How to use TeamViewer remote to remotely debug Android devices

Remotely troubleshooting an Android device requires a reliable, remote solution. Enter TeamViewer Remote Control: an app that simplifies remote connection from one device to another. Here we’ll take a closer look at TeamViewer Remote Control, how it works, and how you can use the app to remotely troubleshoot Android devices.

What is TeamViewer?

TeamViewer is a lightweight remote control or remote monitoring application used for web conferencing, file transfer and troubleshooting. It supports many platforms, including iOS, Windows, ChromeOS, Mac, Linux and, luckily for us, Android.

TeamViewer has expanded its capabilities over the years, evolving into a suite of apps, including TeamViewer Tensor and TeamViewer AR. But TeamViewer Remote Control is still the most popular app, and that’s what we’ll be using throughout this guide. Let’s look at some examples of problems you can solve remotely using it.

Download: TeamViewer remote control (free)

What problems can you troubleshoot with TeamViewer Remote?

Using TeamViewer Remote Control, you can troubleshoot many problems at the software level by remotely connecting to another device. You can solve problems by taking preventative measures to keep malware off an Android device or removing annoying apps that keep draining the device’s battery, for example.

Other situations where TeamViewer Remote Control can be useful include, but are not limited to:

• Setting up an Android device for first-time use.
• Helping someone learn and navigate an app.
• Organization and reduction of files.
• Enable or disable hard-to-find settings.
• Back up important files.

However, there are caveats. If an Android device is experiencing failing internal storage, boot loops, connectivity issues, or power issues—hardware issues, in other words—TeamViewer Remote Control can’t help. TeamViewer Remote Control can do many things. But repairing physical defects is not one of them.

TeamViewer Remote Control is also not supported on all Android devices (although most Android manufacturers support it). Most notably, with Samsung devices, only those secured by Knox are supported. Check TeamViewer’s list of Android manufacturers to see which devices support TeamViewer Remote Control.

Alternatively, search for TeamViewer Remote Control on Google Play to confirm that your device supports the app. make sure that This device option below Your devices drop-down menu is selected. If you can see the app, your device is supported. If not, consider downloading the Android app to see if it still works, although mileage may vary.

Setting up TeamViewer remote control on your device

After you have installed TeamViewer Remote Control, opened the app and accepted the terms and conditions, you will be directed to Connect page. This is the default page for TeamViewer Remote Control. Notice the four tabs at the bottom of the app:

• Connect (the page you’re looking at)
• Computers
• Chat
• Solutions

You will find the devices you are authorized to connect to Computers the tab. But first, sign up for a free TeamViewer account if you don’t have one. To do it:

1. Select Equipment icon at the top right to access Settings.
2. Press Sign up at the bottom of the page.
3. Enter your email address, name and password. Use a unique password: later you’ll share this password with the host (the Android device you’re debugging).

To log in to your new TeamViewer account, select Sign up. Then press on Back arrowselect Computersand press on Plus (+) button. You will see four options:

• Close by
• Group
• Computer
• Consult

If you plan to remotely troubleshoot multiple devices over time—for example, for friends and family members—it may be a good idea to plan ahead and create different groups for them. This is how:

1. Press Group.
2. Select the name of your new group i Add group field.
3. Select Add.

The new group will be listed below Groups section. Once you’ve added a device (which you’ll do later), you can add it to a group. When you’re ready to do this, tap the device’s name, then tap Edit > Groups > [Group Name]. Activate Chinand then go back to see the device in the new group.

Setting up TeamViewer Host

Instruct the person who needs remote assistance to open Google Play and search for it TeamViewer host (or send them the link for TeamViewer Host on Google Play). You should then follow the steps we used earlier to check if your device is supported. If they can see TeamViewer Host, ask them to tap Install.

Once the app is installed, share your TeamViewer credentials with them and then forward these steps:

1. Open TeamViewer Host.
2. Ask them to press Assign device.
3. Inform them to enter your email address, unique password and Alias (the name they want to give their device).
4. Ask them to press Assign to confirm the connection.

A screen will appear saying that their device is assigned to your account. They can then safely close the TeamViewer Host. It’s that simple!

If they want to revoke your access, they have to choose Icon with three dotshit Remove assignmentand confirm with Remove. Repeat this process to associate your account with their device.

Connects to the host

After the host has authorized your TeamViewer account to access their Android device, it’s time to establish a connection. Open TeamViewer Remote Control and press Computers. You will see the device added below My computers or your custom group, if you created a group earlier in the tutorial.

Then tap on the name of the device Remote control. The host device will display a window saying TeamViewer Host will start capturing everything displayed on the screen. They have to drain Start now before the connection attempt is successful. Once connected, you will have complete remote control over the host device.

You can now follow all the normal troubleshooting steps you might follow to fix a software problem or run diagnostics.

An example of remote debugging

Let’s look at an example of using TeamViewer Remote Control in a real-life situation. For our purposes, let’s assume that a loved one wants to try the best Android developer options, but they don’t know how to unlock them. In particular, they want to disable absolute volume for Bluetooth devices.

How to do this:

1. Connect to the host Android device.
2. When you see the mirror image of the external device, select Settings.
3. Press About the phone section (on some Android devices this is i System section).
4. Keep pressing Building number. Eventually a message will appear saying: You are X taps away from unlocking developer options.
5. Keep pressing until you see another message that says You are now a developer.
6. Select Back arrow.
7. Press Developer opportunities.
8. Scroll down until you see Disable absolute volumeand then press Slide button icon to disable the option.
9. Press Arrow icon at the bottom right of the screen.
10. Select X to Close the connection.

Great job! You’ve just remotely patched an Android device and you didn’t even have to touch it!

Remote debugging of Android devices, made simple

Connecting remotely to a device used to be an exercise in futility. But those days are over. Thanks to TeamViewer Remote Control, it’s easy to remotely connect to an Android device and lend your Android knowledge to friends and family, wherever they are.