Quick Assist

Last updated
Quick Assist
Developer(s) Microsoft
Included with Windows 10 and later
Type Remote controlling feature

Quick Assist is a Microsoft Windows feature that allows a user to view or control a remote Windows computer over a network or the Internet to resolve issues without directly touching the unit. [1] [2] [3] It is based on the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). It is complemented by Get Help, a feature introduced in Windows 10 that enables the user to contact Microsoft directly but does not allow for remote desktoping or screen sharing.

Contents

Before Quick Assist was introduced in Windows 10, Windows XP and later Windows versions offered a similar feature called Windows Remote Assistance.

Overview

Helpers offering remote assistance can open multiple simultaneous sessions—one for each remote computer. However, users seeking assistance from helpers can have only one remote assistance session waiting for a connection. Connect invitations can be sent to multiple recipients—any of which may connect. All subsequent connect attempts will be blocked until the first helper disconnects, after which another helper may connect. If the user disconnects the session, the remote assistance application terminates and no further connections are allowed.

Quick Assist is installed by default on Windows clients, but is not available on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers. [4] The name of the tool differs depending on Windows language; a search for "Quick Assist" in the Start menu will locate the tool regardless of the language settings.

Quick Assist requests a code in order to match users to a session. This will allow the giver to access the computer of the receiver in Administrator mode while allowing the receiver to see the choices the giver made.

Connection

Quick Assist uses TCP port 443 and communicates with the following hosts: [5]

Domain / NameDescription
*.support.services.microsoft.comPrimary endpoint used for Quick Assist application
*.resources.lync.comRequired for the Skype framework used by Quick Assist
*.infra.lync.comRequired for the Skype framework used by Quick Assist
*.latest-swx.cdn.skype.comRequired for the Skype framework used by Quick Assist
*.login.microsoftonline.comRequired for logging in to the application (MSA)
*.channelwebsdks.azureedge.netUsed for chat services within Quick Assist
*.aria.microsoft.comUsed for accessibility features within the app
*.api.support.microsoft.comAPI access for Quick Assist
*.vortex.data.microsoft.comUsed for diagnostic data
*.channelservices.microsoft.comRequired for chat services within Quick Assist

The Quick Assist binary is located at "C:\Windows\System32\quickassist.exe"

History

The feature was first introduced in Windows XP as Remote Assistance and based on Remote Desktop technologies. [6] Remote Assistance in Windows XP is integrated into the Help and Support Centre UI and allows sending invitations to the support person by email, Windows Messenger or saving the invitation as a file and transferring the file across through other methods. [6] The computer can be controlled by both, the support person connecting remotely as well as the one sending the invitation. Chat, audio-video conversations and file transfer are available. [6]

Remote Assistance in Windows Vista Windows Remote Assistance Vista.png
Remote Assistance in Windows Vista

In Windows Vista, Remote Assistance is upgraded with a standalone user interface and based on RDP 6 and Windows Desktop Sharing API. [7] Two systems administrators can simultaneously connect to a single computer. Remote sessions automatically reconnect after restarting the computer. It also supports session pausing, built-in diagnostics, chat, file transfer and XML-based logging. It reduces bandwidth requirements for low-speed connections. NAT traversal allows a session to be established even if the user is behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) device, for example, a router in a home network. Remote Assistance is configurable using Group Policy and supports command-line switches so that custom shortcuts can be deployed.

In Windows 7, Remote Assistance is based on RDP 7. An extra option to connect using Peer Name Resolution Protocol is added, called Easy Connect if IPv6 connectivity is present. [8] With Easy Connect, only a password needs to be shared instead of an invitation file, and two computers can establish a peer-to-peer connection over the local area network (LAN) or the Internet without a relay server. However, Windows Remote Assistance does not support file transfer and clipboard sharing in Windows 7. [9] [10]

Remote Assistance is installed by default on Windows clients, but must be added manually on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers. [11] Remote assistance sessions may be initiated using the Windows Remote Assistance application available on the Start menu under All Apps → Maintenance [12] or by invoking msra.exe from command-line interface. [13]

The original Remote Assistance is included on all releases of Windows 10 as well, but since the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, its Start menu shortcut is removed, effectively hiding it from the user. Instead, a new app called Quick Assist is added. [14] It has mostly the same functionality and a similar user interface with buttons called Get assistance and Give assistance. The design is like UWP apps. Unlike Remote Assistant, Quick Assist requires the support person to sign in using a Microsoft account before dispensing help. [15] [16]

In November 2021, Microsoft announced a more business-friendly version of Quick Assist, called Remote Help. [17] While later versions of Windows 10 allowed users and technicians to authenticate against Azure Active Directory, this version includes new integrations such as:

While Remote Assistance establishes a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection to the end user's computer (requires TCP port 3389 to be opened on the client machine and the firewall/NAT/router behind which the machine is), Quick Assist is cloud-based and requires one outbound connection from the helper's PC to the cloud service/Microsoft server, and a separate connection from the cloud service to the machine of the person getting assistance. There are no ports opened on the client device's firewall.

