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Remote Support Tools

How to let IT help you remotely by sharing your screen

IT asked you to share your screen so they can fix something. That means they'll temporarily see (and possibly control) your desktop to troubleshoot the issue. Here's how it works and what to do on each platform.

Before you start: close anything personal you don't want IT to see (personal email, banking, photos). They can only see what's on your screen while connected, and they lose access the moment the session ends.

Quick Assist (built-in, most common for Windows support):

Quick Assist is already installed on Windows 10 and 11. Your IT person runs it on their end, gets a code, and gives it to you.

  1. Press Start and type Quick Assist, then open it
  2. Under Get help, click Allow someone you trust to assist you (or you may see a field labeled Code from assistant)
  3. Enter the 6-digit code your IT person gave you and click Submit
  4. Choose Share screen when prompted
  5. Click Allow to let them see your screen. If they request full control, you'll see another prompt — click Allow again to let them interact with your mouse and keyboard
  6. To stop the session at any time, click Leave in the Quick Assist toolbar or just close the window

Your IT person can see everything on your screen while connected. They cannot access your files or screen after the session ends.

Chrome Remote Desktop (browser-based, cross-platform):

If IT uses Chrome Remote Desktop for support:

  1. Open Chrome and go to remotedesktop.google.com/support
  2. Under Get Support, click Download if prompted to install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension
  3. Click Generate Code to get a 12-digit access code
  4. Share this code with your IT person (it expires after 5 minutes)
  5. When they connect, you'll see a prompt asking to confirm. Click Share
  6. A notification bar appears at the bottom showing the session is active. Click Stop Sharing at any time

TeamViewer or AnyDesk (third-party, common in many organizations):

Your IT department will tell you which one to use. The process is similar for both:

  1. Download and install the app from the official website (teamviewer.com or anydesk.com) or your company's software catalog
  2. Open the app. You'll see a Your ID and a password or code on the main screen
  3. Give both the ID and password/code to your IT person over the phone, email, or chat
  4. When they connect, a prompt appears asking you to confirm. Click Allow
  5. A small control panel stays on screen during the session. Click Disconnect or close the app to end it

Frequently Asked Questions

Can IT access my computer after the session ends?▾

No. Quick Assist, Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, and AnyDesk all end completely when you disconnect. IT cannot reconnect without a new code or your explicit permission. The only exception is if your organization has always-on remote management software installed (like an MDM agent), which is separate from these tools and would have been set up by IT when you got the device.

Can IT see my personal files and passwords?▾

They can see whatever is visible on your screen during the session. They can open File Explorer or Finder and browse your files if they have control. Close personal windows and browser tabs before the session starts. They cannot see saved passwords in your browser (those are behind your browser's own authentication) unless you navigate to them during the session.

What if I don't trust the person asking to connect?▾

Only share your screen with IT staff you've verified through official channels. If you receive an unsolicited call, email, or pop-up claiming to be tech support and asking you to install remote access software, it is almost certainly a scam. Legitimate IT departments will contact you through known company channels and you'll usually be the one who initiated the support request.

Which remote support tool is best?▾

For Windows, Quick Assist is the simplest since it's already installed and doesn't require creating accounts. For cross-platform support, Chrome Remote Desktop works on everything with a browser. TeamViewer and AnyDesk are what many IT departments standardize on because they offer more management features. Use whatever your IT department recommends.

Do I need to install anything?▾

For Quick Assist on Windows and Screen Sharing on Mac, no — they're built in. Chrome Remote Desktop requires a browser extension and a small host app. TeamViewer and AnyDesk require downloading and installing their apps. Your IT person will walk you through it if something needs to be installed.