What are RealVNC Connect, RealVNC Server and RealVNC Viewer? Which app do I install where and where can I download them?
RealVNC Connect is the brand name of our flagship remote access software. It consists of:
- RealVNC Server, for remote devices you want to access
- RealVNC Viewer, for devices you want to access from
- The RealVNC Connect Portal, where you manage your subscription and the devices and people you want to enable remote access for
You can do anything that you could do were you sitting in front of the remote device and using it’s keyboard and mouse.
To get started, download and run the RealVNC Connect Setup app and follow the on-screen instructions.
To license RealVNC Connect (that is, apply your subscription), simply sign in when prompted to both RealVNC Server and RealVNC Viewer using your RealVNC account credentials (email address and password).
Using a mobile device, or need to install on a device without an internet connection?
- Download RealVNC Server to every device you want to access
- Download RealVNC Viewer to every device you want to access from, or search 'RealVNC' in the iOS App Store or Android Play Store.
How do I get started with RealVNC Connect on Windows?
On the device you want to control
- Download the RealVNC Connect setup app.
- Click the Download for Windows button.
- Click the Accept and Install button.
- Once the download and installation process completes, choose one of:
- Start my free trial: If you are new to RealVNC Connect and do not already have an account or subscription, to get started with a free 14 day trial
- Sign in to continue: If you are an existing RealVNC Connect user and want to set up this device with your existing account/subscription
- Your web browser will open automatically. Follow the on-screen prompts, then click Open to return to the RealVNC Connect Setup app.
- Review the settings shown, then click Launch.
If you use the default VNC Password, make a note of the password displayed as you will need this when you connect from another device.
On the device you want to control from
- Download the RealVNC Connect setup app.
- Click the Download for Windows button.
- Click the Accept and Install button.
- Once the download and installation process completes, choose one of:
- Start my free trial: If you are new to RealVNC Connect and do not already have an account or subscription, to get started with a free 14 day trial
- Sign in to continue: If you are an existing RealVNC Connect user and want to set up this device with your existing account/subscription
- Your web browser will open automatically. Follow the on-screen prompts, then click Open to return to the RealVNC Connect Setup app.
- Review the settings shown, then click Launch.
You will see your remote computer(s) appear automatically in your team:
Connecting for the first time
In RealVNC Viewer, double click or tap on the remote computer that you want to connect to.
Make sure you are using RealVNC Viewer on a separate device to the one with RealVNC Server installed, otherwise you will see an infinite "hall of mirrors"!
As part of the first connection to a RealVNC Server, RealVNC Viewer will show you a Identity Check screen that you can use to verify you are connecting to the right computer.
You can check the displayed Catchphrase and Signature against the values shown in RealVNC Server.
RealVNC Viewer will store the identity which it will automatically check against for future connections to that computer to ensure they match. If they don't, RealVNC Viewer will display a warning to alert you before it makes the connection.
Did you know?
You can connect to a remote computer from the RealVNC Connect Portal by visiting the Computers page and clicking the 'Connect' button.
Authenticating
When you connect to a remote computer, you will be prompted to authenticate. Enter the password you made a note of from step 6 above.
Selected Windows Password during setup?
This means you will need to use the username and password of an account on the remote computer.
Further information
Permissions
If you selected Windows Password during setup, you need to ensure that the users you want to be able to connect remotely have been given permission (by default, only members of the Administrators group are able to connect).
To add other users, see Managing users and session permissions for RealVNC Server. Failure to do this may result in not being able to connect to your computer remotely.
Subscribing to RealVNC Connect
If you want to keep using RealVNC Connect after your trial expires, see How do I subscribe to RealVNC Connect?
On-Demand Assist
If you need help getting started with On-Demand Assist, see Getting Started with On-Demand Assist
Inviting people to your team
To allow others to access your computers remotely, see How do I invite people in to my team to share remote access?
Mass deployment
If your subscription offers mass deployment, you can deploy, license, and configure RealVNC Server using Group Policy. See Deploying and licensing VNC Connect using Windows MSIs and Setting up Group Policy under Windows.
How do I get started with RealVNC Connect on macOS?
On the device you want to control
- Download the RealVNC Connect setup app.
- Click the Download for MacOS button.
- Click the Accept and Install button and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Once the download and installation process completes, choose one of:
- Start my free trial: If you are new to RealVNC Connect and do not already have an account or subscription, to get started with a free 14 day trial
- Sign in to continue: If you are an existing RealVNC Connect user and want to set up this device with your existing account/subscription
- Your web browser will open automatically. Follow the on-screen prompts, then click Allow to return to the RealVNC Connect Setup app.
- Review the settings shown, then click Launch.
