Remote access link — Piazza HQ

What you'll need

Piazza HQ version 1.92 or later, on your main (host) device: a Raspberry Pi, a Windows PC or Docker
An internet connection on that device. The first time, it downloads a small helper (about a minute)
A remote password of at least 10 characters. A few unrelated words works well, such as "maple river lantern copper"

Set a remote password

In Piazza HQ, open Settings → Security and set a Remote password. It is separate from your app PIN, and it is only asked for when someone reaches your device from outside your home network. Setting it changes nothing on your network.

Pick something you don't use anywhere else. If you ever think someone else knows it, change it: that signs every remote device out at once.

Turn on remote access

Still in Settings → Security, find Remote access link and press Turn on remote access. The status moves from "Getting ready" and "Connecting…" to On — connected.

Remote access is set up on your main (host) device. A mirror screen is reached through its host, so there is nothing to set up on it.

Open your address

Piazza HQ shows your private address with a Copy button and a QR code. Scan the code with your phone, or open the link, and sign in with your remote password. A device stays signed in for 30 days, then asks again.

The address ends in four random digits so that strangers can't guess it. You can change the first part of it under Change the address (3 to 30 letters, numbers or hyphens). The old link stops working right away.

Choose how careful to be (optional)

Email alerts. Under Email alerts choose New devices and lockouts (recommended) or Every sign-in, and an address to send them to. Press Send a test email to check it arrives. The email never contains a password. Sending needs the email account you set up under Daily Briefing.
Smart-home and TV control from outside. Off by default, so a remote sign-in can use calendars, lists and settings but cannot switch lights, locks or a TV. You can turn it on, but only while you are at home.
Also ask on my home Wi-Fi. Tick it and other phones and computers on your home network are asked for the remote password too. The wall screen itself never asks.

Keep an eye on who has signed in

The same Security page lists every remote device that is signed in, when it was last active and where from. Press Sign out beside one, or Sign out all remote devices. Recent sign-in activity also shows wrong passwords. Repeated wrong guesses are slowed down automatically.

Stored passwords and tokens are hidden from remote sign-ins, and a few settings only open on your home network.

Turn it off

Turn off closes the address and keeps it reserved for you, so turning it back on gives you the same one. Turn off and give this address back releases it: you get a new, different address next time, and any links you shared stop working. Removing the remote password also turns remote access off.

If something goes wrong

The page says remote access isn't available

Open the settings on the main (host) device, not on a mirror screen. Check that the device has internet, wait a minute for the one-time helper download to finish, then try again.

The status says "Trouble connecting" or "Paused"

The message under the status says why. Usually the device lost internet for a moment: press Turn off, then Turn on remote access. If it keeps happening, it may be a Wi-Fi problem on the device itself. See the troubleshooting page.

I forgot the remote password

While you are at home, open Settings → Security and use Change password. You don't need the old password from your home network. Changing it signs every remote device out.

I see a sign-in I don't recognize

Open Settings → Security, press Sign out all remote devices, and change the remote password. Turn on email alerts so you hear about new devices straight away.

Does it work on Windows and Docker?

Yes. Remote access has been tested on Raspberry Pi, Windows and Docker installs.