How to Set Up Zoho Assist

What Is the Quick Summary of How to Set Up Zoho Assist?

You can set up Zoho Assist in a few focused steps. First, check that your devices and network meet the requirements. Next, sign in and start a first remote support session. Then add unattended access, technicians, and security settings. In short:

1. Check requirements. Confirm supported systems and open ports 80 and 443.
2. Create your account. Sign up at assist.zoho.com and choose the right data center region.
3. Run a first session. Click Start Now, pick a session type, and share the session ID.
4. Configure unattended access. Deploy the agent with an installer link or a Group Policy script.
5. Add your team. Create departments and assign technicians.
6. Customize and secure. Apply branding, multi-factor authentication, and consent settings.
7. Test and troubleshoot. Run a pilot session and fix firewall or proxy issues.

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What Is Zoho Assist and What Does Setting It Up Involve?

Zoho Assist is a cloud-based remote support and remote access tool. According to Zoho’s community overview, it supports on-demand and scheduled sessions, screen sharing, and unattended access to PCs, mobile devices, laptops, and servers. Because it runs in the browser, Zoho Assist needs no heavy installation on the customer’s side for attended sessions.

This guide shows you how to set up Zoho Assist for both of its main modes. The table below compares them so you know which setup path to follow.

Mode	Best for	Setup effort
Remote support (attended)	Helping a customer who sits at the device	Low: log in, start a session, share the ID
Unattended access	Maintaining computers when nobody sits at them	Medium: deploy an agent to each device

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What Do You Need Before You Set Up Zoho Assist?

A few minutes of preparation prevents most setup problems. Before you start, gather a Zoho account, a supported device, and permission to adjust network rules if needed.

Which Systems Does Zoho Assist Support?

Check Zoho’s system requirements page for the current list of supported operating systems and browsers. Notably, Zoho announced that it stopped actively supporting several older Windows versions on October 1, 2025, so upgrade any legacy machines first. In addition, Zoho’s G-Cloud service listing notes that iOS devices offer view-only access without control.

What Network Settings Does Zoho Assist Need?

Zoho Assist works through outbound HTTPS/SSL connections. Nevertheless, a strict firewall may block it. Zoho’s firewall guide recommends the following:

• Allow ports 80 and 443.
• Exclude TCP and WebSocket traffic for Zoho domains from firewall and proxy inspection.
• Allow gateway.zohoassist.com and *.zohocdn.com as a shortcut to the global gateway network.
• Allow the Zoho Assist application through the firewall.

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How Do You Create Your Zoho Assist Account and Choose a Data Center?

Create your account at assist.zoho.com. Zoho’s G-Cloud listing confirms that new users can try the product with a free trial after they sign up. Pay attention to the domain you use, because it determines where Zoho stores your data. According to Zoho’s security overview, assist.zoho.com stores data in the United States, assist.zoho.eu in the Netherlands and Ireland, assist.zoho.in in India, assist.zoho.com.au in Australia, and assist.zoho.com.cn in China. Therefore, pick the domain that matches your customers and your compliance needs before you invite your team.

How Do You Start Your First Remote Support Session in Zoho Assist?

Starting a session takes only a few clicks. Zoho’s getting started guide outlines the flow.

What Are the Steps to Host a Session?

1. Open your browser, go to the Zoho Assist website, and log in.
2. Click Start Now for an instant session, or click Schedule to plan one.
3. Select the session type: remote support or screen sharing.
4. Enter the session details, such as date, time, and a problem description for scheduled sessions.
5. Share the session ID or link with the customer.
6. Start remote control after the customer joins.
7. End the session from your toolbar when the work is done.

How Does the Customer Join a Session?

According to Zoho’s FAQ, you can send an email invitation or the session link through any chat, email, or SMS channel. Alternatively, the customer can enter the session ID at join.zoho.com. As a result, nobody needs to install a full application before an attended session begins.

Where Else Can You Start a Session?

Method	How it works
Web browser	Log in to the Zoho Assist website, click Start Now, and share the link
Desktop app	Install the app from the Zoho Assist website and start sessions from your desktop
Android	Install the Zoho Assist Remote Desktop app from Google Play, sign in, and invite users
iOS	Install the app from the App Store, sign in, and invite users

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How Do You Set Up Unattended Access in Zoho Assist?

