How To Enable Interactive Access In AnyDesk | Settings Walkthrough

To enable Interactive Access in AnyDesk, open Settings, go to Security > Interactive Access, and select when session requests appear.

The difference between a connection that works smoothly and one that constantly interrupts you comes down to one AnyDesk setting. Interactive Access controls how incoming remote desktop requests appear on screen. Configuring it correctly determines whether you see a popup for every request or connections flow through automatically in the background.

Interactive Access vs. Unattended Access – Pick the Right Mode

These two features live in different parts of the Settings menu and serve different purposes. Interactive Access manages the on-screen prompt. Unattended Access lets a remote device accept connections using a saved password, bypassing the need for a person to click Accept. Most people who need hands-free remote control actually need Unattended Access, but the first step is understanding what Interactive Access does.

How to Enable Interactive Access in AnyDesk

The setting is straightforward once you know where to look. Here are the exact steps for configuring Interactive Access on the remote computer:

1. Open AnyDesk.
2. Click the user profile icon in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
3. Navigate to Security > Interactive Access.
4. Choose one of the three options:
   • Always show incoming session requests – A prompt appears for every connection attempt.
   • Only show if AnyDesk window is open – Requests appear only when the app is actively running.
   • Never show incoming session requests – Completely blocks manual prompts. Use this only if Unattended Access is configured, otherwise you will lock yourself out.
5. Close the window. The new setting saves and activates immediately.

For complete details on each drop-down option, see the official Interactive Access documentation.

How to Enable Unattended Access for Password-Based Connections

If the goal is connecting when nobody is present, Unattended Access handles that. Once a password is set, the remote machine can be reached at any time.

1. Open Settings > Access > Unattended Access.
2. If the settings are locked, click Unlock and confirm.
3. Click Set Password.
4. Enter a secure password. AnyDesk requires at least 8 characters, but 12 or more is strongly recommended.
5. Click Apply.
6. (Optional but recommended) Go to Security > Interactive Access and select Never show incoming session requests to prevent popups from interrupting the automated connection.

Common Mistakes That Block Access

Several setup pitfalls stop these features from working correctly. Knowing them ahead of time saves a round of troubleshooting.

• Using the portable version: The portable version of AnyDesk must stay open on the remote machine. If it closes, Unattended Access stops working. Install AnyDesk using the installer to run it as a background service.
• Forgetting to unlock settings: If the “Set Password” button is grayed out, look for the Unlock link at the top of the Access section.
• Missing Administrator privileges: Features like “Interact with windows having restricted access” require running AnyDesk as an administrator and an Advanced subscription or higher.
• Skipping the password before blocking prompts: Selecting “Never show incoming session requests” without setting an Unattended Access password locks the device to all incoming connections.

Finish With the Configuration That Fits Your Workflow

Choosing the right setting depends entirely on how you work. If you want to manually approve every connection, stick with Interactive Access set to Always show. If you need automatic access to a remote server or home PC, enable Unattended Access with a strong password and change Interactive Access to Never show. Test the connection once to confirm the setup works exactly as expected.