AnyDesk Unattended vs Full Access: Key Differences

AnyDesk’s “Unattended Access” is a permission setting that lets you connect to a device without anyone accepting the request, while “Full Access” is a permission profile that grants complete control over the remote device. In short, Unattended Access is about when you can connect, and Full Access is about what you can do once connected. This article explains both features, how they work together, and how to choose the right setup for your needs.

Background: How AnyDesk Permissions Work

AnyDesk is a remote desktop application that lets you control another computer over the internet. For a connection to happen, the remote device must be running AnyDesk and be reachable. The software uses a nine-digit address (similar to an IP address) to identify each device. When you request a connection, the person on the other end can either accept it manually or, if you have the right permissions, you can connect without any interaction.

Permissions are the rules that define what a connecting user can do. They are attached to your AnyDesk profile (identified by your email address) and are stored on the remote device. There are two main categories of permissions:

• Unattended Access – Allows a connection to be established without anyone clicking “Accept” on the remote screen.
• Full Access – Grants the connecting user all available controls: viewing, input (mouse/keyboard), file transfer, clipboard sync, and more.

These are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the most common setup for remote administration is to grant both Unattended Access and Full Access to a trusted profile. That way, you can connect to your office PC from home and have complete control without needing someone to approve the session.

What Exactly Is Unattended Access?

Unattended Access is a permission that allows connections to be established without human intervention. When enabled for a specific profile, that profile can connect to the device at any time, even if no one is sitting in front of it. This is essential for managing servers, home computers while traveling, or helping a less technical family member without them having to do anything.

To set it up, you need to go to the remote device’s AnyDesk settings, find the “Security” section, and add your profile to the list of allowed profiles. You can then assign permissions to that profile. The key point is that Unattended Access is a connection permission – it controls whether the session can start without a prompt.

It’s important to note that Unattended Access does not automatically give you control. You could have Unattended Access enabled but only be allowed to view the screen, not control it. That would let you check on a machine without interrupting the user. However, in practice, most people enable Unattended Access together with Full Access so they can do everything remotely.

What Exactly Is Full Access?

Full Access is a permission profile that grants the connecting user every available capability. According to AnyDesk’s documentation, the “Full Access” profile includes permissions for:

• Input (keyboard and mouse control)
• File transfer (copy files between local and remote)
• Clipboard (shared clipboard for copy-paste)
• Audio output (listen to remote device’s sound)
• Print (print documents from remote to local printer)
• Lock on disconnect (automatically lock the remote screen after session ends)

When you grant Full Access to a profile, that user can do everything you can do locally on the remote machine. They can open applications, edit files, change settings, and even reboot the system. This is powerful, so it should only be granted to trusted users.

Full Access does not require Unattended Access. You can have a session where the remote user accepts the connection and then you have full control. That’s common for tech support calls where the customer is present and approves the session. In that case, the support agent gets Full Access, but only after the customer clicks “Accept.”

How They Work Together

To understand the difference, think of a door. Unattended Access is the key that lets you open the door without knocking. Full Access is the permission to rearrange the furniture once you’re inside. You can have the key but only be allowed to look around (view-only). Or you can be allowed to rearrange furniture, but only if someone opens the door for you first.

The most common scenario for remote administration is to enable both. For example, an IT administrator might set up a company laptop with AnyDesk and grant their own profile Unattended Access + Full Access. Then they can connect to that laptop at any time, without the user being present, and have complete control to install updates or fix issues.

Conversely, a customer support agent might only have Full Access (without Unattended Access). They can only connect when the customer is there and clicks “Accept.” This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access.

How to Configure Them

Setting up these permissions is straightforward but requires access to the remote device’s settings. Here are the general steps (menu names can vary slightly between versions):

1. On the remote device, open AnyDesk and go to Settings (the gear icon).
2. Navigate to the Security section.
3. Under “Permissions,” click on “Profiles” or “Access control.”
4. Click “Add” and enter the AnyDesk ID or email of the profile you want to grant access to.
5. For that profile, check the boxes for “Unattended Access” (under the “Connection” section) and “Full Access” (under the “Permissions” section).
6. Click OK to save.

If you want to grant Unattended Access without Full Access, you would uncheck the Full Access box and instead check specific permissions like “View” or “Input” only. This is useful if you want to monitor a device without allowing changes.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A frequent misconception is that enabling Unattended Access automatically gives full control. That’s not true – you must also grant the appropriate permissions. Another common issue is that users forget to set a password for the remote device. For Unattended Access to work, the remote device must have a password set (or the profile must be pre-authorized). If you try to connect and get a “Permission denied” error, check that the profile is correctly added and that the remote device is online.

Another problem is that Unattended Access can be a security risk if not configured carefully. If you grant Unattended Access to a profile that also has Full Access, anyone who compromises that profile (e.g., if their email is hacked) can take over the device. To mitigate this, use strong passwords for your AnyDesk account and enable two-factor authentication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Unattended Access without Full Access?

Yes. Unattended Access only controls whether the connection can be established without a prompt. You can grant that permission while only allowing view-only or limited control. This is useful for monitoring a computer without being able to change anything.

Is Unattended Access secure?

It can be, but it adds risk because it allows connections without anyone approving them. To keep it secure, only grant Unattended Access to trusted profiles, use a strong password on the remote device, and enable two-factor authentication on your AnyDesk account.

What happens if I don’t set a password for Unattended Access?

If you don’t set a password, the remote device will require someone to accept the connection, so Unattended Access won’t work. You need to set a password in AnyDesk’s security settings to allow password-based unattended connections.

Can I have different permission levels for different users?

Yes. You can add multiple profiles to the permissions list and assign different permissions to each. For example, you can give your own profile Full Access + Unattended Access, but give a colleague only View + File Transfer without Unattended Access.

Does Full Access include file transfer?

Yes, the Full Access profile includes file transfer, clipboard, input, and other advanced features. If you only want file transfer, you can create a custom profile with just that permission.

Why can’t I connect even though I have Unattended Access?

Check that the remote device is online and that the AnyDesk address is correct. Also verify that the profile is correctly added to the permissions list and that the permissions are saved. If you’re using a password, make sure it’s correct.

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