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AnyViewer Not Working – Troubleshooting Tips

Author: Emma Collins
Emma Collins Article author

AnyViewer is a great remote desktop tool that lets both individuals and teams conduct remote sessions at relatively low costs. While it provides many benefits, there can occasionally be issues that may impact your workflow and productivity, affecting the overall remote desktop experience.

In this guide, we’ll discuss why issues, such as having your AnyViewer connection timed out and AnyViewer not working at all, happen. We’ll also teach you how to troubleshoot them below, so keep reading.

Useful tip:  
If the fixes below don’t resolve the issues you’re facing with AnyViewer, you may want to consider a similarly free alternative remote desktop tool like HelpWire. It’s designed for use on laptops, PCs, and Macs. HelpWire is known for its ease of use, too, as it allows you to easily set up remote connections with as easy as sending a link.

Common AnyViewer Issues

Despite AnyViewer’s popularity for its affordability, users have noticed some issues, such as:

  • • AnyViewer unable to connect to server
  • • AnyViewer not connected or frequently disconnected from remote sessions
  • • Resolution mismatch where AnyViewer sets up a mobile-to-PC connection while connecting two computers 

AnyViewer reviews on Trustpilot reveal frustration with remotely controlling desktops from an Android. Other users also complain about faulty transmission of data input. For example, typing “3” results in a “5” in the remote device. 

While AnyViewer offers a low-cost solution, some Mac users on the App Store have expressed concerns about AnyViewer safety due to the lack of PIN and biometric support.

How to Fix AnyViewer Crashes

Here are some solutions to try to fix AnyViewer when it often crashes and disrupts your work.

Check Your Internet Connection

Check the internet connection on both the controlling and remote computers. If you’re currently connected wirelessly, consider switching to a wired ethernet connection.

You can also use a speed testing tool to see your connection strength. In general, a minimum of 5 Mbps upload and download speeds makes for relatively good performance for remote access tools like AnyViewer.

Restart the Network Connection on Both Computers

You have two quick options to restart your network connection on both computers:   

• Turn off your router and power it on again after five minutes.

• Disable Wi-Fi on your computer (or turn on airplane mode).

For a deeper restart, forget your current network and reconnect to it after some time:

On Windows 11 

1. On your taskbar, open the Quick Settings panel (the Network, Sound, and Battery menu).

2. Click the arrow beside the Wi-Fi icon.

3. Right-click your current network and choose “Forget.”

4. Reconnect to that network after a few minutes.

On Windows 10

1. On the taskbar, click “Network” (the Wi-Fi icon) to see your list of saved networks.

2. Select “Manage known networks.”

3. From the list of known networks, choose your current connection and click “Forget.”

4. Wait for a few minutes and connect to your network (or a new one) again.

Review Firewall Settings

Check whether your firewall is interfering with your remote desktop connection. How exactly you can check depends on the operating system and app (for third-party firewalls) that you use. But here’s how you do it on Windows 11 and 10: 

1. Launch Windows Security.

2. Go to “Firewall & network protection.”

3. Choose “Allow an app through firewall.”

4. In the “Allowed apps” window, find AnyViewer and see if it’s currently allowed.

5. If not, click “Change settings.” 

6. Check the box for AnyViewer and click “OK.”

If it doesn’t work, you may need to add certain inbound and outbound rules to your firewall settings to enable AnyViewer (requires advanced skills). 

Note:  For older Windows 10 versions, Windows Security may appear as Windows Defender Security Center. If it’s not available, simply go to “Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.”

Disable VPN

If you’re using a VPN on either computer, try temporarily disabling it to see if it resolves the crashes. VPNs can sometimes create conflicts with remote desktop applications. To do this on Windows: 

1. Open Settings.

2. Go to “Network & internet > VPN.” 

3. Find the VPN that you want to disable and click “Disconnect.”

4. Also, check your browser if you use VPN extensions and disable them if you have any.

Check for Viruses

Malware infections can cause a variety of problems, including application crashes. Run a thorough scan with your antivirus software on both computers to rule out any potential malware issues. 

You can use Windows Security to do this: 

  1. Go to “Virus & threat protection.”
  2. Under “Current threats,” click “Quick scan.”

For mobile devices, leverage their built-in virus protection features or a third-party app.

Update Your Operating System

Outdated operating systems can have compatibility issues with applications. Make sure you have the latest updates installed for your operating system on both computers. The steps would vary depending on the OS, but you can always find it inside their settings.

Reinstall AnyViewer

Your copy of AnyViewer might be corrupted, so reinstalling a new version might fix the issues you encounter. 

To uninstall AnyViewer on Windows 11,  

1. Open Settings and go to “Apps > Installed apps.”

2. Click the three-dot button for AnyViewer and select “Uninstall.”

3. Click “Uninstall.”

For Windows 10 users, go to “Apps > Apps & Features” instead.

Next, go to AnyViewer’s official website and download the latest version available. Run the installer file and wait for it to finish.

How to Fix AnyViewer Not Connecting to Server

  • If AnyViewer doesn’t connect to the server, try these two fixes:

Start RCService

AnyViewer needs the RCService to connect to the server and conduct remote sessions. Make sure it’s running with these steps:

  1. Launch the Services app.
  2. From the list of services, right-click “RCService” and choose “Start.”

If RCService is missing, you need to reinstall AnyViewer.

Use a Network Analyzer

If starting RCService doesn’t help, use a network analyzer to pinpoint the exact problem making AnyViewer unable to connect to the server. Network analyzers can identify errors or disruptions within the data packets. For instance, if the packets sent are corrupted or incomplete, it might explain why AnyViewer can’t establish a connection.

The steps vary depending on the network analyzer you use. 

Using Wireshark: Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Download and Install Wireshark  from the official Wireshark website and follow the installation instructions.

  2. Launch the Wireshark application.

  3. When Wireshark opens, you’ll see a list of available network interfaces. Choose the interface that you want to monitor. This is usually the interface connected to the internet or your local network.

  4. Set Up a Capture Filter. AnvViewer establishes a control connection through the 30192 port of the server, we need to set up a capture filter to focus on this specific traffic. Enter the following filter in the “Capture Filter” field before starting the capture:

    tcp port 30192

  5. Click on the “Start” button (the shark fin icon) to begin capturing packets.

  6. Wireshark will start capturing and displaying all packets that match the filter (i.e., TCP packets on port 30192).

  7. Look through the captured packets to analyze the communication on port 30192. Pay attention to the following: 

    • Source and Destination IP addresses: Identify where the packets are coming from and where they are going.

    • TCP Flags: Check for SYN, ACK, RST, and FIN flags to understand the state of the TCP connections.

    • Data Flow: Examine the payload data for any restrictions or anomalies.

  8. You can further narrow down the captured packets using display filters. For instance, to see only the packets that have issues, you might use TCP flags (SYN and RST), which might indicate connection issues.

Example Analysis

  1. Look for the three-way handshake (SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK) on port 30192 to verify that connections are being successfully established.
  2. Look for RST (reset) flags that indicate abrupt termination of connections, which might suggest port restrictions or other network issues.

Conclusion

AnyViewer is a great remote desktop tool for individuals and teams due to its affordable pricing. However, it might also encounter issues that can be disruptive to your productivity. If the fixes above don’t work, you can only opt for a better alternative.  

And if you want a similarly free and easy-to-use alternative, choose HelpWire.

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