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WIN – Remote

WIN – Remote is capable of remote controlling Windows. To use the app you need to install the Windows Remote Service on your Windows computer.

After starting the app you will see the Home Screen of the application.

See a demonstration video to access all features.

  1. Download the Windows Remote Service (.NET 4.0 Client Profile is required => will be installed during setup) on your PC
    Note: It has been tested under Windows 7 32bit and 64bit. Also tested under Vista 32bit and Windows 8 64bit.
  2. Download and install WIN Remote on your Android device
  3. In the App: open Preferences >> Server Settings
  4. Change the port(s) if you did so in Windows Remote Service
  5. Select a server – there are two ways:
    • Enter the IP-address or the pc name of your PC running Windows Remote Service
    • Click on automatic search and let the device search for a Windows Remote Service in the network
  6. The connection should be established.
  7. If any problems occur, don’t hesitate to contact us! Read the FAQ and User Guide to solve problems.

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97 Comments

  1. Alvaro Ampudia

    so, is it only for windows 7??? i installed it on windows XP and i can’t figure out how to use it, i already wrote my PC’s IP on my android app settings (both connected to the same router) but it doesn’t seem to do anything… is there anything i can do to fix it? thanks!! the app looks great!!

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      No it’s only been tested under Windows 7 and Vista. Unfortunatelly we don’t have any XP environment available, but hopefully soon!

      As I also mentioned in the FAQ:
      I guess your Firewall is blocking the connection. Try a local connection to http://localhost:8655 (replace 8655 with your MAIN port) and something should be printed on the screen. If not the service is not running, read the error.log file for any errors (click on the button “show log”).
      If the local connection succeeds the service is running. Now you should try a non-local connection: Go to a different PC’s or your mobile device’s browser and open http://<YOUR-IP&gt;:8655 (replace 8655 with your MAIN port and <YOUR-IP> with the IP-address of your PC running the service). If something is printed on the screen, the app should also work. If not, something is blocking – check your Windows Firewall and add a rule for allowing connections on the MAIN port (inbound and outbound), see the FAQ. :)

      Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      In the Windows Remote Service, open the tab “Network Information”: the green line should be the IP address to enter in the server settings of the app. This IP address is the IP address of the PC in the local network.

      Reply

  3. Võ Anh Duy

    Once more question, what do i need to use this app? I mean do my phone must have internet access. Or via bluetooth, cable?

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      Currently it’s only WiFi (and maybe 3G), but no Bluetooth. Your Android version must at least be 2.1.
      Windows Remote Service requires .NET 4.0 (the full version, this will be installed automatically running the setup.exe) and your Windows should at least be Windows 2000. It has been tested under 7 and Vista, XP should work as well (not tested).

      Reply

  4. Võ Anh Duy

    I try some ways but it’s no use. Can’t you make a step-by-step video clip. Or clearly how to connect by wifi/bluetooth.

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      I can make a step-by-step video, but not before next week (my graphic board just broke, so I have to wait for a new one..).

      What does not work? Which operating system do you have? Do you have a firewall running which is not the Windows Firewall?

      Connection is simple:

      1. Download and install Windows Remote Service
      2. Run the Windows Remote Service (installation folder is %ProgramFiles%/Banamalon/Windows Remote Service or on a 64bit machine it’s in %ProgramFiles(x86)%/Banamalon/Windows Remote Service
      3. If your Windows Firewall is running: A Windows Security Alert asks whether to block Windows Remote Service (this is for the mouse port (UDP)) => don’t block it
      4. If Windows Firewall and UAC (User Access Control) are running: A window which is asking for elevated privileges pops up (this is for the main port to configure your Windows Firewall and enable access to that port)
      5. Now the log on the screen should display that it configured the firewall and that the service is running
      6. Test the service on the PC (which is running the service): Open a browser and go to http://localhost:8655 => something should be printed on the screen which means the service is running
      7. Now get your mobile device, press the menu button and go to preferences
      8. Open server settings and click on IP-address: Enter the name of your PC or the IP address of that PC (can be found in the Windows Remote Service tab Network Information)
      9. Now go to the filemanager (or any remote other than the touchpad) and test if something is shown there, if yes it is working, if not it means you have still something on your PC which is blocking the connection (see FAQ

      Reply

  5. Võ Anh Duy

    I want to see how it works so i tried to disable all my acc and firewall. The only thing make me confuse is how to connect my phone (htc wildfire) and my laptop (window 7 x64). I do to step 6 with no problem. But now i don’t know how to connect with wifi (as you said above). Does it mean my phone and lap have internet access, or a hot-spot. And about the IP, you said about the green line, but this is what i have http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s253/Dark_Lord_3017/IP.png (sr but it’s a little small). The green line is IP from WMware, is it really my ip address?

