Help your parents' computer from another city
"The internet is not working." "Where did my photos go?" "It is asking me to update something." You are in Bengaluru, they are in Lucknow, and describing a button on the phone is not working. Here is the five-minute way to see what they see.
Before the call: choose which way
- Just see their screen and talk them through it. Nothing to install. They open a web page. Works on Windows, Mac and Linux, in Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
- Take the mouse and keyboard yourself. Their computer needs the free AcrossView app for Windows, a single file that sets itself up. Install it once, during a visit or over the phone, and you can also set it up for unattended access so next time you can connect without them doing anything.
Seeing their screen (no install)
- Ask them to open acrossview.com/share in their browser. Spell it out: a-c-r-o-s-s-v-i-e-w dot com, slash, share.
- The page shows a 9-digit ID in large digits. They read it to you.
- On your computer, open acrossview.com/connect, type the ID and your name, press Connect.
- Their screen shows your name and a warning, with an Allow button after a short countdown. Tell them to press it, then choose "Entire screen" when the browser asks what to share.
- You see their screen. Read the six-digit security code aloud; theirs must match. Now talk, or type in the chat, while you watch what they do.
Sessions last 15 minutes without an account, or 60 minutes if you sign up free. The session is end-to-end encrypted; nobody but the two of you can see the screen, including us.
Taking the mouse (Windows app)
- They run the AcrossView app. It shows the same kind of 9-digit ID.
- You connect as above. After they press Allow, their window has a switch, Allow control; ask them to turn it on.
- Press the pointer button in your window. Their mouse and keyboard are now yours; they can watch, and switch control off any time.
From here you can also send them a file (the Files button, or drop it on the window), copy text between the two computers, and see their other monitor.
Make the next time easier
In their app, open Settings and set an Unattended-access password. Turn on "Start with Windows" or install the service. Add their computer to your address book with a name. Next time, press Connect and enter the password; nobody needs to be at their computer, and it works even at the Windows sign-in screen.
A word about safety
Scammers use remote-access apps too. Teach your parents one rule: only share the screen with someone they called for help. The AcrossView page says this in Hindi and English before every session, and names the 1930 cyber-crime helpline. See spotting remote-access scams.
Their computer is very old or slow. Will it work?
Sharing from the browser needs only a browser that is a few years old. The Windows app runs on Windows 10 and 11.
Can I do this from my phone?
You can watch their screen, talk and chat from your phone's browser. Taking the mouse needs a computer on your side. See watching from your phone.
What if they cannot type the address?
Send them the link on WhatsApp. From the Windows app you can also send an Invite link that opens the connect page with the ID filled in, the other way round.