Unified Remote: Control your PC remotely with your smartphone

I. Introduction to Unified Remote

Unified Remote is an application that allows you to control your computer from your smartphone or the tablet. You can remotely control the mouse and keyboard of your PC, as well as other specific applications via dedicated controls. Operation is simple, you install the application server on your PC and on your phone, you install the client that will allow you to control the computer. Currently,Unified Remote Server is only available for Windows . Client side, Android and Windows Phone are currently supported. In this tutorial, I show you how to install the server on Windows , and how to configure and use the client application on Android .

Here is the official website of the publisher: http://www.unifiedremote.com

II. Explanations

1. Unified Remote Installation Server on Windows

Before installing Unified Remote Server , make sure you have Net. Framework 4 installed on your PC. If this is not the case, then download the installation file HERE and run the installer. Wait, this can be a bit long. Download Unified Remote Server . After launching the setup file, click " Next ":

At the next window, select " I accept the terms in the License Agreement "and click" Next ":

Until the window below. Tick the box " Launch Application When setup exits "to start the server immediately and then click" Finish "

Note that Unified Remote is configured to start automatically each time you start Windows .Notice also that you need to allow the application in your firewall for the connection to be established.

2. Protect server access password

If you do not want your little brother (or anyone else) can take control of your PC remotely, or if you plan to connect from another network, it is better to enable a password to access the server, it will enter the client side. To do this in the configuration window (accessed by clicking the icon in your system tray at the bottom right), go to the tab " Security "and select" Enable password protection" and enter your personal password:

You can also enable data encryption by checking the " Enable data encryption ". Note that this can cause small delays.

3. Unified Remote Client Configuration Android

Now that we have installed our server, we now need to install and configure the client to then be able to control the computer remotely from a mobile ( Android in this case). Your phone must be connected to your wifi box, or via Bluetooth with your PC. For Android , you can choose between two versions: a free download HERE and other pay you can buy HERE (the list of these functions are is detailed). In this tutorial, I will present the free version will suffice the needs of a large number of users. Once you have the application installed, open it and press " Accept "to accept the license agreement:

Press " I have installed the new server! " (This is what we saw in Part 1):

In the " Connect to server ", press" Scan for servers "to automatically detect your PC (server):

The name of your PC should then appear, press it:

You will come to a window where you discusses the new version 2.5 of Unified Remote . Press "Next ":

Other windows presentation will be displayed, press " Next "until you get to the home screen of the application as below:

4. Control of remote PC from Android

Let us now control your PC remotely from your smartphone or tablet Android . A home screen (see screenshot above), press " Remotes ". Wait for the synchronization with the server:

Then you get to the list of functions of remote control available:

Of course, if you purchased the full version, you'll have more. now I'll introduce you to some of these functions, given that the application is in English, it will probably help some of you. 1) control the mouse and keyboard (Basic Input) The " Basic Input "allows you to remote control the mouse and keyboard of your PC:

Side mouse : - Touch the screen and drag your finger inside the white rectangle to move the mouse on your computer. - Tap with one finger to a left click, and with two fingers to right click. - Use two fingers and drag up or down to move up or down a page scrolling. - Hold down and drag your finger to move an item. Côté keyboard : Simply bring up the keypad of your phone by pressing on the corresponding icon in the upper right or the menu button on your phone. Notice that in each of the features, you have quick access to the mouse and keyboard in the top right. 2) File Manager (File Manager ) The " File Manager "you can simply access the contents of your computer (your desktop) and manage your files and folders:

There are all disk partitions, external media connected, and a shortcut to the desktop (Desktop) and to the My Documents folder (Personal). You can open, copy, cut, paste, or delete a file (or folder). To open a file on your computer remotely, you simply browse your PC with this manager and press once on the file you want. Other functions are accessed by holding your finger on it (same for folders):

3) The function keys of the keyboard (Keyboard (Function))

The " Keyboard (Function) "allows you to control special function keys on the keyboard (FN, special characters, Ctrl, Alt, ...):

4) Check the media

The " Media "allows you to control, in general, the volume of your computer and any type of media played in media players like Windows Media Player, VLC, Winamp etc ...

Using the buttons are available, you can adjust or mute the volume, skip to the next or previous media, stop or pause the media ..

5) Navigation keys

The " Navigation "allows you to control the keyboard navigation keys such as arrow keys, Enter, Tab, Esc ...

6) Check the PC power supply

The " Power "allows you to remotely control the power of your PC, for example, stop or pause remote:

Description : - Restart : Restart the computer. - Shutdown : Shut down the computer. - Log Off : Close the current session. - Lock : Lock the session. - Sleep : Put the computer to sleep. - Wake On Lan : Wake the computer via ethernet (if the PC supports this function). - Hibernate : Put the computer into hibernation. - Abort : Cancel the shutdown. 7) Check the mouse wheel function "Scroll Wheel "acts as a mouse wheel and allows you to scroll a window remotely on your computer.You just have to touch the gray circle in the center and slide your finger up or down:

8) Check slideshows

The " Slide Show "enables you to launch any type of show (photos, powerpoint ...)

Description : - Go To : Go to a specific slide. - Start : Start the slideshow. - Fullscreen : Put in full screen. - End : Stop the slide. - Prev : Go to the previous slide. - Next : Go to the slide Next. 9) Check the task manager function " Task Manager "allows you to control the Task Manager on your PC. You access and remotely all tasks (Tasks) and processes (Processes) running:

To put a foreground element you just press it once. Ending a task or process, hold your finger on it and then press " Kill "

If you want details, such as the memory occupied by a task or process, then press " Details . " 10) Check VLC Media Player The last function that I present is " VLC (Keyboard) , "she simply lets you remotely control the famous multimedia application VLC on your PC:

Using the buttons are available, you can adjust or mute the volume, skip to the next or previous media, put in full screen, pause or stop the media .. You can even run VLC directly by pressing the menu button your phone and then click " Launch ". Similarly, in the menu " lifts "of Unified Remote , you will find the control functions of Windows Media Player and Youtube .

5. Quickly access a remote control function

If you wish, you can add a shortcut on your desktop apps for faster access to a function that you use often. To do this, press and hold your finger on an empty space on the home screen of your Android , then press on " Shortcut "

Then press " Remote "

Finally, select the function you want from the list:

Repeat to add another shortcut function.

III. Conclusion of the tutorial

Here, we have seen how to control your PC remotely from a device Android . And for those who have the full version of the client, I let you discover the many other functions that fabulous Unified Remote offers! Have fun :-)