Someone wants to access my computer — what happens?

What it is for

Someone wants to help you and needs to see your screen for that. This page tells you what then appears on your side, how you can tell that someone is watching — and how you end it at any time. You decide, not the helper.

What you need

• BrowserDesk on your computer (or Quick Support, D1).
• Nothing else. You do not have to set anything up.

How to do it

1. The question "Zugriff erlauben?" (Allow access?)

When someone wants to access your computer, a window Zugriff erlauben? usually appears. It says who it is, often also a reason.

• You know the person and want help? Click Erlauben (Allow).
• You do not know the person? Click Ablehnen (Deny).
• You do nothing? Then the request is denied by itself after a few seconds. The time runs down at the bottom of the window.

Ablehnen is already selected. So pressing Enter by mistake lets nobody in.

No question appears? Then your computer is set up so that certain helpers may come in without asking — for example from your company. This is under Einstellungen › Sicherheit (Settings > Security) → Zugriffssteuerung (Access control). With BrowserDesk Free the question always appears.

2. How you can tell that someone is watching

• Windows: a small window appears at the top right. At the top it shows the helper's name, below it "Verbunden" (connected) and for how long. After 5 seconds it becomes small and sits in the taskbar at the bottom. The cross at the top only makes it small — the connection keeps running.
• Mac and Linux: the BrowserDesk window itself turns into this small card while someone is connected.
• The window shows "Nur Ansicht" (view only) when the helper may only watch, and "REC" when the session is recorded.
• Coloured frame (Windows only, if switched on): a frame with "Bildschirm wird geteilt" (screen is being shared) surrounds the screen the helper sees. Switch on: Einstellungen › Fernzugriff (Settings > Remote access) → card Übertragung (Transfer) → Geteilten Bildschirm markieren (Mark shared screen). The helper does not see the frame.
• In the BrowserDesk window, Fernzugriff (Remote access) has the card Aktive Verbindungen (Active connections) listing everyone connected right now.

3. The helper should only watch, not control

In the small window, under "DER BETRACHTER DARF" (the viewer may), there are three tiles. A click switches each off or back on:

• Steuern (Control) — mouse and keyboard. Off: the helper only watches.
• Ablage (Clipboard) — copy and paste.
• Datei (File) — transferring files.

4. End the session yourself

• In the small window click the red button Verbindung trennen (Disconnect). If several people are connected it reads Alle trennen (Disconnect all).
• Or in the BrowserDesk window: Fernzugriff → Aktive Verbindungen → Alle trennen.
• In Quick Support: Trennen und beenden (Disconnect and quit).

Afterwards this helper does not come back in by himself. Only when you allow him again — or when he has stopped knocking for 10 minutes. To allow again: Fernzugriff → card "Nach „Trennen“ gesperrt" (blocked after disconnect) → Wieder zulassen (Allow again). If BrowserDesk runs as a service, this also works via the BrowserDesk icon next to the clock: Getrennte Verbindungen wieder zulassen (Allow disconnected connections again).

5. The helper wants to talk to you

If the helper asks to switch on your microphone, Mikrofon einschalten? (Switch on microphone?) appears. Click Mikrofon einschalten (Switch on microphone) and he hears you. Click Ablehnen or do nothing, and the microphone stays off. While the question is open, the helper cannot click anything — so he cannot say "yes" himself.

How you know it worked

• After Verbindung trennen the small window is gone.
• Under Fernzugriff → Aktive Verbindungen it says "keine" (none).

What the other side sees

• If you denied: "Der Zugriff wurde am Gerät abgelehnt oder nicht rechtzeitig bestätigt." (access was denied at the device or not confirmed in time)
• If you disconnected: the window "Verbindung beendet" (connection ended) with the sentence "Der Gesteuerte hat die Verbindung beendet." (the controlled side ended the connection)
• If you switched Steuern off: "Nur Ansicht — nicht steuerbar" (view only — cannot be controlled).
• The helper does not see the coloured frame.

Good to know

• The helper cannot operate the small window. Only you, with your own mouse.
• The microphone switches off when the session ends. What you say is not recorded.
• What is stored: - On your computer under Verlauf (History): which sessions took place, in both directions. - At the relay (at BrowserDesk or at your company, depending on the access): device list, settings, logs and — only if switched on — recordings. While a recording runs, the small window shows "REC". - A preview image of your screen for the address book only exists if it is switched on: Einstellungen › Sicherheit → Vorschaubild für das Adressbuch (Preview image for the address book). It is off by default.
• Under "DIESER RECHNER" (this computer) the small window also has Sperren (Lock — lock mouse and keyboard on your computer) and Privat (Private — turn your screen dark).

If it does not work