Install BrowserDesk — Windows, Mac, Linux, phone and TV

What it is for

BrowserDesk is one program with two roles: a device is controlled, or you use it to control another one. On Windows, Mac and Linux both live in the same application. Phones, tablets and the Fire TV Stick control other devices. This page tells you which file to get for which device and what happens on first start.

What you need

• The programs are in the download section of the home page. Every plan (Free, Cloud, own relay) uses the same program.
• A supported system:

• For the service on Windows and for the MSI: administrator rights once.

How to do it

Windows: single file

1. In the download section, download the Windows file.
2. Start it. On first start BrowserDesk copies itself into your user profile and runs from there — no administrator rights needed. It updates itself from there later.
3. So that others can access this computer: on the start page, in the card Ihr Desktop (Your desktop), switch on Eingehende Verbindungen zulassen (Allow incoming connections). The switch stays on when the program restarts.
4. The first time you switch it on, BrowserDesk asks BrowserDesk dauerhaft einrichten? (Set up BrowserDesk permanently?): - Als Dienst einrichten (Set up as a service) — BrowserDesk starts with the computer (confirm the Windows administrator prompt once). - Nur diesmal (Just this time) — the computer can only be reached while the program is running.

You can set up or remove the service later: Einstellungen › Fernzugriff (Settings > Remote access) → card Systemdienst (System service) → Dienst installieren (Install service) or Dienst entfernen (Remove service).

Windows: MSI for deployment

The MSI (button "MSI" in the download section) is meant for IT departments deploying via GPO, Intune or script. It installs for all users and sets up the service right away. How to bring many devices straight into your access is described in C2 and C3.

Mac

1. In the download section, get the DMG for macOS.
2. Drag BrowserDesk into the Applications folder and start it.
3. If the Mac is to be controlled, BrowserDesk needs two permissions that only you can grant: Einstellungen › Fernzugriff → card macOS-Berechtigungen (macOS permissions): - Bildschirmaufnahme (Screen Recording) — so a helper sees the screen. - Bedienungshilfen (Accessibility) — so they may move mouse and keyboard.

For each permission there is Anfragen (Request — opens the macOS prompt) and Systemeinstellungen (System Settings — opens the matching page). Details: C5.

1. In the card Ihr Desktop, switch on Eingehende Verbindungen zulassen.

Linux

1. In the download section, pick the package for your distribution: .deb for Ubuntu and Debian, .rpm for Fedora and Rocky — each for x64 or ARM64.
2. Install it, e.g. on Ubuntu: sudo apt install ./<file name>.deb. According to the download page, the package sets up the service and device permissions by itself.
3. Start the program. Under Einstellungen › Fernzugriff → Systemdienst you see whether the service is set up.
4. Optional: if the computer should also be reachable at the login screen, the card Zugang vor der Anmeldung (Access before login) has the switch Anmeldebildschirm fernsteuern (Control the login screen remotely). Turning it on asks for the administrator password once. Read the box "Vorher wissen" (Know beforehand) in the card first.

iPhone, iPad, Android, Fire TV

The apps are ready. The public distribution (App Store, Google Play, Amazon) will follow — it will be listed in the download section. Android phone, tablet and Fire TV Stick share one APK.

Without installing

To control another device you do not necessarily need a program: web access at browserdesk.de/app runs in the browser (D4). For one-off help on a Windows PC there is Quick Support (D1).

How you know it worked

• On the start page, the card Ihr Desktop shows a nine-digit ID under "EIGENE ID" (own ID).
• At the top of the start page the card Erste Schritte (First steps) lists three steps: switch on reception, join an access, reachable. Finished steps are ticked; once all three are done, the card disappears.
• With the service, Ihr Desktop reads "Der Dienst nimmt Verbindungen an" (the service accepts connections) and the card Systemdienst reads "Status: Läuft (Autostart + Auto-Update)" (running).
• On the Mac the card macOS-Berechtigungen shows "vollständig" (complete) at the top right.

Good to know

• With or without the service?

| | Without service | With service | |---|---|---| | Windows | reachable while the program runs | starts at boot, reachable even with nobody logged in | | Linux | reachable while the program runs | starts when you log in; login screen only with "Zugang vor der Anmeldung" | | Mac | — | not available; reachable while someone is logged in and BrowserDesk runs |

• Reachable does not mean open: whoever wants access needs the ID and password or a quick code — and, depending on the settings, consent at the device (D2, F1).
• Via browserdesk.de, devices can only be controlled if they belong to an access. After installing, add the device to your access: C2.
• Mac: the permissions belong to the app. macOS may ask again from time to time even though they are granted. After granting Bildschirmaufnahme, macOS may require the app to restart.
• Updates: all desktop programs update themselves.
• Start menu (Windows): if the entry is missing, the start page shows a notice. Create it under Einstellungen › Allgemein (Settings > General) → card Startmenü (Start menu); this needs administrator approval once.
• Remove completely (Windows): see the Knowledge Base article Fully uninstall a client.

If it does not work