Unattended access lets you reach a computer when nobody sits in front of it. To enable it, you install a small agent on each device.

How Do You Deploy the Agent With an Installer Link?

The installer link is the simplest method. Zoho‘s community guide on installing the unattended agent describes these steps:

1. Log in to Zoho Assist.
2. Click the Unattended Access tab, choose Deployment, and click Deployment Link.
3. Copy the link, or click Send to email the installer link.
4. Run the installer on the remote computer.
5. Return to Unattended Access and click Connect beside the new computer.

Once the installer runs, the computer joins your unattended computers list automatically.

Which Deployment Method Should You Choose?

Method	Best for
Deployment link	A handful of computers you can reach by email or chat
Group Policy startup script	Many Windows computers inside a domain
Proxy-aware installers	Networks that force all traffic through a proxy

For domain networks, Zoho documents how to install the agent with a Group Policy startup script. Administrators right-click the target domain or organizational unit, deploy the script, and then reboot a test device to confirm that the agent installs.

How Do You Configure a Proxy for Unattended Agents?

If your organization routes outbound traffic through a proxy, open Unattended Access, go to Settings, and select Proxy. Then enter the host IP and port, and add credentials if the proxy requires them. Zoho’s proxy settings guide warns that the setting applies only to agents you download after you save it. Therefore, configure the proxy before you build installers.

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How Do You Add Technicians and Departments in Zoho Assist?

As your team grows, structure keeps support organized. Zoho Assist uses departments, technicians, and groups for this purpose.

How Do You Create a Department?

Zoho’s departments guide explains that you can classify departments by customer organization, product, location, or workgroup. Each department has its own technicians, email templates, email configuration, and contacts. To create one:

1. Go to Settings > Organization > Departments.
2. Click Add department.
3. Enter a department name, a display name, and a short description.
4. Click Add technician, and add at least one technician.
5. Click Done, then click Configure to finish the setup.

Note that downgrading your plan disables created departments, and Zoho states that upgrading to the Enterprise edition enables them again.

How Do You Control What Technicians Can Access?

Unattended access permissions belong to groups. Zoho’s user management feature page explains that you add a group under Settings, then open Organization and select Manage Technicians to assign permissions. In addition, you can invite internal or external technicians to join a session. Consequently, you can give each person only the access that the job requires.

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How Do You Customize and Secure Your Zoho Assist Account?

After the basics work, tailor Zoho Assist to your business and lock it down.

How Do You Apply Your Own Branding?

Zoho’s G-Cloud service listing states that administrators can rebrand Zoho Assist with a company logo, favicon, and name, and they can customize the portal URL. As a result, customers see your brand during sessions, which builds trust.

Which Security Settings Should You Turn On?

Zoho’s security and compliance guide covers multi-factor authentication, the action log viewer, data cleanup, privacy settings, and encryption. Zoho also states that the product asks the customer for consent by default before a technician accesses a device. Use these settings:

• Enable multi-factor authentication for every technician.
• Keep customer consent prompts switched on.
• Review the action log regularly.
• Limit unattended access permissions by group.

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How Do You Fix Common Zoho Assist Setup Problems?

Most setup problems trace back to the network. Use this table to diagnose them quickly.

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Session will not connect	Firewall or proxy blocks Zoho traffic	Allow ports 80 and 443 and the Zoho domains
Unattended agent cannot reach the internet	Proxy settings missing	Configure the proxy, then download a new agent
Application blocked on Windows	Firewall alert	Allow Zoho Assist through the firewall
Older computer fails to run the tool	Unsupported operating system	Upgrade to a supported version

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What Are the Key Takeaways for Setting Up Zoho Assist?

Zoho Assist is quick to set up when you follow a clear order. Check your requirements and network rules first, choose the right data center, and run a test session. Then deploy the unattended agent, add technicians through departments, and apply branding and security settings. Because most problems come from firewalls and proxies, share Zoho’s network guidance early with your IT team. With these steps complete, Zoho Assist gives your team a secure, repeatable way to support customers and devices from anywhere.

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What Are the Frequently Asked Questions About Setting Up Zoho Assist?

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