Installing the RealVNC Connect v8 Application

Navigate to the RealVNC website to get the setup app.  

Click the Download button for your operating system.  

This guide covers Windows but the core concepts are also applicable to RealVNC Connect v8 on macOS and Linux (Linux not yet available). Where Windows password is referred to, this is replaced by Mac password on macOS and UNIX password on Linux.

Once the download is complete open the Installer app and click the Accept and Install button.

 

Once the installation process is complete, choose one of: 

• Start my free trial: If you are new to RealVNC Connect and do not already have an account or subscription, to get started with a free 14 day trial.
• Sign in to continue: If you are an existing RealVNC Connect user and want to set up this device with your existing subscription.

Starting a Trial

If you are signing up for a free trial, click Start my free trial.

Your web browser will open, provide the information requested and click Get Started Now.

 

You will be prompted to navigate back to the Setup app. Click the Open button.

 

In the RealVNC Connect application, choose the authentication option for your device. The options are:

• VNC Password
  
  Use the default VNC Password or create your own. Whatever option you choose, make sure you remember or make a note of the password selected on current step – if you go further down the setup flow you will not be able to return and see it again and will need to reset it in case you lose or forget the password.
• Windows password
  
  Choose this option to authenticate to the remote computer using the username and password of an account (local or domain) of the remote computer. For more information see What username and password do I enter when I'm trying to connect to RealVNC Server?
  
  
  
  Note: If you select Windows Password during setup, you need to ensure that the users you want to be able to connect remotely have been given permission (by default,only members of the Administrators group are able to connect). To add other users, see Managing Users and Session Permissions for RealVNC Server

Once you have chosen how you want to authenticate, click the Launch button. When you sign in to the application for the first time the system will guide you through a tutorial flow. 

Enabling inbound connections 

When the app first launches, choose the option for "This Device".

If you need to enable inbound connections later, navigate to My Device or Settings / Inbound. 

Click the Enable inbound connections button.

The Settings / Inbound section will display Inbound connection settings options.

You can adjust the settings in the My Device section, see active connections and toggle inbound connections off and on. 

Installing RealVNC Connect on other devices you want to connect to

Install the RealVNC Connect application onto your other devices you want to connect to.

Once the RealVNC Connect application has been installed onto your other devices, click Sign in to continue.

Enter the credentials of your RealVNC account and click Sign in.

If you have not enabled TOTP 2-step authentication (see How do I set up 2-step verification for my RealVNC account?), you will be sent an email asking you to verify signing in on this device. 

Click the Continue Signing button in the email. 

Click the Authorize sign-in button in the new browser window.

You will be redirected to the RealVNC Portal to choose the team to use with your device. Select your team and click the Continue button.

You will be prompted to navigate back to the Setup app. Click the Open button. 

RealVNC Connect is now installed on this device.

Enable inbound connection on this device if you want to be able to connect to it.

Connecting to your devices

To allow connections to your device there are two options.

Device Access

To connect to a device which has been added to your team, see Device Access Connections in v8

Code Connect

To connect to any device running RealVNC Connect – see Connecting using Code Connect