If you use the default VNC Password, make a note of the password displayed as you will need this when you connect from another device.
Installing RealVNC Server on MacOS Mojave or later?
You must grant Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions to RealVNC Connect. If you do not grant these permissions you will see a blank screen in RealVNC Viewer and/or have view-only access.
For more information, see Known Issues when connecting to MacOS
On the device you want to control from
- Download the RealVNC Connect setup app
- Click the Download for Mac button.
- Click the Accept and Install button and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Once the download and installation process completes, choose one of:
- Start my free trial: If you are new to RealVNC Connect and do not already have an account or subscription, to get started with a free 14 day trial
- Sign in to continue: If you are an existing RealVNC Connect user and want to set up this device with your existing account/subscription
- Your web browser will open automatically. Follow the on-screen prompts, then click Allow to return to the RealVNC Connect Setup app.
- Review the settings shown, then click Launch.
You will see your remote computer(s) appear automatically in your team:
Connecting for the first time
In RealVNC Viewer, double click or tap on the remote computer that you want to connect to.
Make sure you are using RealVNC Viewer on a separate device to the one with RealVNC Server installed, otherwise you will see an infinite "hall of mirrors"!
As part of the first connection to a RealVNC Server, RealVNC Viewer will show you a Identity Check screen that you can use to verify you are connecting to the right computer.
You can check the displayed Catchphrase and Signature against the values shown in RealVNC Server.
RealVNC Viewer will store the identity which it will automatically check against for future connections to that computer to ensure they match. If they don't, RealVNC Viewer will display a warning to alert you before it makes the connection.
Did you know?
You can connect to a remote computer from the RealVNC Connect Portal by visiting the Computers page and clicking the 'Connect' button.
Authentication
When you connect to a remote computer, you will be prompted to authenticate. Enter the password you made a note of from step 6 above.
Selected Mac Password during setup?
This means you will need to use the username and password of an account on the remote computer.
How do I get started with RealVNC Connect on Linux?
On the device you want to control
- Download the RealVNC Connect setup app.
- Click the Download for Linux button.
- Extract the installer in your Downloads folder using your system's file manager, and run it by double-clicking the RealVNC Connect installer application icon.
- Click the Accept and Install button and follow the on-screen instructions. If prompted, ensure you choose to accept when asked to disable Wayland, this is needed for RealVNC Connect to function correctly.
- Once the download and installation process completes, choose one of:
- Start my free trial: If you are new to RealVNC Connect and do not already have an account or subscription, to get started with a free 14 day trial
- Sign in to continue: If you are an existing RealVNC Connect user and want to set up this device with your existing account/subscription
- Your web browser will open automatically. Follow the on-screen prompts, then click Open to return to the RealVNC Connect Setup app.
- Review the settings shown, then click Launch.
If you use the default VNC Password, make a note of the password displayed as you will need this when you connect from another device.
On the device you want to control from
- Download the RealVNC Connect setup app.
- Click the Download for Linux button.
- Extract the installer in your Downloads folder using your system's file manager, and run it by double-clicking the RealVNC Connect installer application icon.
- Click the Accept and Install button and follow the on-screen instructions. If prompted to disable Wayland, click Yes. Wayland must be disabled for RealVNC Connect to function correctly.
- Once the download and installation process completes, choose one of:
- Start my free trial: If you are new to RealVNC Connect and do not already have an account or subscription, to get started with a free 14 day trial
- Sign in to continue: If you are an existing RealVNC Connect user and want to set up this device with your existing account/subscription
- Your web browser will open automatically. Follow the on-screen prompts, then click Open to return to the RealVNC Connect Setup app.
- Review the settings shown, then click Launch.
You will see your remote computer(s) appear automatically in your team:
Connecting for the first time
In RealVNC Viewer, double click or tap on the remote computer that you want to connect to.
Make sure you are using RealVNC Viewer on a separate device to the one with RealVNC Server installed, otherwise you will see an infinite "hall of mirrors"!
As part of the first connection to a RealVNC Server, RealVNC Viewer will show you a Identity Check screen that you can use to verify you are connecting to the right computer.
You can check the displayed Catchphrase and Signature against the values shown in RealVNC Server.
RealVNC Viewer will store the identity which it will automatically check against for future connections to that computer to ensure they match. If they don't, RealVNC Viewer will display a warning to alert you before it makes the connection.
Did you know?
You can connect to a remote computer from the RealVNC Connect Portal by visiting the Computers page and clicking the 'Connect' button.
Authenticating
When you connect to a remote computer, you will be prompted to authenticate. Enter the password you made a note of from step 7 above.
Selected Unix Password during setup?
This means you will need to use the username and password of an account on the remote computer.