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      Hi,
      they both don’t need Internet, they just need to be in the same network. So if you have a (wireless) router to which both the pc and phone are connected, it’s working. I don’t know if it’s working via 3g..

      If you are not sure which IP address is the correct one, just enter the name of the pc instead of the IP address (how to get the pc name: press windows-key + pause-key (simultaneously) and you’ll open the system settings of your pc/laptop => there you’ll also find the name of your pc).

      The line is green, because that IP address starts with 192.168. (which is most likely the IP address to be used).

      [EDIT]: The first IP-address should be the one you enter in the app. Is your Laptop connected via 3g? Don’t know if it is working if both – your mobile phone and your laptop – are connected via 3g. Then you have to use the external IP-address: http://whatsmyipaddress.com/

      Reply

  6. Võ Anh Duy

    I try both pc name and external IP-address but no luck. Beside that i hope you should make it work with bluetooth connect and a new power point remote.

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      yeah, we want to implement bluetooth connection. What’s missing in the powerpoint remote?
      So, you are connected via 3g on both laptop and phone? No local network? Did you try the first ip address in that list?
      Guess it’s not working if both are connected via 3g…

      Reply

  7. Võ Anh Duy

    Yes It isn’t working. What i really want is make it working with bluetooth connection. And how about using my phone as a wifi hot-spot and connect your laptop to it?

    Reply

  8. Võ Anh Duy

    Hey I find it out. It can work without a router. First download some software that can make your laptop to become a wifi-hot-spot (but don’t need wifi), say “connectify” for example. Than make your phone connect to it and that’s all. Now i can use your app and it works perfectly. Thank you very much and keep make it better.

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      For simplicity we will still add Bluetooth connection.
      Thanks for telling how to figure out a solution and providing it for others who might still struggle with the same issue!

      Reply

    • Nathan Clements

      i got connectify, and i can see that my droid is connected, however the remote still does not work. what am i doing wrong or what should i check?

      Reply

      • Anna Dinges

        Make sure no AntiVirus or Firewall or other program is blocking the MAIN port of Windows Remote Service. Are any errors printed in the log of Windows Remote Service?

        Reply

  9. ben

    Great app. Suggest a playlist interface for WMP if possible. Otherwise great functionality keep up the good work

    Reply

  10. Miguel

    Hi, I have gone through the video tutorials and the text tutorials several times. I have followed every step exactly as stated. I’m running Win7 on my laptop and have checked my firewall settings to make sure port 8655 is allowed. I’m able to view the success message in my laptop’s browser, but not from my phone’s browser. No matter how many times I try, I cannot get my phone connected to my PC. I could not get the VLC Remote app to work either. I have my phone connected to my network over WiFi.

    Thanks,
    Miguel

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      VLC-Remote: Did you activate the http-interface of VLC and download our zip-file?
      WIN-Remote: if you can’t access the service from your phone, it means some program (antivirus, firewall, etc) is still blocking the MAIN port. Did you allow inbound and outbound connections on the MAIN port of Windows Remote Service?

      Reply

  11. Miguel

    I double-checked the VLC settings and tried it both ways – using the zip file and manually. I set the firewall rules according to the instructions in the FAQ. I’m running Microsoft Security Essentials as my antivirus, but I’m not sure how I can check if it’s blocking anything.

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      The zip files is needed only for some commands, like playlist and next/previous. Play/pause should work without the zip files.
      You don’t need to set firewall rules for VLC Remote, this is all done by VLC’s http-interface. Windows Remote Service is not needed to control VLC!

      You can check whether it is blocking by disabling it, try then a connection and if that suceeds, those MS Security Essentials are blocking that port or even the whole program. But unfortunatelly I never used it and thus I don’t know how to change that blocking. Maybe MS help is providing anything?

      EDIT: Or are you trying to use the internal VLC-Remote? This does not need the zip file, because it only uses the hotkeys of VLC.

      Reply

  12. Christian

    Hi,

    Im using WIN remote’s wake on lan setting and it works fine, but my PC is password protected (windows login). I would like to know if there is a way to start the service before I enter windows, so that I can use WIN remote to enter my Windows password?

    Another thing; when I watch shows in Windows media center, and the show is finished, theres a summary page that pops up. Can you insert a “back” button to return to the last page in Media Center?

    P.S WIN remote is probably the best app I’ve seen on an Android device! Keep up the great work!

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      I’ll try to get service running, so that you can enter your password with your phone. Not sure right now, if it’s simple or not :)

      Reply

  14. Richard Xiong

    Hey, so you will be implementing bluetooth connect in your future update? Would that be anytime soon? Just a thought that it would be so much simpler and more seamless with bluetooth connect rather than having to make both the laptop and the phone to connect to the same network.

