remote access.
  • Run commands on it. From the Console, open PowerShell or Command Prompt on the PC during a session, or check its processes, services and Event Log in Windows tools.

Look after it from afar

Management can check for and install Windows updates and restart the PC from your dashboard, on the free plan. Pro With Pro, it can do that and update apps on a schedule, and maintenance windows keep updates and restarts to the hours you choose. You always see the exact command before anything runs.

Every so often, open Trusted consoles and browsers… in the PC's tray menu and remove anything you no longer use. If you ever retire the spare PC, choose Remove this PC from your account in its tray menu so nobody can reach it.

Questions, answered

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