4 Easy Ways to Fix AnyDesk Waiting for Image
This post is a intuitive troubleshooting guide for AnyDesk waiting for image error. It will greatly help you if you face the same problem when establishing an AnyDesk session. Please keep reading to learn more.
By Hester 
/ Last Updated May 9, 2023
The issue: AnyDesk waiting for image
I use Anydesk to connect to a remote host. The connection has been made, but there is no visible image, and a message says, ‘Waiting for image.’ Any solutions for AnyDesk waiting for image?»
— Question from a user
How to fix AnyDesk stuck on waiting for image on Windows 10, 11 [4 solutions]
AnyDesk is a well-known remote access software that enables you to connect to another device and see its screen and files from anywhere in the world. Users might occasionally run into problems during a remote session, though. For instance, the client computer may experience AnyDesk connected but waiting for image due to the unstable Internet connection, blocked Firewall, or monitor connection. Thankfully, there are a couple simple fixes for this issue.
Solution 1. Check the Internet connection
If you encounter AnyDesk stuck on waiting for image, you may have an unstable Internet connection. We recommend checking your Internet connection first.
Step 1. Press Win+ R keys, input “cmd”, then click OK.
Step 2. Runthe command “ping -t 8.8.8.8” and check the time value. If the data indicate considerable swings, your Internet connection needs assistance.
Step 3. If you’re having issues with your Internet, close the computer, unplug the router or modem, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
Step 4. Re login to the router and modem, and restart your computer to try again.
Solution 2. Configure AnyDesk in Windows Firewall
A weakly constructed Firewall may also be the source of the error message. The Windows Firewall on both the local and remote sides should not interfere with the AnyDesk connection. Therefore, you have to make sure that AnyDesk is whitelisted in Windows Firewall.
Step 1. Go to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall in Control Panel. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
Step 2. Click the Change settings button, find and check the Private and Public boxes for AnyDesk, then click OK.
Solution 3. Use Ctrl + Alt + Del keys to evoke the display settings
Sometimes you’ll find AnyDesk waiting for image when you connect to a pc without a monitor. The following steps can help you let AnyDesk start working again.
Step 1. In the session window, click the Actions button on the upper toolbar, and click Ctrl + Alt + Del.
Step 2. Click Cancel if something shows up.
Step 3. Then screen will be frozen again. Click the View Mode option, and select Auto-Adapt resolution.Then everything will start working again.
Solution 4. Use a reliable AnyDesk alternative
The effective way to solve the display errors is by using an AnyDesk alternative. Thus you won’t face these problems anymore. Many remote access tools are on the market, and our top selection is the powerful and safe software AnyViewer.
As the best remote access software, AnyViewer offers the most stable connections without interruptions and errors. Besides, it is an effective all-in-one solution. All of the features are free to use, including unattended access, remote desktop file transfer, multiple sessions, multiple monitor navigation, and remote reboot.
AnyViewer is very easy to use. Download it on your computer, and let’s get started.
Step 1. On the host device, launch AnyViewer, sign up for an account by clicking Sign up, and log in.
Step 2. Utilize the same login credentials as the host to sign in to AnyViewer on the client device.
Step 3. Navigate tothe Device interface to see a list of your assigned devices. Click the remote device you want to connect to, then click One-click control.
If you don’t want anyone else to be able to see what you’re doing on your remote computer, instead of disconnecting the remote computer from a monitor, you can upgrade your account to black the remote screen or disable the remote mouse and keyboard in the session. In this way, your colleagues or roommates cannot view content on your remote PC.
Bonus tip: Other common issues and fixes in AnyDesk sessions [3 cases]
User complaints about AnyDesk problems with the audio, mouse, and keyboard are also frequent. Continue to the subsequent steps to fix the issues.
Case 1. AnyDesk audio not working
Make sure you enable the Transmit audio output of this desk option in the audio settings.
