# Is there an easy way to do screen sharing in a home network, Windows 7? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-do-screen-sharing-in-a-home-network-windows-7/588753 "2011-07-12T15:30:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-do-screen-sharing-in-a-home-network-windows-7/588753/1 "2011-07-12T15:30:19Z")
Mr. Athena and I work from home. We occasionally have need to show each other something on our screens, and typically we end up either emailing screen shots to one another, or one of us trundles up/down 2 sets of stairs to look at each other’s computers. It’d be VERY handy to be able to pop up a window and see each other’s screens. Not Remote Desktop - that implies logging on and controlling the other screen. We’re talking something more like a home version of Citrix, where one of us could just share what we’re looking at right now and point to that one thing we have a question on and say “what’s up with that?” In fact, Citrix would work great, if it weren’t for the price tag. We’d spend a little bit of money on this, but Citrix seems to be around $50/month and for that price, we’ll continue running up and down the stairs. I swear I recall reading that Windows 7 included something like this, but heck if I can find it. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-do-screen-sharing-in-a-home-network-windows-7/588753/2 "2011-07-12T16:12:17Z")
Try one of the VNC variants, such as [TightVNC](http://www.tightvnc.com/). Unlike rdesktop, they permit control sharing. You do still have to authenticate in some fashion, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-do-screen-sharing-in-a-home-network-windows-7/588753/3 "2011-07-12T17:57:56Z")
Try TeamViewer: [TeamViewer – The Remote Connectivity Software](http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx) Free for non-commercial use, and has been a blessing with remote diagnosis of my mother’s computers. Windows 7 does have this feature built-in (and it’s supposed to work over the Internet, too) but I’ve had issues with getting it to work. TeamViewer Just Works, in my experience. The feature you’re looking for is Windows Remote Assistance, by the way, and it does support concurrent control. I’d just use TeamViewer instead, to be quite honest. Edit: forgot that the latest version of Skype also has a screen sharing option - that might be enough for the sort of thing you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-do-screen-sharing-in-a-home-network-windows-7/588753/4 "2011-07-12T18:22:09Z")
> [@Dervorin](#): > > Try TeamViewer: [TeamViewer—The Digital Workplace Platform](http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx) > > Free for non-commercial use, and has been a blessing with remote diagnosis of my mother’s computers. Windows 7 does have this feature built-in (and it’s supposed to work over the Internet, too) but I’ve had issues with getting it to work. TeamViewer Just Works, in my experience. Holy crap! That’s exactly what I want. Totally easy & free. Thanks a ton! ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-do-screen-sharing-in-a-home-network-windows-7/588753/6 "2013-03-28T11:20:08Z")
reported ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-do-screen-sharing-in-a-home-network-windows-7/588753/7 "2013-03-28T11:25:58Z")
I’ll just sneak this in before/in case this gets locked down: Google has released a remote desktop app for Chrome: > **[Access another computer with Chrome Remote Desktop - Computer - Google Chrome...](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en)** > > You can use a computer or mobile device to access files and applications on another computer over the Internet with Chrome Remote Desktop. > Chrome Remote Desktop is available on the web on your comput I tried it out last night and it is snappy/responsive as all get up, even on my G wireless.