Docs / Obsidian Remote / During a session
Remote actions and privacy mode
Remote actions on the toolbar does things to the remote PC as a whole. Items the remote PC doesn't allow are greyed out.
The actions
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Send Ctrl+Alt+Del | Sends Ctrl+Alt+Del, for example to sign in at the Windows sign-in screen or open the security screen. Needs the installed version on the remote PC; a portable copy says Ctrl+Alt+Del needs the installed service. |
| Lock the remote PC | Locks Windows on the remote PC, as Windows key + L would. |
| Sign out the remote user | Signs the person out of Windows on the remote PC. Asks you first. |
| Restart the remote PC | Restarts it. Asks you first. |
| Shut down the remote PC | Turns it off. Asks you first, because you may not be able to switch it back on from where you are. |
| Block the remote user's input | Stops the mouse and keyboard at the remote PC, so nobody there can interfere while you work. |
| Privacy mode (black out the remote screen) | Blacks out the remote PC's monitors and blocks its mouse and keyboard. |
| Refresh the picture | Asks for a fresh, complete picture, if something looks wrong. |
The actions that change the remote PC need Mouse and keyboard allowed for your session. Signing out, restarting and shutting down also need Restart, sign out, shut down, which the remote PC's owner, your administrator or the person at the PC can take away.
Restarting a remote PC
After a restart your session ends. On an installed PC, Obsidian Remote starts again with Windows and is back online at the sign-in screen, before anyone signs in. Wait a minute or two, then click Try again in the session window (or connect again from the main window). To sign in to Windows, use Send Ctrl+Alt+Del.
A portable copy doesn't come back by itself after a restart: someone has to sign in at the PC and start it again.
If you shut a PC down, you can only start it again remotely if it supports Wake-on-LAN (see Local network and Wake-on-LAN).
Privacy mode and blocking input
Use these when you work on a PC where someone else could be watching or touching it, for example a PC in an office you are fixing out of hours.
- Block the remote user's input stops the remote PC's own mouse and keyboard. Your mouse and keyboard keep working.
- Privacy mode also blacks out the remote PC's screens for anyone sitting in front of them. You still see the desktop as normal.
Both end when you switch them off or the session ends. Privacy mode needs Windows 10 version 2004 or later on the remote PC; otherwise the session says Privacy mode is not available on this host.
Even then, the person at the PC sees a bar at the top of their screens saying you are in control, and can end the session at once by pressing Esc twice on their own keyboard.
The person at the PC is told in the connection manager what your session may do, and can untick Block my input or Privacy mode before accepting.
Locking the PC when you leave
The remote PC can lock itself when a session ends: Lock this PC when a session ends in its Settings > Security. It's a good idea on PCs you reach unattended, so a session you forget to close doesn't leave the desktop open. See Unattended access.