How to set up and use the Windows 10 Quick Assist tool

When on-site help isn’t available or you don’t have someone on hand to handle whatever problem you’re having, remote assistance is a typical technique to resolve computer issues. Remote support, unfortunately, is not simple to set up. There are numerous remote assistance options available, but setting them up is not for everyone such as ” Quick Assist tool “.

Windows 10 Quick Assist

Remote Desktop and Quick Assist are the two remote access options included with Windows 10. Remote Desktop is only accessible on Windows 10 Pro editions, however Quick Assist is available on all Windows 10 editions, including the Home edition, which is used by the majority of home owners.

On Windows 10, the Quick Assist app is:

It comes pre-installed in Windows 10 and is a stock program.
Allows a Windows 10 user to connect to another Windows 10 PC through the internet.
Authentication codes are provided so that unauthorized users cannot access a system.
The app can be used to request and provide remote support, i.e., one app can do both.
Allows a person accessing a system remotely to have complete control over it.

Set up Windows 10 Quick Assist

You’ll need to generate a code for the session if you wish to provide remote assistance to a Windows 10 user using Quick Assist. This code is generated in numerous steps, and you will need to communicate with the owner of the other system throughout.

Open the Start Menu.
Go to the Apps List.
Expand Windows Accessories.
Select Quick Assist.
Click Assist another person.
Sign in with the Microsoft Account you plan to use to provide assistance.
Copy the code and send it to the person you plan on assisting.

Note: The code will expire in 10 minutes. You must share it with others and use it inside that time frame.

Connect to Windows 10 Quick Assist

The individual providing you with remote support will give you a code. Make sure the code was generated recently, meaning it shouldn’t be more than a few hours or days old. A code is not re-usable and is only good for one session.

Open the Start Menu.
Go to the Apps list.
Go to Windows accessories>Quick Assist.
Enter the code provided to you.
Click Share screen to start the session.

Start Quick Assist session

Follow these steps to begin a Quick Assist session. To begin the session, you and the individual you’re assisting must collaborate.

Open Quick Assist on your system.
Provide the other user with the code.
Have the other user enter the code.
On your screen, select how you want to assist: View or take full control.
Once you choose a method, the other user must allow the session to be established.
You will see a new window on the screen that will reflect the other system.
You can now control it.

Quick Assist controls

The window lets you to use a mouse and keyboard to operate the other system, but it also includes specific controls at the top. You can do the following with the controls:

Select a different monitor if the system has multiple monitors set up.
Annotate the screen i.e. draw on it to highlight something on the screen.
View the window in ‘actual size’ i.e. to reflect the actual size of the remote system.
Toggle instruction channel i.e., move to a text based communication method.
Restart the remote system.
Access the task manager on the other system.
Pause the session.
Stop the session.

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Conclusion

Quick Assist connects a system to the internet. It’s simple to set up, but you should always be cautious about who you share it with. In such a session, your computer can be managed remotely, and if you grant it to someone untrustworthy, you risk losing files and/or confidential data. On both Windows 10 and Windows 11, Quick Assist is available. It is not compatible with Windows 8/8.1 or earlier versions of Windows.