Open AnyDesk Settings and go to the Security tab > Unattended Access > Permissions for remote users > check Hear my device’s sound output.
Case 2. AnyDesk mouse not working
Activating the Control my computer’s keyboard and mouse option and launching AnyDesk as an administrator on the remote side may resolve this issue.
Open AnyDesk Settings and go to the Security tab > Unattended Access > Permissions for remote users > check Control my device’s keyboard and mouse.
Case 3. AnyDesk keyboard not working
If you can’t perform hotkeys in a session, follow the next steps to enable the related options.
Open AnyDesk Settings and go to the Security tab > Unattended Access > Permissions for remote users > check Access my device’s clipboard and Access my device’s clipboard to transfer files.
Conclusion
We offered several ways to fix AnyDesk waiting for image. This error frequently happens when you connect to a remote computer that does not have a monitor. If you don’t want the remote monitor to show your actions, we recommend using AnyViewer which supports black the remote screen in a session to protect your privacy.
Waiting for image/Black screen
If you are seeing the «Waiting for image» message or a black screen for an extended period of time after connecting, it’s possible that the display drivers on the remote device you’re connecting to have been disabled or turned off.
This issue is particularly common with modern hardware, as the display drivers often turn off when no monitor is detected. As a result, AnyDesk is unable to pull information from the drivers, resulting in the message or black screen.
Why is Anydesk showing waiting for image? Quick Fix
The remote access desktop app, Anydesk, is one of the go-to closed source platforms for Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android and iOS. While the software works most of the time seamlessly, it does tend to run into a couple of errors that can be caused due to various reasons. One such error that people often report is the ‘Anydesk waiting for image’.
In this article, we explain why you’re seeing the ‘Anydesk waiting for image’ error and how to fix it in a jiffy.
What causes the Anydesk waiting for image error?
The most common reasons you could be seeing this Anydesk error are the following.
- Slow internet connection
- Improperly configured firewall
- Network issue
The error usually stays on the screen on the client-side for a few minutes before the software disconnects. At the same time, it might show the person trying to connect that both the machines are connected.
How to fix the Anydesk waiting for image error?
Let’s get the obvious fix out of the way first — restarting the device. One of the easiest and quickest ways to fix any issue whatsoever is restarting your machine. However, if that doesn’t work for you, here are four ways to fix the Anydesk waiting for image error.
Check internet connection
The first fix for any error with a remote desktop app is to check the internet connection. Slow internet speeds or higher latency can cause the issue. Using an ethernet cable to connect to your ISP directly can also fix the issue as it can lower the latency — indicating problems with your WiFi router.
Try shifting closer to the router for a better connection. If there are no issues with the internet connection, check your firewall configuration settings.
Whitelist Anydesk in Firewall settings
To fix the Anydesk waiting for image error, allow incoming connections for Anydesk by adding it to the Firewall whitelist using *.net.anydesk.com.
You can also temporarily try by disabling Windows Firewall.
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Windows Firewall. Click on Firewall & network protection.
Step 2: Click on Private network or whichever is your active firewall.
Step 3: Toggle the Microsoft Defender Firewall setting off.
Now restart the Anydesk app, and it should work fine.
Modify TCP ports
The TCP-Ports for Anydesk are 80, 443 and 6568. To avoid the message for a portable client, disable the TCP-Listening ports in your custom client.
Make sure the Monitor is connected and switched on
If you’re running Anydesk on a PC, make sure that the monitor is connected to the system and it’s switched on. In certain circumstances, Anydesk will show the waiting for image error due to issues with the media server.
Waiting for image?
I normally use Teamviewer to connect between machines but I thought I'd try out Any Desk. I have it work on some machines but when trying to connect to a specific laptop, I just get stuck at the Anydesk program saying: Waiting for image.
Everything I've found online talks about machines that are sleeping or that don't have monitors, and this doesn't apply. This is a standard laptop that I can TeamViewer into just fine but can't get Anydesk to work.