TeamViewer thinks I’m using the software commercially!

[xbee2]

There's plenty of remote & screen sharing programs out there. So I'm not worried about helping my friends & family.

For accessing my personal devices while away from home. I have a high end router that supports open VPN. Guess I'll just use that.

Anyone can buy a VPN Router as well to support & manage any personal networks. I was asked by a client who wanted to be able to manage his parents' home network remotely. I had no choice to discourage him from TeamViewer, and recommended a VPN Router instead. Why pay annually when you can just buy something at a one-time cost, then use the Windows RDP?

[OBRINGER]

Ladies and gentlemen,

I've been using Teamviewer for a long time now for personal and noncommercial purposes. I am currently retired as a former computer engineer. I frequently help out with friends and family, neighbors, and members of my guild on the Aions game. At the moment, it is not possible anymore to help all these people because Teamviewer disconnects me after 30 seconds with a message attached.

I specify that I have not used Teamviewer for about 1 month and a half because of hospitalization. For more security I changed my password.

My way of using Teamviewer remains unchanged to know that I only log in at the request of my family, friends, anyone from my Aions guild.

In no case I take control of a PC without the permission of the owner of the remote PC.

My help is to help them:
         - For problems with microphone settings or software or hardware problems.
         - Editing a PC configuration and I help them to install the OS and set it up

It is a passion for me and I have no intention of trading it.

How can we solve this problem knowing that I scrupulously respect the rules set by Teamviewer.

I remain at your disposal for any further information.

Hoping for an answer and a quick solution, please accept, Ladies and Gentlemen, the expression of my distinguished feelings.

Best regards.

Christian OBRINGER

[Boxallw]

I have have had my account reset to free twice now and EACH time I try to make a connection from my iPad it says that the app is being used in a commercial environment.

This app seems to be used in commerical environments. Your session will end within 5 minutes.

It just wont ever go back to free!!!

I have uninstalled both my ipad and mac apps and resigned in and still it is unusable.

What alternatives do people recommend?

[f15radar]

I use Teamviewer to help my 91 year old dad, my mother-in law, and my father-in law.  I wrote support and they agreed it would be reset to free.  Tonight my dad needed some help and I got the message again and was logged off.  Why would this happen?  I really am using it for personal use.  It took 8 days last time to reset it, how long does it take on a second request? Will this continue to happen and should I search for a new program?  Thanks.

[waces]

The main problem that there is no algorythm. Never was. They just randomli use the select user from users where license = free query on the backend.
That’s why we never get answer from them (no, the low skilled admins with high level of god complex knowledge ends in moderation, they are not technical people, so not expect answer from them. That’s not their job, not their knowledge), that’s why no working support exists for free users (this forum is a self-helping discussion between the users, but noone from tv ever read it or answer any wuestions).
The simple goal is to reduce the number of free users. It’s simple. If the user can be turned as a licensed user is a win. If not but leave tv is also a win as the same resources will be used by less users mean better performance for the few payed customers.
So, the only option is to move to any other, free or payed alternative as tv won’t change it. It’s not in their interest. Now they have enough payed customers, they are working with big companies using their product as a built in solution so need no more free users.
It can be achieved in two ways. Like **Third Party Product** did to send out a note saying thats the company decision take it or leave it or like tv did without notification, explanation, just hiding in the bush.
But one thing is sure. There is no such thing as “secret algoryth”, but have a few coders who are not so good to fix a month long issue, have 0 qa, 0 customer support. That’s all, but please, noone start to believe in some mythical algorythm .

[Jager67]

I use teamviewer to remote to my home PC if I forget a file or need to view a photo or program on that PC. But now I get about 3 seconds to try an remote in because it want's me to buy a license but I'm using it for personal use like I checked in the box when installing teamviewer. I don't know what to do please can anyone help me?

[normhal]

Well, I must chip in again:-)

Even though I got the message warning of commercial use, I could still continue to use TV, I've never been "blocked".

Secondly, I yesterday received a message from TV stating my account had been reset to Free, and so it is. I no longer get the warning:-)

In my humble opinion, I would be prepared to pay a nominal fee for a (permanent, non subscription) personal/non commercial license for say 10 partners, and have the ability to remove redundant partner names from the list. At the moment my account has become quite cluttered with my experiments across multiple platforms and I cann't find a way to remove them:-(

[AulPedajas]

What would be a different tool to replace TV?

[Glassdub]

None that I can find that are worthwhile & free.

[OzRob]

I am currenlty trying *third party software* (do a search without the space). It is similar to TV but it can be used for business use. However, with the free version you can only connect for up to 17 hours a month. This is OK for my purposes.

[AulPedajas]

---

@OzRob wrote:

I am currenlty trying *third party software* (do a search without the space). It is similar to TV but it can be used for business use. However, with the free version you can only connect for up to 17 hours a month. This is OK for my purposes.

---

Thanks. I found it. Will test it later. Do you know any software that also allow to control mobile phones from a computer?

[marklein]

After a few years of non-commercial use, Teamviewer recently shut down my non-commercial access claiming it was commercial. So there is now no free version available as advertised. The advertising needs to change to be truthful. Do yourself and Teamviewer a favor - since they don't want free users, try an alternative that's really free as advertised, like *third party software*, which does everything you'll need for non-commercial access.