Features comparison


FeatureWindows Remote AssistanceWindows Quick Assist
Remote assistance for Windows devicesYesWindows 10/11
Remote assistance for MacOS devicesNoNo
Remote assistance for smartphonesNoNo
Viewing through device cameraNoNo
Support of multiple screens on the target machineYes (all the monitors or clicking Fit to the size and scroll to selected monitor)Yes (viewing selected monitor or all of them at once)
Keyboard layout used when remotely controlling a machine (the helper needs the keyboard layout to match his/her own computer for efficient assistance)Using target computer keyboard layoutUsing helper's keyboard layout
Working with elevated privilegesNo (the screen blacks-out and the user has to finish the action instead of the helper)No [18]
Requirement for client software installationNo (installed in Windows by default)No (installed in Windows by default)
Clipboard sharing (copy / paste text between helper's and end user's machine)No (workaround: pasting via embedded chat window; limited number of characters)No (workaround: pasting via embedded chat window; limited number of characters)
File transfer (between helper's and end user's machine)No (workaround: via file share or file sharing cloud service)No (workaround: via file share or file sharing cloud service)
Running scripts remotely (e.g. ipconfig)No (workaround: scripts have to be copied to the remote machine first and executed from there)No (workaround: scripts have to be copied to the remote machine first and executed from there)
Pausing remote control session by the end user (temporarily stopping screen sharing)No (only cancelling the whole session)Yes

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Server 2003</span> Third version of Windows Server, released in 2003

Windows Server 2003, codenamed "Whistler Server", is the sixth version of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft. It is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on March 28, 2003 and generally available on April 24, 2003. Windows Server 2003 is the successor to the Server editions of Windows 2000 and the predecessor to Windows Server 2008. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on December 6, 2005. Windows Server 2003 is based on Windows XP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual Network Computing</span> Graphical desktop-sharing system

Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a graphical desktop-sharing system that uses the Remote Frame Buffer protocol (RFB) to remotely control another computer. It transmits the keyboard and mouse input from one computer to another, relaying the graphical-screen updates, over a network.

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft Corporation which provides a user with a graphical interface to connect to another computer over a network connection. The user employs RDP client software for this purpose, while the other computer must run RDP server software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group Policy</span> Feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems

Group Policy is a feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems that controls the working environment of user accounts and computer accounts. Group Policy provides centralized management and configuration of operating systems, applications, and users' settings in an Active Directory environment. A set of Group Policy configurations is called a Group Policy Object (GPO). A version of Group Policy called Local Group Policy allows Group Policy Object management without Active Directory on standalone computers.

Remote administration refers to any method of controlling a computer or other Internet-connected device, such as a smartphone, from a remote location. There are many commercially available and free-to-use software that make remote administration easy to set up and use. Remote administration is often used when it's difficult or impractical to be physically near a system in order to use it or troubleshoot it. Many server administrators also use remote administration to control the servers around the world at remote locations. It is also used by companies and corporations to improve overall productivity as well as promote remote work. It may also refer to both legal and illegal remote administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft NetMeeting</span> Discontinued videoconferencing software

Microsoft NetMeeting is a discontinued VoIP and multi-point videoconferencing program offered by Microsoft. NetMeeting allows multiple clients to host and join a call that includes video and audio, text chat, application and desktop sharing, and file sharing. It was originally bundled with Internet Explorer 3 and then with Windows versions from Windows 95 to Windows Server 2003.

rdesktop

rdesktop is an implementation of a client software for Microsoft's proprietary Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Rdesktop is free and open-source software, subject to the requirements of the GNU General Public License (GPL-3.0-or-later), and is available for Linux and BSD as well as for Microsoft Windows.

As the next version of Windows NT after Windows 2000, as well as the successor to Windows Me, Windows XP introduced many new features but it also removed some others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Home Server</span> Home server operating system by Microsoft released in 2007

Windows Home Server is a home server operating system from Microsoft. It was announced on 7 January 2007 at the Consumer Electronics Show by Bill Gates, released to manufacturing on 16 July 2007 and officially released on 4 November 2007.

A home server is a computing server located in a private computing residence providing services to other devices inside or outside the household through a home network or the Internet. Such services may include file and printer serving, media center serving, home automation control, web serving, web caching, file sharing and synchronization, video surveillance and digital video recorder, calendar and contact sharing and synchronization, account authentication, and backup services.

