How Windows 8 Remote Assistance Easy Connect Works

Windows 8 Remote Assistance is a handy feature that lets you connect two computers remotely so that should any PC have a problem, it can be accessed by the trouble shooter or a technician from a remote location. With remote assistance, the technician can take control of your PC, use your mouse and keyboard and work his way out of the problem, while you watch. In order for Windows Remote Assistance to work, both PCs must have remote assistance capabilities as well as network connectivity. Windows 8 Remote assistance can be made in 2 ways, via an invitation request or through Easy Connect.

Two typical situations when you can make use of Windows Remote Assistance is when you are facing a problem that is hard to explain over the phone or replicate again. This feature is also handy when you are a technician who needs to explain to the user how to fix the problem on his/her own by showing the steps to fix it.

Let’s go ahead and see how to set up Windows 8 Remote Assistance Easy Connect.

How to Set up Windows 8 Remote Assistance Easy Connect

Windows 8 Remote Assistance is usually enabled by default. If however it is not enabled you can do so by following the steps given below.

1. Right-click the Windows Start menu and choose System.

2. In the left pane, click  Remote settings.

3. In the System Properties dialog box, ensure that the Allow remote assistance connections to this computer option is checked. If you want to, click the Advanced button to display the Remote Assistance Settings dialog box and set the maximum amount of time the invitations for remote access can remain open.

4. Now that you confirmed that remote assistance feature is enabled, its time to head over to the Windows Remote Assistance screen. Navigate back to the Start screen, and type msra

5. From the search results select msra.exe. This will open up the Windows Remote Assistance window.

6. You can choose one of 2 options depending on the situation. You can invite someone to help you out of a problem or you can help out someone who has invited you. Depending on the situation, select an option.

Invite Someone You Trust to Help You

When you select this option, you will be taken to a screen where you can choose to send an invitation as an attachment in a web based email, or via a compatible email or using Easy Connect.

NOTE: Before you allow someone access to your PC, ensure that you close open apps or files that you don’t want your helper to see. You can always stop a session if you are not comfortable with what’s happening.

Click Use Easy Connect if the person at the other end also has this option. You will see a new window displaying a password.

Give this password to your help assistant. You help assistant will also open the Windows Remote Assistance window, select Help someone who has invited you and then select Use Easy Connect. In the Enter the Easy Connect password dialog, the assistant will enter the password you gave him/her and click OK.

Now your desktop will be seen by the help assistant who has options to chat with you from his/her PC and also request for control of your desktop. Once you give permission to do so, he will take over your PC to check the problem and show you some instructions if the need arises. The remote session will be closed when the access window is closed.

Help Someone Who has Invited You

When you choose this option, you will have to select the option to use Easy Connect, then input the password the person needing your help has given you and you will get instantly connected. You can then look at the other computer’s desktop, request for control of that PC and chat with the other person.

Windows 8 Remote Assistance Easy Connect Problems and Fixes

For some reason, what should be an easy process of connecting 2 computers somehow ends up getting mired in all sorts of issues. Here are some of the ones we encountered and how to fix them.

1. Easy Connect option greyed out

You can check out this article for a workaround for this issue.

2. Not connecting after inputting password

This may be due to Windows Firewall blocking Remote Assistance. To resolve this issue, in the screen, click Troubleshoot. Windows Network Diagnostics  will identify the problem for you and give you the option to fix it if you have admin rights. Make use of that option. Alternatively, on the Windows Start screen, type Windows Firewall. From the Search results, select Allow an App or Feature through Windows Firewall. In the Allowed Apps window click Change Settings. Scroll down to Remote Assistance and ensure that both options are enabled.

3. Easy Connect is disabled

If one or both computers have limited Internet access, Easy Connect will be disabled. Make sure that both PCs have good internet connectivity.

4. Easy Connect PNRP Issues

Easy Connect uses the Peer Name Resolution Protocol to transfer invitations over the Internet. Sometimes this may be disabled creating a problem. On the Run window type services.msc and press Enter. In the Services window, scroll down and check if Peer Name Resolution Protocol is running. If not double click and Start the service.

These are usually not major issues and you should be able to use Windows 8 Remote Assistance Easy Connect quite effortlessly.