Installing Screens Connect for Windows

Installation

• Download Screens Connect.
• Open the downloaded file ScreensConnectSetup.exe.

• Click Next.
• Specify where Screens Connect files should be installed.
• Specify the Start Menu folder in which Screens Connect will be listed.

Additional Installation Tasks

• Add an exception to the Windows firewall: Activate this option to instruct the Windows firewall to allow incoming Screens connections.
• Launch Screens Connect at launch: To ensure that your Windows PC is always accessible when you need to connect with Screens, enable this option.
• Install TightVNC: Screens requires that a VNC server is installed and running on your PC. If you already have a VNC server installed, you may deselect this option. Otherwise, select this option to install TightVNC.
• Install freeSSHd: If you wish to use Screens through a secure, encrypted tunnel, you also need an SSH server installed and running. We recommend installing freeSSHd, but this is optional.
• Click Install to begin the installation process. (If you elected to install TightVNC and/or freeSSHd, it/they will be installed as part of this process. See below for walk-throughs.)

• Once installation is complete, launch Screens Connect.

• If you don't have a Screens ID, click Create a Screens ID. Otherwise, click the Sign In button to log in with an existing Screens ID.
• If you wish to connect to this PC through an encrypted connection, enable Use SSH Tunneling at port.
• Leave the port set at the industry-wide default of 22.
• To prevent disconnections caused by the PC going to sleep to save power, enable Prevent computer from sleeping.
• Ensure that Launch on Startup is enabled.

Installing TightVNC

• When the Welcome window appears, click Next.
• Read the software license accompanying the application, and tick the box to accept the license terms.
• Choose your preferred installation type: Typical, Custom, or Complete. For our purposes, the Typical option is sufficient.

• Enable Register TightVNC Server as a system service.
• Enable Configure system to allow services to simulate Ctrl-Alt-Del.
• Enable Add exception for TightVNC to Windows Firewall.

• Click Install to begin the installation process.

• As part of the installation process, set passwords for remote access and for the admin interface.

Installing freeSSHd

• When the Welcome window appears, click Next.
• Specify the installation location. We recommend to leave the default location.

• Choose the components you wish to install. At the time of this writing, the only option available is Full installation.
• Choose the Start Menu folder under which freeSSHd will be listed, or tick Don't create a Start Menu folder.
• Tick Create a desktop icon, if desired.

• Click Install to begin the installation process.
• When prompted to generate keys, click Yes.

• When prompted to run freeSSHd as a system service, click Yes.

• Click Finish to wrap things up.

Uninstalling Screens Connect for Windows

• Right-click the Screens Connect icon in the system tray.
• Select Exit.
• Open the Windows Control Panel.
• Click Uninstall a program.
• Click Screens Connect.
• Click Uninstall.

Signing in with your Screens ID in Screens

In order for Screens to find your computer where Screens Connect is running, you need to sign in within the app.

Screens for iOS

With Screens running on your iOS device, follow these steps:

• Tap the Settings (gear) icon.
• Select Screens Connect.
• Enter your Screens ID and password.
  
• Tap the Next button.

Upon signing in, you should see every Mac or Windows PC you've installed Screens Connect on.

Screens for macOS

With Screens running on your Mac, follow these steps:

• Go to the Screens app menu.
• Select Screens Connect > Sign In...
• Enter your Screens ID and password.
  
• Click the Sign In button.

Upon signing in, you should see every Mac and Windows computer you've installed Screens Connecton. The antenna icon next to the computer name means that the Screens Connect service is enabled on that computer.

The next time you connect to this computer, Screens will determine whether your computer is available on your local network. If it's not, Screens will query our Screens Connect server for the computer's network information. This process is all seamless, and you shouldn't see a difference between connecting via local network and connecting via the Internet!