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Help › Connect › D2

Connect with ID and password — even when nobody is at the device

The device has a fixed ID and a password. Whoever knows both connects — with or without consent at the device, depending on its settings.

Preview this guide has not yet been clicked through on a real device. Button names and steps come from the program but may differ in details.

For
Private helper · Technician · Employee working from home
Applies to
Free · Cloud · Own relay
Controlled device
Windows · macOS · Linux
Control from
Program (Windows, macOS, Linux) · Browser · Phone/tablet/Fire TV
from version
20261006.3

What it is for

Every device with BrowserDesk has a fixed nine-digit ID and a password. Whoever knows both can connect — even when nobody sits at the device, if the device is set up that way. This is how you reach your own computer while away or look after computers where nobody can give consent.

What you need

  • At the device: BrowserDesk, reachability switched on (C1) and — via browserdesk.de — an access the device belongs to (C2).
  • On your side: BrowserDesk on your computer, phone or tablet, or web access (D4).
  • Connecting without consent only works with Cloud or an own relay. With Free, someone at the device always has to agree.

How to do it

At the device (set up once)

  1. On the start page, the card Ihr Desktop (Your desktop) shows the ID under "EIGENE ID" (own ID) and the password, hidden, under "PASSWORT" (password). Anzeigen (Show — eye icon) reveals it.
  2. Set your own fixed password: under "EIGENES PASSWORT" (own password) click the key icon Eigenes Passwort setzen (Set own password), enter at least 6 characters, Setzen (Set).
  3. Optional: switch off Systempasswort aktiv (System password active) — then only your own password is valid.
  4. Make the device reachable: switch on Eingehende Verbindungen zulassen (Allow incoming connections) or set up the service (C1).
  5. If nobody should have to agree: EinstellungenSicherheit (Settings > Security) → card Zugriffssteuerung (Access control) → under "WER DARF ZUGREIFEN" (who may access) choose Automatisch zulassen (unbeaufsichtigt) (Allow automatically — unattended). With Nachfragen (Bestätigung am Gerät) (Ask — confirm at the device) someone at the device has to click Erlauben (Allow).

Centrally for many devices: in the console under Devices → the device's menu → Set password. The device receives the password the next time it signs in to the relay.

On your side (connect)

  1. On the start page, the card Entfernten Desktop steuern (Control a remote desktop), tab Kennung + Passwort (ID + password).
  2. Type the ID into the top field. Spaces do not matter.
  3. Type the password into the field below.
  4. If BrowserDesk should remember it: tick Zugangsdaten speichern (Save credentials).
  5. Click Verbinden (Connect). Until the picture arrives, a panel "Verbinde mit … …" (connecting to …) covers the page.
  6. If the access asks for a reason, Support-Grund (Support reason) appears: pick or type one, then Verbinden — or Ohne Grund (Without reason) if it is not required.

On a phone or tablet it is the same: field "Partner-ID", below it "Passwort". In the browser: D4.

How you know it worked

  • The panel "Verbinde mit …" disappears and the session window with the device's screen opens.
  • The device is then listed under Zuletzt verwendet (Recently used). If you ticked Zugangsdaten speichern, a click on the tile connects without typing again; the tile's menu (⋮) then offers Gespeichertes Passwort entfernen (Remove saved password).

What the other side sees

  • With Nachfragen (Bestätigung am Gerät) and always with Free: the dialog Zugriff erlauben? (Allow access?) showing your name.
  • With Automatisch zulassen (unbeaufsichtigt): no dialog. On Windows a small session window with your name appears at the top right; on Mac and Linux the BrowserDesk window turns into that card. From there the person at the device can end the connection at any time (F1).

Good to know

  • It does not work without a password. Even if someone at the device would agree: the device never accepts an empty password. Without a password, use a quick code (D1).
  • Three passwords are valid side by side: the one the program generated (while Systempasswort aktiv is on), your own one and a one-time password. The one-time password (Neues Einmalpasswort (New one-time password) under "EINMALPASSWORT") is valid for exactly one session.
  • New password: Neues Passwort (New password — arrow icon next to "PASSWORT") creates a new one at once; the old one stops working. A password saved by the helper is then wrong and is replaced on the next successful connect with the box ticked.
  • Where the saved password is kept: on Windows encrypted for your Windows account, only on this computer. On Mac and Linux in your user account's address book, only on this computer, but not encrypted.
  • Lock after wrong attempts: after five wrong passwords from the same source, the device accepts no attempts for a while — first 30 seconds, longer on repetition, at most 15 minutes.
  • Abbrechen (Cancel) in the panel "Verbinde mit …" only frees your side. The attempt continues in the background; if the connection still comes about, it is closed right away.
  • If the person at the device disconnected you, you only get back in once they allow you again at the device (F1) or after 10 minutes without any attempt. Every new attempt pushes the 10 minutes further.

If it does not work

You seeMeaning and fix
"Falsches Passwort — bitte das richtige Zugriffs-Passwort eingeben." (wrong password)Password wrong or empty. Check at the device — was a new one generated?
"Zu viele Fehlversuche — bitte ein bis zwei Minuten warten, dann erneut verbinden." (too many failed attempts)Lock after wrong attempts. Wait, then use the right password.
"Der Zugriff wurde am Gerät abgelehnt oder nicht rechtzeitig bestätigt." (denied at the device or not confirmed in time)Someone clicked Ablehnen (Deny) or nobody answered. With Free someone always has to agree.
Gerät ist offline (Device is offline) with Aufwecken (Wake up)The device is not signed in to the relay right now (asleep, off, no network). Aufwecken tries via a BrowserDesk device in the same network.
"Der Gesteuerte hat die Verbindung beendet. Neu verbinden geht erst, wenn …" (the controlled side ended the connection)The person at the device disconnected you. Ask them to allow you again — or make no attempt for 10 minutes.
"Dieses Gerät gehört zu keinem Zugang. …" (device belongs to no access)The device must first be added to an access: C2.
"Dieses Gerät lässt sich nur aus seinem eigenen Zugang steuern — …" (only from its own access)Sign your program in to that access (C2, way 1). Always the case with Free.
"Dieser Rechner ist kein Mitglied des Zugangs, zu dem das Gerät gehört. …" (this computer is not a member of the access)The access only allows its own computers. Add your computer to the access (C2).
"Dieses Gerät lässt sich nur aus den vertrauten Netzen seines Zugangs steuern — …" (only from trusted networks)Connect from the company network or via VPN.
"Auf diesem Mac ist „Bildschirmaufnahme“ für BrowserDesk nicht erteilt. …" (Screen Recording not granted)A permission is missing on the Mac (C1).
"Die Verbindung zum Relay wurde getrennt, bevor die Sitzung stand. Bitte Geräte-ID und Kennwort prüfen." (relay connection dropped before the session started)Check ID and password and connect again.

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