Deskviewers

How to fix AnyDesk not working on Windows 11

by AndyHuang

Use these tips for Windows 11 to fire up AnyDesk and get back to work.

AnyDesk is a popular remote desktop application that allows users to connect and use computers remotely. However, when the application is not working, users cannot use the application. Many users reported on the community forum that they need to fix the AnyDesk application not launching in Windows issue.

So, if the AnyDesk application is running slowly in Windows 11 or won’t launch at all, try implementing these potential fixes to get it started.

Why AnyDesk doesn’t work in Windows 11

Usually, AnyDesk applications run well in Windows 11, but if they don’t work, there may be the following reasons:

  1. The AnyDesk server is currently down or under maintenance.
  2. The version of the application you are using on your computer is out of date.
  3. The application installation has been corrupted due to abrupt system shutdown or attack by malicious agents.

Now that you know the main reasons behind the problem, let’s dive into the solutions that you can try in this situation.

1. Restart your computer

If the AnyDesk application does not work, then your first step must be to restart your computer. Third-party programs rely on many system services to run correctly. Often, applications cannot access all these important services that are required to open the application.

Restarting your computer will free up system resources and restart all services. Save your work in any open applications and restart your computer.

After the restart, open the AnyDesk application and check if the problem persists.

2. Check AnyDesk application server status

Like any other online service, AnyDesk may experience server outages at any time. When the servers are down, you will not be able to use or open the application at all.

You can check the AnyDesk server status by visiting the AnyDesk status website. There, check the network status for your continent.

If the server is down, there’s not much you can do except wait patiently for AnyDesk to fix the problem.

3. Allow AnyDesk to communicate through Windows Defender Firewall

Sometimes, Windows Firewall may consider AnyDesk as a malicious application and prevent it from opening on your computer. This usually happens when the application is blocked under the firewall settings.

To resolve this issue, you must allow AnyDesk to run through Windows Defender Firewall. Here’s how:

  1. Press Win + S to open the search menu.
  2. In the Search bar, type Control Panel and press Enter .
  3. Change View by to Categories.
  4. Select System and Security.
  5. Select the Allow an app through Windows Firewall option under the Windows Defender Firewall section .
  6. Click the Change settings button.
  7. In the list of allowed apps and features , search for the AskDesk app.
  8. Select the Private and Public check boxes for the AnyDesk application .
  9. Click OK to save your changes.

That’s it. Now restart your computer and check if the problem persists.

4. Change the system date and time

If the host or guest device displays an incorrect date and time, it can cause connection problems and prevent AnyDesk from working properly. In this case, the solution is to use the internet to save time to synchronize the two devices.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Press Win + I hotkeys to open the Settings app.
  2. Select Time & Language Options from the left sidebar .
  3. Under the Related Links section , select Additional clock options.
  4. In the Date and Time window that pops up , switch to the Internet Time tab.
  5. Click the Change settings button.
  6. Check the Synchronize with an Internet time server box and click the Update Now button.
  7. Click OK to save your changes.

5. Try the network command prompt command

Windows allows you to run various network commands in the Command Prompt. If the AnyDesk application is still not running on your computer, you should try running some of them. To do this, open the Search menu, type CMD in the search bar and select Run as Administrator in the right pane. It will open an elevated Command Prompt window.

To reset the files needed to connect to the internet, use the following two commands:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

If this does not help, consider releasing the system’s IP address and obtaining a new IP address from the router using the following two commands, one at a time:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Finally, refresh your system’s DNS settings by executing:

ipconfig /flushdns

That’s it. Check if you are still facing the issue.

If you’re interested in these commands, you can learn about them (and more) in our guide to CMD commands for managing wireless networks on Windows.

6. Perform a clean boot

AnyDesk application may not work on your computer if it is subject to any interference from background programs. In this case, the solution is to perform a clean boot on your computer. It will only load important drivers and applications and stop the rest. Doing this will ensure if background programs are causing issues with AnyDesk application.

To perform a clean boot, follow these steps:

  1. In the Run dialog box, type msconfig and press Enter .
  2. The System Configuration window will appear. Switch to the Services tab and click the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.
  3. Click the Disable All button.
  4. Then, switch to the Startup tab and select the Open Task Manager option.
  5. Task Manager will appear with the Startup Programs section. Locate and right-click all startup applications and select Disable.
  6. Click the OK button in the System Configuration window . Restart your computer and launch the AnyDesk application to check if the problem persists.

7. Update AnyDesk application

If you haven’t updated the AnyDesk application for a while, you might have problems launching it. It turns out that older application versions can have bugs that hinder its work and usability.

You can update the AnyDesk application by following the instructions below:

  1. Open the AnyDesk app and click on the hamburger option at the top right corner .
  2. Select Settings from the list .
  3. Select Security from the left sidebar .
  4. Check the Enable automatic updates – Main Channel option under the Updates section .

AnyDesk will now automatically download any available updates on your computer.

Enjoy remote work with AnyDesk

There is nothing worse than having your work interrupted by a malfunctioning application. Fortunately, if the AnyDesk application is not working on your Windows PC, you now know what is causing the problem and how to fix it.

In the meantime, you might be interested in learning how to remotely connect to a Windows PC using AnyDesk.