Remote Desktop Without Port Forwarding

Two Ways Around It

• Free: install Tailscale on both PCs and turn on APE Viewer’s Tailscale module.
• No network setup at all: APE Viewer Premium connects from anywhere over the internet on its own, end-to-end encrypted.
• Either way, leave the PC on and awake.

It Opens Your PC To The Internet

Port forwarding tells your router to pass connections from the internet straight to your PC. Microsoft says this opens your PC up to the internet, which it doesn’t recommend, and that a VPN is preferable. It also needs admin access to your router, and your home’s public IP address can change whenever your internet provider assigns a new one.

Keep The PC Awake

A PC that’s asleep can’t answer. To stop it sleeping while it’s plugged in:

1. Select Start → Settings → System → Power & battery → Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts.
2. Under Make my device sleep after, choose a longer time, or Never, for when it’s plugged in.

Test At Home First

Set everything up and connect once while both computers are on your home network, then try it from outside.

What It Does

Tailscale puts your devices on a private, encrypted network of your own, called a tailnet. Your devices can then reach each other directly, without port forwarding or public IP addresses, as if they were on the same home network.

The Personal plan is free for non-commercial use, for up to 6 users with unlimited devices. On Windows, Tailscale needs Windows 10 or later. APE Viewer has an optional Tailscale module on Free (steps below).

Set It Up

1. On the PC you want to reach, download Tailscale from tailscale.com/download and run the installer.
2. Right-click the Tailscale icon in the system tray (select the up arrow if you don’t see it), then select Log in. Sign in through your browser with an account such as Apple, Google or Microsoft.
3. Do the same on your laptop, with the same account.
4. Check that both devices appear on the Machines page of the Tailscale admin console.

Good To Know

• To keep the PC reachable after it restarts, before anyone signs in to Windows, turn on Tailscale’s Unattended mode: select the Tailscale icon in the system tray, then Preferences → Run Unattended, and confirm with Yes.
• Devices on a tailnet sign in again from time to time, which Tailscale calls key expiry. For an always-on PC you trust, you can turn it off in the admin console, though Tailscale warns this reduces security.
• The free Personal plan is for non-commercial use. Using Tailscale for work falls under its paid plans.

From Anywhere Over The Internet

Premium connects from anywhere over the internet, end-to-end encrypted, with no router setup and no VPN. Sign in on both PCs and connect, the same way you do at home (steps below).

Free, With Tailscale

1. Install Tailscale on both PCs and sign in to the same Tailscale account on both.
2. In APE Viewer on both PCs, choose Settings in the left sidebar. Under Connections, turn on Use Tailscale.
3. On the PC you want to reach, make sure sharing is on under Hosting.
4. Your other PC now lists it under Your PCs, marked Tailscale.

Premium, From Anywhere Over The Internet

1. Sign in to APE Viewer with the same account on both PCs.
2. On the PC you want to reach, turn on sharing under Hosting.
3. On your other PC, choose it under Your PCs and connect.

Premium on either PC is enough, and there’s nothing to set up on your router. Both PCs need to be on and connected to the internet. When a PC is reachable in several ways, APE Viewer tries your home network first, then Tailscale, then Premium’s internet connection.

• Is the PC on and awake? Check its sleep setting before you leave, and keep it plugged in.
• Is the network you’re on blocking it? Some workplace and public Wi-Fi networks block streaming apps. Try your phone’s hotspot to check.
• Using Tailscale? Check that both devices appear on the Machines page of the Tailscale admin console.
• APE Viewer problem codes: AV-1101 means the PC can’t be reached over the internet right now; check that it’s on, runs APE Viewer 0.5.14 or later and is shared under your account. AV-1102 means connecting from anywhere over the internet needs Premium.