How to Help Fix Technology Remotely

I’m going to show you how to help your family with technology, whether it’s a phone, computer, or tablet. Chances are if you’re listening to this podcast, you probably have a pretty good grasp of technology. Even if you don’t think you’re a computer expert, you’ve likely had to help a relative with their technology going haywire before.

If you’re the person who your family calls at all hours to fix a printer, router, phone, or computer, then this episode is for you. 

Phones and Tablets

First let’s talk about remote controlling phones and tablets. I recommend that friends and family who aren’t tech savvy buy Apple devices. This is because these devices are built incredibly well, and because they offer support for all of their devices at local Apple stores. Apple products are more expensive, but no other devices have the type of support that they do.

If your family members have Apple phones and tablets, you will not be able to control them remotely due to the limitations Apple has for apps in its app store. This isn’t necessarily a downside, seeing as you can just recommend your family members go to a local Apple Store if they’re having issues.

Android devices, on the other hand, can be controlled remotely with an app called Teamviewer QS.

Computers with TeamViewer

Computers are extremely easy to remote control using free software. I personally use two different types of free software to troubleshoot problems for my family. The first of these is TeamViewer. It’s a great product that’s free for home use. It requires you to install it on the computer before you can remote into it, which can be a problem if your friend or family member isn’t able to figure that part out.

For TeamViewer, I recommend installing it with permission on the computer you want to control. It takes a few minutes, and after that, it will start with Windows and ask you how you want to manage it. By default, it will give each computer an ID and a password. In order to remote into that computer, the user at the other end would have to give me both of these numbers, and the password changes each time you remote into the computer.

This is great because it allows for you friends or family to have privacy on their computer, knowing that you can’t just remote in whenever you want. TeamViewer can also be set up in unattended mode with an account. This lets you keep a list of computers you frequently connect to, and it doesn’t require anyone on the other side to give you a password. I have an unattended account setup for all of my grandparents, that way they don’t have to give me a code or anything. It just lets me on their computer with my password.

Let’s go over a scenario of how this works:

Grandma: “Hey Eric, my computer can’t connect to my printer, can you walk me through fixing it?”

Eric: “Sure thing, I can also remote in to your computer and fix it for you”

Grandmas: “Thanks that would be great!”

Eric: “One second.”

This is where I open up the TeamViewer program on my computer, log in using my free username and password, and click on “Grandma’s Computer.” Then her screen will show up on my computer and I can control it as if I were in front of it. I simply click out of the window when I’m done.

TeamViewer also comes with a lot of great features such as file transfer, remote commands, chat, and a ton more. The reason the software is free is because they hope you like the home version so much that you’ll use it for work, and buy the professional edition which gives you more features.

Computers with Join.Me

TeamViewer may not work in every instance, mostly because it requires that the software be setup and installed. This can be a bummer, and if not done ahead of time, can take a lot of explanation.

If you have a friend or family member who needs help once in a blue moon, I opt to use another free service called Join.Me. It’s typically used for remote presentations but it works really well as remote control software. This is a simple program that just takes a couple of clicks to install and start. The user can delete the program as soon as they are done.

The program when opened will give your friend or family member a nine-digit code. They just have to give you that code, in order for you to remote into their computer. What’s even cooler is that you don’t need anything on your computer, you use JoinMe in a web browser. This makes it great if you only help people very rarely and don’t want to install any extra software on your computer.

Here’s a great video about how to use Join.Me.

Networking Problems

If you’re perceptive, you may be thinking, alright Tech Talker, that’s great and all if they have an Internet connection. What if their Internet goes out at home and I can’t fix the problem for them because TeamViewer and Join.Me require a connection to work?

Well you are right! Luckily, next week I’ll help you troubleshoot these problems when remote software won’t work.

Do you have any horror stories of trying to help someone with their computer or phone remotely? Do you have any programs that you like to use to remotely help out friends and family when you can’t be there? If so I’d love to hear about it, give me a shout out on my Facebook page!

Be sure to check out all my earlier episodes at techtalker.quickanddirtytips.com. And if you have further questions about this podcast or want to make a suggestion for a future episode, post them on Facebook QDTtechtalker.

Until next time, I’m the Tech Talker, keeping technology simple!