DameWare is shareware — you can try it, and a licence from SolarWinds is needed for continued use. If you want something permanently free, Remote Utilities covers up to 10 devices at no cost.
What DameWare offers is a tool built for Windows domain administrators: remote control that reaches machines which are switched off, and Active Directory management without opening a session at all. The current release is 12.2.4, from February 2023.
DameWare at a glance
| Latest on-premises version | 12.2.4, released 15 February 2023 |
|---|---|
| Editions | Mini Remote Control (remote control only) · Remote Support (adds AD and system tools, and includes MRC) · Remote Everywhere (separate cloud service) |
| Licence | Shareware (conditionally free) |
| Runs on | Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and Server 2008 R2 – 2019 (Windows 11 and Server 2022 are not listed in the vendor’s requirements) |
| Requirements | .NET Framework 4.8, TLS 1.2 mandatory, 4 GB RAM, 150 MB disk |
| Developer | SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC |
Which edition does what
Mini Remote Control
- Remote control of Windows, macOS and Linux machines.
- In-session chat, file transfer, remote printing and one-click screenshots.
- Wake-on-LAN and Intel vPro with AMT: reach a machine that is powered off, asleep, hibernating or crashed — the feature people actually buy DameWare for.
- The agent installs itself on first connection, or you build a custom MSI and push it by group policy.
- FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography, smart-card and multi-factor authentication.
Remote Support (includes Mini Remote Control)
- Manage multiple Active Directory domains: reset passwords, unlock accounts, edit group policy — without starting a remote session.
- Remotely reboot machines, start and stop services and processes, copy and delete files, view and clear event logs.
- The classic DameWare NT Utilities toolset.
- Integration with Web Help Desk, so a session starts from a ticket.
- Sessions across the internet through the separate DameWare Central Server component.
Download and install
- Click the Download button at the top of this page and unpack the archive.
- Install .NET Framework 4.8 first if it is missing — it is a hard requirement and may need a reboot. The Visual C++ redistributables are bundled with the installer.
- Choose your mode. Stand-alone activates the licence per computer and is what most small teams use. Centralised mode uses DameWare Central Server and is required for support beyond the firewall.
- Make sure TLS 1.2 is enabled on both ends. The vendor states plainly that DameWare works only with TLS 1.2 and that connection problems follow otherwise.
- For Remote Support, the remote machines also need the Server service, NetLogon in a domain, and Remote Registry.
Before you upgrade
- Back up your saved hosts and registry settings. In 12.2.4 credential storage moved from LSA to Windows DPAPI, and the vendor requires a backup before upgrading.
- Old agents stop working. Version 12.2.4 is incompatible with agents older than 12.2 — those must be removed and reinstalled.
- Central Server changed its database from SQL Server Compact to SQLite. Remove SQL Server Compact only after the full upgrade is finished.
- Run the upgrade with the same administrator account that performed the original installation.
- The DameWare mobile apps for Android and iOS no longer work with Remote Support 12.2.3 and later; only the iOS client version 11.4 is compatible.
What changed in the last releases
| 12.2.4 (Feb 2023) | Central Server moved to SQLite; credentials stored via DPAPI; security fix for CVE-2022-37434 in zlib; missing digital signatures on several files corrected; fixes to CSV export, DBF import and domain enumeration |
|---|---|
| 12.2.3 (Jul 2022) | Default credentials removed from Central Server and Mobile Gateway — they are now set during installation; SQLite and zlib updated; licence expiry shown correctly in centralised mode |
Note the dates: the on-premises product has not had a release since early 2023. SolarWinds is putting its development effort into the cloud edition.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Connections fail after a Windows hardening pass | TLS 1.2 must be enabled; DameWare does not fall back to older protocols. |
| Agent refuses the connection after the console was upgraded | Agents older than 12.2 are incompatible — uninstall and redeploy. |
| Saved hosts disappeared after upgrading | Restore from the backup taken before the upgrade; credential storage changed in 12.2.4. |
| Installation fails on Windows 7 | The vendor lists specific Microsoft updates as prerequisites (KB931125, KB3033929 among them). |
| Cannot connect from outside the network | That requires DameWare Central Server; the stand-alone mode works inside the firewall only. |
DameWare vs. alternatives
| Tool | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Remote Utilities | Free for up to 10 devices and self-hostable; no Active Directory tooling of this depth |
| TeamViewer, AnyDesk | Cloud-first services, simpler setup |
| BeyondTrust Remote Support | Enterprise-grade with strong auditing; heavier |
| LiteManager Free | Free for a limited number of devices; no vPro or AD management |
FAQ
Is DameWare free?
It is shareware — free to try, with a licence from SolarWinds for continued use.
What is the difference between Mini Remote Control and Remote Support?
Mini Remote Control is remote control alone. Remote Support adds Active Directory management, remote system administration tools, and includes a copy of Mini Remote Control.
Does it run on Windows 11?
The vendor’s requirements for 12.2.4 list Windows 7 through 10 and Server 2008 R2 through 2019. Windows 11 and Server 2022 are not listed, so treat that combination as unsupported.
Can it reach a computer that is switched off?
Yes, with Wake-on-LAN or Intel vPro and AMT — including access to machines that are asleep, hibernating or crashed.
Is the on-premises version still being developed?
The last release, 12.2.4, is from February 2023. New development is going into the separate cloud product.
