TeamViewer is one of the best remote control software programs that exists today. For most of us who use it just to access our various computers when we’re away from them, this software is completely free of charge. For commercial use, where you are charging money for services related to TeamViewer’s use, then there is a lifetime license that you can purchase. Personally, I have TeamViewer set up on my work PC, my multimedia PC that I use for video and audio production, and my home pc. I also have it set up on my wife’s PC and my son’s PC so that I can get access from my office if they need help with something. My mother-in-law just got a computer for the first time and is a complete novice, so I help her out once in a while when she’s stuck. This kind of use is common and falls into the category of personal use as far as I can tell. But let me tell you, if I wanted to start a computer support business this is the software I would use and I would not hesitate to pay for the license. There’s nothing quite as good out there.

But enough singing TeamViewer’s praises. This video and article will teach you how to set up TeamViewer to allow remote control even when there is no user logged on to the target machine.

I had written a previous article and post about allowing TeamViewer to wake a computer up from sleep mode and I received a comment from a viewer who claimed that they could not log in to their home PC from work if no one was logged on, which prompted me to make this video. It is possible, but you have to configure it in TeamViewer on the target PC and then you have to use the correct method on the PC you are using to gain access to the remote computer.

It’s a simple set of steps:

  • On any computer where you want to allow access when no user is logged on, you have to tell TeamViewer to run as a service when windows starts:
    TeamViewer Options Screen showing start up with windows option checked
    By checking this checkbox, you are telling TeamViewer to run as a system service, in the background, without any user being logged in to Windows.
  • Once you check the “Start TeamViewer with Windows” checkbox and click OK, you should restart your computer if you are not already prompted to. Restarting will force TeamViewer to start up as a service. If you don’t restart and you just log off, you may not be able to connect. Services start when windows starts.
  • You can verify that TeamViewer is running as a service. Click the start button in Windows and type Administrative Tools. Find Services in the list and double-click it to open it. Scroll down the list until you see TeamViewer. It should be set to Automatic start, like this:
    Services Applet showing TeamViewer running as a service
  • Now go to the PC that you will use to access the PC that will be running without a user logged in.
  • On that PC, start TeamViewer, then browse to the computer in your saved computers and contacts. You MUST have the computer that you want to connect to saved this way or you will not be able to connect without a user logged on, and you won’t be able to use the “wake-on-lan” feature.
  • Click the dropdown next to the computer you want to connect to, and select “Remote Control using password”:
    TeamViewer Remote Control using password option

That’s all there is to it. You have now set up TeamViewer t allow remote control, even when no one is logged on to the target machine.

Have an AWESOME Day!!!