PDQ Launches Live Device Access Tools
PDQ's new remote shell and live file explorer let IT administrators act on managed devices without opening a full remote desktop session.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Remote Work
PDQ launched live device access tools for remote Windows and macOS management, including a remote shell, a live file explorer, and automatic deployment of its remote desktop agent. The tools let administrators work within PDQ's existing interface to act on devices in real time.
Why it matters
The tools are intended to help IT administrators investigate and fix device issues without immediately taking control of a user's screen. Opening a full remote desktop session can interrupt users even when a task needs only command-line checks or file access.
PDQ's initial live file explorer supports transferring one file at a time and includes file-size limits, and the tools are available through its Plus and Premium plans. The company serves more than 33,000 customers, but the announcement does not report adoption figures for the new tools.
The players
PDQ
PDQ is a software company founded in 2001 and based in Salt Lake City that provides device management tools for IT administrators and serves more than 33,000 customers.
The details
The live device tools include a remote shell providing an interactive terminal, and a live file explorer that accesses a device's file system without a screen-sharing session. The automatic remote desktop agent installs on existing devices and future enrolments, with offline devices receiving it after they reconnect and check in. An expanded AI assistant has also moved into open early access.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: PDQ announces the live device access tools.
Roadmap
Remote desktop sessions have long been the default way IT administrators troubleshoot managed endpoints, often requiring full screen control even for narrow tasks. PDQ's live device tools extend the endpoint-management category by offering a remote shell and file explorer that work without that full session.
IT administrators on PDQ's Plus and Premium plans can use the remote shell and live file explorer to investigate device issues without starting a full remote desktop session. The file explorer's initial version transfers one file at a time within set size limits, which shapes how large transfers can be handled.
The takeaway
Lighter-weight access tools can resolve many device issues without interrupting the person using the machine. Administrators evaluating these features should check which plan tier includes them and what file-size limits apply.
Further reading
For more on the broader shift in how distributed teams manage their tools, see Remote Work coverage.
