Whenever we use an application, or something goes wrong with our wireless device, the first thought that comes to mind is that help is needed.  Heavy amounts of frustration can lie in whenever we have to call a tech support number, and have to wait for a long period of time in order to get a response.

In order to help alleviate this kind of situation, Microsoft has come up with a new product called “Quick Assist” which is reviewed in this article.

What Is It?

Microsoft Quick Assist is a tool that is readily available, and there is nothing extra that needs to be downloaded (except for the app).  All you need to have is an M365 account, a good network connection, and access to the Internet.

The premise is that if something malfunctions in your device (hardware or software), somebody from a technical support team can immediately log into it, and immediately troubleshoot what the problem is, and hopefully provide a fix.

Essentially, you are sharing your device.  In this regard, somebody can access your device, or, if somebody else is having technical issues, you can also log into their device to try to help them out.  Quick Assist is very much like the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), but it does not have all of the features of it.

Launching Quick Assist

To initiate a session, follow these steps:

  1. You can start the app in one of four ways, which are as follows:
    • Type “Quick Assist” in the search bar;
    • Press and hold down the “CTRL + Windows + Q” keys simultaneously;
    • Select “Windows Accessories” from the Start menu, and then select “Quick Assist”;
    • If you are using Windows 11, launch the “Start Menu”, select “All Apps”, and then select “Quick Assist”.
  2. In the “Help Someone” section, click on the button that says, “Help Someone”.  A one-time password (OTP) is then generated.
  3. You (technically known as the “Sharer”) have to communicate this OTP (from the last step) to the person that needs help.
  4. The receiver then follows these steps:
    • Enters the OTP box under the “Get Help” section,
    • Click on  “Submit”.
  5. You, the sharer, now need to select the “Allow” button so that your device can be shared.
  6. Once your device is in the sharing mode, the person that is helping you out can also take control of it by selecting the “Request Control” button, and from there, the sharer can either select “Allow” or “Deny” for the session to continue.

Installing Quick Assist

Installing the app is a simple, two step process:

  1. Visit the “Microsoft Store”, and search for “Quick Assist”.
  2. Once you are in the store, select “Get In Store App”. Start the installation process, and once that has been completed, select “Get” to start the app.  This is illustrated in the diagram below:

(SOURCE:  1).

                If you need more help with the installation process, click on the link below:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-quick-assist-c17479b7-a49d-4d12-938c-dbfb97c88bca

How It All Works

The technical process of how Quick Assist works is illustrated in the diagram below:

(SOURCE:  1).

Conclusions

If you have further questions about Quick Assist, or would like to see a live demo as to how it works, contact us today!!!

Sources

  1. The sharer enters the provided code in the Security code from the assistant box under the Get help section, and then selects Submit.