Zoho Assist is cloud-based remote support and remote access software that lets IT teams view and control customer or employee devices from a browser. It handles on-demand troubleshooting sessions as well as unattended access to managed computers.
Zoho Assist is a web-based platform for remote support and remote access, built for IT helpdesks, managed service providers, and internal support teams. A technician starts a session, shares a link or session code, and the customer joins after granting permission, which takes seconds and needs no prior software on the customer's side. For machines that need recurring attention, unattended access installs a lightweight agent so servers, kiosks, and staff laptops can be reached without anyone present. Inside a session, technicians see multiple monitors, transfer files, run commands, chat with the user, and restart the machine while staying connected, then log the session for reporting.
Zoho Assist separates on-demand support from unattended access, and the two modes suit different work. Support sessions are attended: the end user consents, watches what happens, and can request control back at any time, which keeps customers comfortable during troubleshooting. Unattended computers are organised into groups with their own credentials, so a technician can reach a branch server at night without waking anyone. Security controls cover two-factor authentication, single sign-on through directory services, role-based technician permissions, and audit trails of who connected to what. The service is browser-based and traverses common proxies and firewalls, so nothing needs to be changed in the customer's network. Teams supporting developers, for example the remote setup described in our IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate Edition article, can combine both modes.
Zoho Assist shortens the gap between a reported problem and a fix. Because the customer joins through a browser link, support can begin during the first conversation rather than after a download and a reboot, which matters when someone is blocked from working. File transfer, remote printing, and the ability to run commands from the session cover most routine fixes without a site visit, and annotation tools let technicians point at the exact control that needs attention. Recording every session produces a record that helps training and dispute resolution. Reboot-and-reconnect handles update-driven restarts, and scheduled reports show which computers and customers consume the most support time. Mobile support extends the same approach to phones and tablets, so a field team can get help without a laptop. For MSPs, rebranding and integrations with helpdesk systems keep the experience consistent with the rest of the service.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Technicians start a session and invite the customer by link, email, or a code entered on a web page, and the connection begins once the user approves it. No permanent installation is needed for attended support, which keeps the experience simple for one-off customers.
An agent installed on managed machines allows connections at any time without someone at the keyboard, which suits servers, point-of-sale terminals, and staff laptops. Computers can be grouped, searched, and tagged so a technician reaches the right machine quickly during an incident.
Beyond full remote control, Zoho Assist supports screen sharing for meetings, demonstrations, and training, plus co-browsing where a technician and customer navigate a website together. Sessions cover multiple monitors, so work carried out on a second screen stays visible rather than hidden.
Files can be moved between the technician's machine and the remote device during a session, and remote printing sends documents to the local printer. This removes the need for emailing files back and forth or asking customers to install anything extra.
Sessions can be recorded and stored for later review, and reports summarise duration, participants, and activity across the account. Support managers gain evidence for audits, training material for new technicians, and data for planning staffing levels.
Two-factor authentication, single sign-on through directory services, role-based permissions, and audit logs restrict who can connect and record what happened. Session-level consent prompts mean the end user remains aware of, and able to stop, remote activity at any point.
Machines can be restarted from within a session and the connection restored automatically once the system returns, which helps when installing updates or clearing a stuck process. Command-line access and system information views support deeper diagnostic work without a site visit.
Zoho Assist connects with helpdesk and collaboration tools including Zoho Desk, Zendesk, Jira, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, so a session can start from an existing ticket. Companies can rebrand the portal and embed a support widget on their own website for direct customer access.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about Zoho Assist.
Remote support sessions are attended, meaning a customer joins and grants permission before a technician connects. Unattended access installs an agent on a managed computer so it can be reached at any time without anyone present, which suits servers and always-on machines.
For attended support, no installation is required because the customer joins through a browser link or a session code. Unattended machines do need a small agent installed once, after which they appear in the technician's list of computers.
Yes. Mobile devices can be added to support sessions, which helps field staff and remote teams who work from phones and tablets rather than laptops. The same session tools, including chat and file transfer, apply to those devices.
Connections are encrypted, access requires authentication, and administrators can enforce two-factor authentication, single sign-on, and role-based permissions. Audit logs record which technician connected to which device and when, and recordings can be retained for review.
Yes. In Zoho Assist, a session can be transferred or escalated to a colleague, so a first-line technician does not have to recreate a connection when a problem needs specialist help. Service queues help route incoming requests to the right person or team.
In Zoho Assist, technicians can view all monitors, take control, transfer files, print to the local printer, chat or start a voice call, run commands, annotate the screen, and reboot the machine while reconnecting automatically afterwards. Notes and recordings capture what happened for later reference.
Zoho Assist is cloud-based remote support and remote access software that lets IT teams view and control customer or employee devices from a browser. It handles on-demand troubleshooting sessions as well as unattended access to managed computers.
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