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Why Windows 10 Remote Assistance is Not Working and How to Fix It

Author: Helga York
Helga York Article author
Why Windows 10 Remote Assistance is Not Working and How to Fix It

If you are wondering ​​how to fix Remote Assistance on Windows 10, this article is for you. In today’s HelpWire blog, we will review the most common problems you may encounter while using the standard system app called Windows 10 Remote Assistance and find out the most common problems and how to fix them in the easiest way possible.

Missing Invitation Letters

Problem:

As you may know, invitation emails to remote helpers have been used since Win XP as a form of remote assistance requests. And I’m pretty sure that there is a lichyard of those emails lost-to-never-be-found in the murky depths of the dustiest server.

Solution:

Do not send requests via emails. It’s Win10, after all, use its features to the full. QuickAssist is much more advanced, only requires a valid Microsoft account, and encrypts all the data passing back and through during the RDP connections.

If that’s a no-go for some reason (e.g., you need help with one of those computers with lots of sensitive data), save the invitation file to a protected cloud drive then tell your helper where to find it (emphasis on protected). And the first chance you get to opt-out of the standard system utilities and get an app operating via TCP— do it!

Disabled Remote Access in the Settings


Problem:

One of the basic rules in IT says: if something isn’t working right (or at all) — check the settings. And the first thing to check in case Windows Remote Assistance is not working is whether or not remote access is enabled on particular computers.

Solution:

Solution:

1. Press Win+Pause(Break) to open the Win10 System window. Then click Remote settings on the left-hand pane:

Where to find remote settings in Windows 10

2. Make sure that ‘Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer’ checkbox in System Properties is ticked:

How to change System properties to allow Remote Assistance in Windows 10

Not that different from enabling remote assistance in Windows 7, isn’t it?

If you fail to access someone else’s PC, get them to follow these instructions too. Nine times out of ten, that will settle the issue straight away.

Firewall is throwing a roadblock

Problem:

Another problem that might cause Windows 10 Remote Assistance issues is Firewall settings. By default, your Firewall is blocking the standard ports used for remote connections.

Solution:

Dealing with Windows Firewall is easy. You don’t even need Administrator account to change its properties. To make sure there is no unwanted ports blocking here follow the steps:

1. Type ‘firewall’ into the Cortana search box and pick the ‘Allow an app through Windows Firewall’ from the left-hand pane:

How to find Firewall in Windows 10

2. Make sure these three checkboxes are ticked:

Firewall settings you change to allow Remote Assistance

Note:: If you’re using a third-party firewall, there is no way to change its settings without administrator privileges. And even if you have those, it may be required to change a Hkey or two in the system registry, and the registry is no place to mass around. Instead of force-opening your ports, get a handy RA tool operating over TCP.

Wrong Group Policy Іettings

Problem:

Someone, for some reason, has disabled Remote Assistance via the Group Policy Management Editor.

Solution:

1. Press Win+R to invoke the Run box and enter “gpedit.msc” into the Open: field:

Accessing Group Policy Management Editor via Run

2. Go to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System→Remote Assistance → Configure Offer Remote Assistance.

3. Use the ‘gpupdate /force’ forcefully update the group policy.

4. Restart the system and type msra.exe into the Command Prompt to check the result.

Windows Remote Assistance Not Responding

Problem:

On some machines, the dialog box tends to “freeze” after you end the remote assistance session.

Solution:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to invoke the Task Manager.
  2. Select the Remote Assistance app on the list and click the End task.
  3. If the previous step didn’t work, restart your computer.