Set up Unattended Access

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android

Unattended Access allows you to manage and control remote devices even when no one is physically present at the remote side to accept the connection.

In this article, you'll learn how to set up and connect to a remote device via unattended access.

Overview

Unattended Access lets you connect to a device even when no one is on the other side. It’s ideal for remote work, system maintenance, and managing always-on devices.

Common use cases for Unattended Access sessions:

• Work remotely
  Access your office or home computer from anywhere. Open files, use applications, or check progress, just like you were sitting in front of it.

• Maintain and support devices

  Keep systems up to date, install software, or fix issues without needing someone on the remote side to accept your connection.

• Manage unattended devices

  Remotely support devices like kiosks, digital signage, POS systems, or other devices that are always running but not actively used by people.

• Connect to locked or logged-out devices

  Connect to a device even if no one has signed in yet, for example, right after a reboot or when the system is locked. Before someone signs in to the remote computer’s operating system (like Windows or macOS), the operating system can’t display pop-up windows such as the Connection Accept window. With Unattended Access enabled, you can still connect securely by entering your Unattended Access credentials and log in to the system remotely.

• 24/7 or cross-time-zone operations

  Keep servers and remote systems available 24/7. Ideal for global teams working across different time zones.

• Save time and travel

  Avoid on-site visits by managing and troubleshooting remote devices and systems remotely.

Setting up Unattended Access

By default, Unattended Access is disabled in the AnyDesk app. When Unattended Access is disabled, a person must be present to manually accept or reject the connection request using the Connection Accept window.

To enable Unattended Access, set a password in the AnyDesk app on the remote device. You can then use this password to connect from your local device.

💡 NOTE

You can use either the portable or installed version of AnyDesk for Unattended Access. Installing it is optional, but it helps you stay connected after a restart or sign-out.

To set up Unattended Access:

Connect to a remote device via Unattended Access

When connecting to an AnyDesk client with two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, you will be prompted to enter a 6-digit authorization code from your authenticator app immediately after submitting the unattended access password, whether manually or automatically.

1. Get the remote device's AnyDesk ID or Alias.
   

2. On the local device, from which you want to connect to the remote device, enter the AnyDesk ID in the Remote Address field and click or press Enter.
   

3. When prompted, enter the Unattended Access password that you previously set up on the remote device.
   

Once connected, the session will start and you will see the Remote Desktop. You can now control the device, transfer files, and more.

Manage Unattended Access

Enable login saving

You can configure AnyDesk to remember the Unattended Access password for future sessions. This allows trusted clients to connect without re-entering the password each time.

To allow login information to be saved:

1. On the remote device, go to Settings > Access > Unattended Access.

2. Select the Allow other computers to save login information for this computer checkbox.

When this option is enabled and the Unattended Access password is entered correctly, the connecting client will see the checkbox: Log in automatically from now on.

Selecting this checkbox stores a token on the connecting device. This token is then used for future logins, allowing the connection to be established automatically, without entering the password again.

Reset or revoke saved login tokens

You can reset all saved tokens from the remote device by:

• Selecting Clear all tokens

• Changing the Unattended Access password

After resetting, all clients will need to re-enter the password to connect.

To stop issuing new tokens:

• Clear the Allow other computers to save login information for this computer checkbox.

Existing tokens will remain valid unless cleared manually.

🚨 IMPORTANT

• Passwords are never stored. Instead, a one-time token is generated by the remote device after successful authentication.

• Tokens are device-specific and can only be used by the AnyDesk app that received them.

• If someone has full access to the AnyDesk app device, they cannot retrieve the password in plain text.

• Changing the password (even to the same value) invalidates all tokens.

Set up 2FA for Unattended Access

💡 NOTE

Before setting up the 2FA, install an authenticator app (e.g., Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, FreeOTP) on your mobile device.

AnyDesk provides Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for remote access to devices without someone physically present.

To enable 2FA verification for Unattended Access connections:

🚨 IMPORTANT

If the correct authentication code is entered but the Enable authorization button is still grayed out, ensure the time on both the authenticator and the AnyDesk device is synchronized. Since the codes are time-based, they will fail if the times are not aligned.

Allow only Unattended Access connections

You can configure AnyDesk to accept only Unattended Access connections and block interactive session requests.

To enable this:

1. Open AnyDesk, in the upper-right corner, click   and select Settings.

2. Go to Security > Interactive Access.

3. Select Never show incoming session requests.
   

When this option is enabled, the device will no longer display connection requests. Only connections authenticated with the Unattended Access password will be allowed.