In computing, the term remote desktop refers to a software- or operating system feature that allows a personal computer's desktop environment to be run remotely from one system, while being displayed on a separate client device. Remote desktop applications have varying features. Some allow attaching to an existing user's session and "remote controlling", either displaying the remote control session or blanking the screen. Taking over a desktop remotely is a form of remote administration.

This page is a comparison of notable remote desktop software available for various platforms.

Adaptive Internet Protocol (AIP) is a multi-channel protocol that allows an application running on any of multiple platforms to be displayed on any of a wide range of client systems. It supports rich remote display and input services with a number of display options to deliver the presentation of the remote applications onto the local display either as a standalone window, or within a contained remote environment delivered full-screen or in a standalone window. The protocol also supports audio, printing, and other device mapping services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Remote Web Workplace</span>

The Remote Web Workplace is a feature of Microsoft's Windows Small Business Server, Windows Home Server 2011, and the midsize business-focused product, Windows Essential Business Server, which enables existing users to log into a front-end network-facing interface of the small business/home server.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS), known as Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 and earlier, is one of the components of Microsoft Windows that allow a user to initiate and control an interactive session on a remote computer or virtual machine over a network connection. RDS was first released in 1998 as Terminal Server in Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, a stand-alone edition of Windows NT 4.0 Server that allowed users to log in remotely. Starting with Windows 2000, it was integrated under the name of Terminal Services as an optional component in the server editions of the Windows NT family of operating systems, receiving updates and improvements with each version of Windows. Terminal Services were then renamed to Remote Desktop Services with Windows Server 2008 R2 in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pano Logic</span> American information technology company

Pano Logic was a manufacturer of devices which present virtual desktops to the end user with no local processing power. They describe this concept as "zero client". This is perceived as offering benefits in end-user support and in power provision to desks. OEM versions have been included in displays from some vendors, allowing a single unit to be deployed. The company failed in October 2012. In March 2013, Propalms announced they had acquired the rights to support Panologic customers, and will "help transition the customer base to a new platform".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows MultiPoint Server</span> Operating system based Microsoft Windows Server using Remote Desktop Services technology

Windows MultiPoint Server is an operating system based on Microsoft Windows Server using Remote Desktop Services technology to host multiple simultaneous independent computing stations or terminals connected to a single computer. Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 was the final release as an independent SKU and has been superseded by the MultiPoint Services role in Windows Server 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrome Remote Desktop</span> Remote desktop software tool

Chrome Remote Desktop is a remote desktop software tool, developed by Google, that allows a user to remotely control another computer's desktop through a proprietary protocol also developed by Google, internally called Chromoting. The protocol transmits the keyboard and mouse events from the client to the server, relaying the graphical screen updates back in the other direction over a computer network. This feature, therefore, consists of a server component for the host computer, and a client component on the computer accessing the remote server. Chrome Remote Desktop uses a unique protocol, as opposed to using the common Remote Desktop Protocol.

Goverlan Reach Systems Management is an on-premises client management software designed for medium and large enterprises for remote control, active directory management, global configuration change management, and reporting within a Windows IT Infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BlueKeep</span> Windows security hole

BlueKeep is a security vulnerability that was discovered in Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) implementation, which allows for the possibility of remote code execution.

References

  1. Get help remotely with Quick Assist in Windows 10
  2. Overview of Remote Assistance in Windows XP
  3. Windows XP Technical Overview
  4. "Remote Assistance and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2". TechNet. Microsoft.
  5. "Use Quick Assist to help users - Windows Client Management".
  6. 1 2 3 How to use remote assistance in Windows XP
  7. "Writing a Desktop Sharing Application". Enterprise Mobility and Security Blog. Microsoft. 23 March 2007.
  8. "Peer-To-Peer based Features in Win 7". Archived from the original on 2010-01-23.
  9. Improvements to Remote Assistance in Windows 7
  10. "Why doesn't windows 7 Remote Assistance support sharing clipboard and file transfer? Are there any work arrounds? [sic]". Windows Client TechCenter. Microsoft TechNet Social. 2010-12-10. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  11. Remote Assistance and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
  12. Get help with your computer using Windows Remote Assistance
  13. Initiate Remote Assistance from a Command Line or a Script
  14. "Quick Assistance: Remotely Control Another's PC / Computer". Windows Call. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  15. Popa, Bogdan (9 August 2016). "Microsoft Highlights Its Windows 10 Anniversary Update TeamViewer Killer". Softpedia . SoftNews SRL.
  16. Srinivasan, Ramesh (2016-08-08). "Using Windows 10's New "Quick Assist" App (Walkthrough)". Winhelponline.
  17. "Re: Remote help: A new remote assistance tool from Microsoft". 25 November 2021.
  18. Remotely assist mobile devices managed by Microsoft Endpoint Manager

Further reading