    Regardless, it’s an awesome app. Keep up the good work :)

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      Yeah, but we’ve got a lot going on recently and thus it might take one or two month till we’re implementing it. But it WILL be implemented though.

      Reply

  15. Raymund

    Hi there! I was greatly amazed on the software, but just would like to ask if this app or another one can do the below function:

    “is there any app that whenever i come in a meeting with only my android in my pocket bearing all the data i need, instantly sync or link with a computer or projector.”

    its like taking over the control of the presentation meeting?

    Appreciate the help. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      I think it is only possible if some program (like Windows Remote Service) of us is running on that computer. Not sure about a projector and we woudn’t be able to test that.
      But we could implement a feature to allow synchronizing or copying of files to the computer which is running the Windows Remote Service.

      Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      Hi,
      don’t know if 3g works, but I guess not. You need to be in the same local (WiFi) network as your laptop/computer. See this comment on how to setup a connection without a router.

      Currently we don’t have bluetooth supported and we’re not able to test 3g connections.

      Reply

    • Vivek

      Hi. I have hit a minor road block with regards to using the computers name to make a connection. The wifi network has DHCP running on it, hence making the connection to the computer using its Name becomes convenient but this feature does not seem to be working for me.

      I have been able to successfully connect the phone to the computer using its IP address. The problem is not in the computer name as Ive cross checked it to the router’s attached devices log.
      Would appreciate any help on this matter.

      Reply

  19. Kramayudha

    Hi, Thanx for great app, I use Win 7 and Galaxy 5, I have some trouble with mouse input, I can’t move mouse cursor, I only can use right klik. Thanks for good work.

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      Can’t you use the mouse at all (maybe it is working on the Desktop but not in eg Windows Explorer or something like that)? Maybe some program is blocking the MOUSE port (it uses UDP) of Windows Remote Service. Check your Firewalls and AntiVirus programs if they are blocking any ports.

      Reply

  21. Troy

    Is there any way to shuffle all songs or play a genre through the filemanager or at least to play all songs at any level like artist rather than having to choose 1 song in 1 album? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      If you press long on the play button you can select shuffle, repeat.
      Long pressing on an album and you can select to play the whole album (or in the filemanager the whole folder). The same with artist, but for the filemanager you should enable play the subfolders (I don’t know how it is called exactly) in settings.

      Reply

  22. Jeffery Schimes

    I’ve read all these posts and went through the limited help files that were supplied. From what I’ve read here it seems like everyone is using home Wi-Fi connections for both phone and computer. My PCs internet is wired into a router. WRS is returning 192.168.1.20 as my IP address. WhatsmyIP.com is returning a completely different address. From my experience, 192.xxx.x.xx is not a real IP address. My question is, can this app be used via wired internet – 3G? In my opion, this service sounds awesome and I’d really like to get it to work. One more thing. There is a lot of settings/options not addressed in any help files. For instance, What is the Wake On LAN(local area network) about/for?

    Reply

    • Jeffery Schimes

      I dont know if it matters but I’m running android 2.2 on a Sanyo Zio through an unlimited Cricket plan.

      Reply

      • Anna Dinges

        Hi,

        sorry for the late reply. Wake on LAN is for waking up your computer, via network. This feature must be enabled on your PC. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake-on-LAN for more information.

        Currently we were not able to test 3G connections and I don’t think this is possible (at least not that easy). If we are able to test it or you figure out how, we will provide a guide.
        The IP address you stated is a real IP address, but only in your private network. But you can’t use this IP address via 3G. whatsmyip.com returns your external IP address, which your router is using to communicate in the world wide web.

        Reply

    • Anna Dinges

      The current version of Windows Remote Service requires the .NET Framework Full version. Mostly, Windows Update installs only the Client Profile of .NET 4.0.

      The next version (released soon), will be .NET 4.0 Client Profile.

      Reply

  24. ralnick

    Quick and easy way to work around computer name/ external IP address. http://WWW.no-ip.com signup for a free host then use that name for you host address

    Problem to question is I am not able to see browser on phone. have no view of what I am doing any way to use mini browser on phone to access same website?

    Great app btw keep up the great work

    Reply

  25. Deedo

    I can’t seems to work this program not even able to run it on my computer, I download the app on my htc hd2 android(just to be precise). I downloaded the WIN-REMOTE but everytime i try to run it, it’s telling me that I dont have the right net framework 4, I had installed it 5 times already and even find an update on my computer about it and its still not running and still saying i have the same problem with the net framework 4. I already emailed you about the same problem and havent got any response yet. Please response with any solutions if you have some bcause i can’t seem to make it work.

    Reply

So, what do you think ?