Using RustDesk for remote help

• Download from the Download Center on our Contact page → Remote help, and pick your system: Windows has an installer (64-bit for most PCs, ARM64 for ARM laptops); Mac by chip (Apple silicon or Intel); Linux via Flathub. Phone versions are not in the Download Center: on Android get it from rustdesk.com, on iPhone / iPad search for RustDesk in the App Store.
• Both people need RustDesk installed — the one being helped and the one helping.
• On iPhone / iPad, RustDesk can control other devices but cannot be controlled remotely; that is an Apple platform limitation.

By default RustDesk uses its public servers, which can be slow or unreachable at busy times. Logged-in users get our own server — import the settings once and forget about it.

1. Log in, open “Remote help: installing RustDesk on a computer” on the Contact page, and click Copy under step 5.
2. In RustDesk on a computer, open Settings → Network, click Unlock network settings first, then ID/Relay server; on a phone it’s Settings → ID/Relay server.
3. In the dialog, click the clipboard icon at the top right (on a phone, tap Import); the fields fill in automatically. Click OK to save.
4. Don’t paste the settings into the “ID server” field — that gives “failed to lookup address”. Always import with the clipboard icon.

• Mac: after the first launch, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and enable RustDesk under both Screen Recording and Accessibility, then quit the app completely and reopen it. Missing one gives a black screen, or a view you can’t click.
• If the Mac says the app is “damaged” or “cannot be verified”, allow it as described in “Damaged” on a Mac.
• Android: when being helped, tap Start service in RustDesk and allow screen recording when asked; to let the helper tap your screen, also enable RustDesk in the system’s Accessibility settings.
• Windows and Linux: normally works right after install, no extra permissions.

1. The person being helped opens RustDesk and tells the helper the ID and one-time password shown on the main screen.
2. The helper enters that ID under Control Remote Desktop, clicks Connect and enters the password.
3. A connection request pops up on the other screen — accept it only if you know who it is.
4. When you’re done, either side clicks Disconnect. The one-time password changes automatically, so it can’t be reused to connect again.

Remote-control software is one of the most common tools in phone scams: someone pretends to be support, your bank or the police, gets you to install a remote app and read out the code, then uses your online banking and verification codes.

So remember one hard rule: our support will never contact you first to ask you to install remote-control software, and will never ask for your connection code. Anyone who approaches you with that request — verify them in our official group first.

When you genuinely need remote help, you start the session and you end it, and you can see everything happening on screen. If someone asks you to minimise the window or step away, disconnect immediately.