What are One-time connections (Code Connect)?

One-time access is a quick way to remotely connect to someone's device without adding it to your team. The person at the remote device shares a 9-digit RealVNC code from their RealVNC app, you enter it in yours, and they approve the connection. 

It's designed for one-time attended access, perfect for helping a colleague, friend, or family member in the moment, with minimal setup needed.

RealVNC Connect 8.x

Connecting to someone else's device with one-time access

1. Ask the other person to open their RealVNC Connect app and share their one-time access code.
2. On your homepage, find the "One-time access" section under "Access other devices."
3. Enter their 9-digit code and tap the arrow button.
4. The other person will see an approval prompt, the connection starts once they accept.

Letting someone connect to your device with one-time access

1. On your homepage, find the "One-time access" section under "Remotely access this device."
2. Share the 9-digit RealVNC code with the person who needs to connect. You can tap "Copy" to copy it to your clipboard. Only share this code with someone you trust.
3. The code refreshes every 2 minutes. If it expires before they enter it, share the new one. Note: any active connection won't be interrupted.
4. When they enter the code, you'll see a prompt asking you to approve the connection. Please carefully review the security information provided and contact details of the user you’re expecting to connect with. If anything looks suspicious, press cancel and disable Code Connect.
5. If the details of the person connecting to your device look correct, press Confirm.

NOTE: If the individual does not confirm the connection within the code validity period the connection will not be established, and Code Connect is disabled.

Terminating a One-time access session

When a Code Connect session in progress, you can see it in the list of active connections.

You can terminate the Code Connect session from the Active Connections tab in My Device section.

RealVNC Server 7.x

Enabling Code Connect

To enable Code Connect, click Generate code on the RealVNC Server main application page.

Once Code Connect has been enabled, a pop up will appear showing the 9 digit code and a timer.

The code is valid for 120 seconds and the timer shows you how much time remains. Once the timer reaches 0, you will need to generate a new code. Note, any established connection made using Code Connect will not be interrupted.

Approving a Code Connect connection

After the remote user initiates the Code Connect connection you will be asked to confirm the connection.
Please carefully review the security information provided and contact details of the user you’re expecting to connect with. If anything looks suspicious, press cancel and disable Code Connect.

If the details of the person connecting to your device look correct, press Confirm.

NOTE: If the individual does not confirm the connection within the code validity period the connection will not be established, and Code Connect is disabled.

When a Code Connect session in progress, you can see it in the list of active connections as shown in this article: Viewing active connections in RealVNC Server

To disable the Code Connect feature, navigate to the Expert section of RealVNC Server's Options and disable the CodeConnectInboundEnable parameter.

Making a connection using Code Connect

Code Connect connections can only be made using the RealVNC Connect or RealVNC Connect Viewer 8.x apps. Code Connect connections cannot be made using RealVNC Viewer 7.x.

Navigate to Code Connect section in the sidebar menu.

Use the fields in the Connect to a remote device section to input the 9-digit code you received from the user you wish to connect to.

Click the Connect button. A new RealVNC Connect window will open.

Once the remote user has confirmed the session, you will see the remote device’s screen and the toolbar with options to control the session.