Installing the RealVNC Connect v8 Application

Note: This guide covers Windows but the core concepts are also applicable to RealVNC Connect v8 on macOS and Linux.

Download RealVNC Connect for your operating system.

After downloading and running the installer app, click the Accept and Install button

Click Create Account if you are a new RealVNC user to start a free trial, or click Sign-in if you already have an account and want to set up this device with your existing plan

Creating an account and starting a trial

After clicking Create Account on the RealVNC Connect welcome screen, your default web browser will open and direct you to the 'Create a RealVNC Account' page. 

Enter your email and full name, then click the Continue and verify email button

You will receive an email with a 6 digit verification code. Input the code and click the Continue button

Enter your phone number and create a password, then click the Create Account button

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

You will land on the RealVNC Connection Homepage. Your device will be automatically licensed and allowing inbound connections using one-time access codes. 

If you want to enable unattended access, follow the instructions here

Setting up Unattended Access

Unattended access allows authorized users on your team to connect to your device without a person present at the machine. To enable unattended access you will need to set a connection authentication method first. 

In the RealVNC Connect application, click the Enable unattended access button on the right-hand card

Set a VNC Device Password then click the Save and enable unattended access button, or click Use my system credentials instead

Unattended connection authentication methods 

VNC Device Password

A VNC Device Password is a unique password for each device that authorized users will need to input before connection to that device remotely. When setting your own VNC Device Password, make sure you remember it or store it somewhere safe, you will not be able view it once it is set. If you ever forget your VNC Device Password you will need to reset it for the device. 

System Credentials (ex. 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

Connecting to other devices I manage 

Download, install and run the RealVNC Connect application onto your other devices, then click Sign in on the welcome screen

You will be redirected to manage.realvnc.com on your default browser. Enter your RealVNC account username and password and click Sign-in

For security reasons, you will receive an email ask you to authenticate the sign-in attempt with the new device. Click the Continue Sign-in button on the email. 

You will be directed to manage.realvnc.com and will be prompted choose a team for your new device. Select a team then continue.

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

Your device will be automatically licensed and allowing inbound connections using one-time access codes. If you want to enable unattended access, follow the instructions above

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