Quick Assist is a built-in Windows tool that lets someone help you with your computer remotely, as if they were sitting next to you. There is nothing to install and it is free. We will explain exactly how it works, where to find it and why you need to be careful with it.

What Quick Assist is

Quick Assist is a tool for remote help between two people. On one side is the person who helps (the helper), on the other the person who needs help. The helper sees the other screen and, once allowed, can also control it, so the problem gets fixed directly instead of being explained over the phone.

Its biggest advantage is simplicity. The tool is already part of Windows, you do not need to create accounts on both sides or download anything. The helper signs in with a Microsoft account, the other person needs nothing at all.

How Quick Assist works

The connection is set up using a six-digit security code. The steps are:

  1. The helper opens Quick Assist and signs in with their Microsoft account.
  2. The app generates a six-digit security code, which the helper dictates to the other person (by phone or message).
  3. The other person opens Quick Assist and enters this code into the code field.
  4. The other person confirms the permission, whether the helper can only view the screen or also take control.

After confirmation the screen is shared instantly. The whole connection goes through Microsoft’s cloud (remote servers), so it passes through NAT and the firewall without any network setup. That is a big difference from older tools, where you had to open ports on the router.

What the helper can do

Once connected, the helper has more than just viewing available:

  • Screen viewing - they see exactly what you see, but control nothing.
  • Full control - they move the mouse and click as if sitting at your computer.
  • Drawing on the screen (annotations) - they highlight where you should click.
  • Restarting the computer with automatic reconnection after the system boots.

As the owner of the computer you see everything the helper does, and you can end the session at any time with a single click.

Where to find Quick Assist

Open it from the Start menu -> Quick Assist, or fastest of all with the keyboard shortcut Win + Ctrl + Q.

  • Windows 11 usually has it pre-installed.
  • Windows 10 has it too, and if it is missing you can install it for free from the Microsoft Store (the “Quick Assist” app).

Security: when you must NEVER use it

This is the most important part of the whole article. Quick Assist gives the other person control over your computer, so only run it with someone you truly trust (family, your IT technician, a verified service shop).

Scammers abuse this tool. A typical scenario looks like this: “Microsoft support” or “your bank” calls you, claims you have a virus or a compromised account, and under pressure guides you to open Quick Assist and dictate the code. This is a classic tech support scam.

Remember one rule:

Never give the code or control of your computer to anyone who called or messaged you first. Real Microsoft support will never call or message you out of the blue.

These attacks rely on manipulation, not hacking. The attacker does not crack a password, they simply convince you to open the door yourself. To learn more about how these tricks work, see our articles on social engineering and AI scams and scam messages. If you have already given someone access by mistake, follow the guide on what to do when your account gets hacked.

Limits and when to reach for something else

Quick Assist is great for one-off help, but it has its boundaries:

  • You need the internet on both sides.
  • It works only between Windows machines. You cannot connect to macOS, Linux or a phone.
  • The helper needs a Microsoft account.
  • It is a one-time session. Once the connection ends, no permanent access remains.

That one-time nature is the difference from tools like TeamViewer or AnyDesk, which also allow permanent, unattended access to a remote computer. Quick Assist is simpler and needs no install, but it is limited to Windows and to help “here and now”. If you need to manage remote computers regularly, it is worth looking at dedicated remote access solutions.

Conclusion

Quick Assist is a fast and free way to help someone with their computer remotely, or to get help yourself. A few steps and a six-digit code are all it takes. The key rule: give the code and control only to a verified person, never to someone who reached out to you first. That alone keeps you safe from the vast majority of scams.

Need help with remote access or securing your computer? Get in touch.

This article is part of our Software and system overview.