[PrzemekRyk]

Hi all!

I don't know why I receive this message. I help my friends, they're using different version of Windows (7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 / Home / Professional). I've never took any money for helping them. During last month, I've cleaned up my „TeamViewer contact list”, connected to bunch of new machines. I don't know why you accuse me of commercial usage? Because of what? That - for example - someone who works in non-profit organisation is using a machine with Windows 10 Pro? How can I prove to you, that I'm not using TeamViewer commercially, but for helping m friends?

[jnsson]

Same here, just got it too

[marcEpstein]

Same here.  Just got it also.

AND:  THis happened to me about 1 month ago. I used online form  and about 2 weeks later all was fixed.. BUT NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

What?

[Glassdub]

Cannot use clipboard w/o paying.

[mikelltea]

I have been using TV's browser based connection to my home computers since my work's Sophos firewall system won't allow any kind of remote connection software. There are, to the best of my knowledge only four Remote connection options that can use a browser as the remote. I haven't succeeded using Chrome's and two of the four I'm not yet sure of. I need to test them first. However, one thus far is passing with flying colors and will likely provide a huge competition for TV. **Third Party Product**They have a personal use version that is free for up to five computers. They also have pretty cheap sounding "professional" versions. I'm pretty impressed so far (just used it for a day).

[sakellarios]

Hi to all!

Despite having my account reset to FREE license use twice within 2 weeks, after a false commercial usage issue, I am still encountering issues & notifications with:

1. Keep getting the prompt that commesrcial usage detected/suspected
2. Any connection I try resets/disconnects in 5mins or less & cannot reconnect for 10-15mins after that.

The above symptoms are observed just after the reset for the FREE usage.

My setup is fairly simple. I have installed TV on 5 - 6 PC of family and friends and I have linked them under my account (I believe that for 3 of these devices I am logged on with my credentials). Then I have set-up Remote connection with password, so I dont need to ask for passwords when trying to connect.

What I have tried up to now, after the reset of the license from the Teamviewer team is:

1. Re-install TV13 on my macbook.
2. Created a new TV account in case there was some sort of glitch with my old account

but none of these seem to work.

Any suggestions on how to resolve this issue?  

[HoppeHAM]

Same here. TV 12 (now upgraded to 13), on MacBook.

[AulPedajas]

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@Boxallw wrote:

Just move to **Third Party Product**. Free/OpenSource and works very well.

---

Not easy to install for my friends whom I help with their computer problems.

[Glassdub]

You have to pay for their Cloud account to use the clipboard so for the second time No Dice.

[Closed account]

I Dumped the paranoid liberal software called TeamViewer and switched to [deleted by moderator].,.. Works great and does not falsely accuse you of being a lying theif..

I dumped TV Entirely... Uninstalled and cleaned all regsitry entries of this Junk Acusational **bleep** Software...

[Boxallw]

Yep works well. Nice and easy to use as well.

[sippi]

I checked the [deleted by moderator] software out and it is only Windows software. I have been a very happy and appreciative Team Viewer user for about 6-8 years. It is excellent software and I have had no issues until now. Things happen in the computer world that are sometimes not human driven or caused by human error. I really think this isssue is a system glitch on Team Viewer's side. They have fixed me for now and hopefully it will not be an issue in the future.  The technician was very resonsive to several emails between us. I also understand paying customers come first and Team Viewer's manning of customer service must based on paying customers - totally makes good business sense. If I used it more and for non-personal reasons, I would be very happy to pay for the commercial version. I refuse to be too critical of a service that has functioned well and is offered free. When I am using my Mac to access another Mac, I use Apple's connection - it is great!!

[GYW]

I too am having the same problem and I am steaming.  Like you, I help out friends and family and actually, many of the computers listed are no longer in use.  I am retired, but knowledgeable about computers and programs well enough to help those who don't have a clue.  Some of my family or friends are actually on the elderly side and cannot remember many things, so I connect nearly every day to help out...please keep me apprised of this problem...if you aren't going to offer this free service I will have to figure something else out...but it has been very helpful.  I cannot afford your $49 per month.

[Jager67]

Same here I might switch to another company though because its been since monday last week this has been happening to me an still they do not email me back that they are even looking into the issue.

[Boxallw]

[deleted by moderator] is available on all platforms. There may be forks of the project that are Windows only.

I can take over my Mac from my Linux box,

[gquiring]

So a few weeks ago TeamViewer declared me a commercial user.  I am retired and help my 83yr old friend with his computer who gets into a lot of issues.  I fill out the form and explain I am not a commercial user.  Eventually I get an email that my account has been reset to free use.  I use TeamViewer exactly 4 times and it declares me a commercial user again!!!

Come on now, get your act together or just admit you want money and the product is no longer free!  I don't mind paying something but your current rates don't fit a home user trying to help a friend out.  

[Scottie2012]

I'm trying to change my trail version to non-commerial

[CR99]

I agree. Before my 7 day free trial was even up I was canceling it. They have YET to REFUND my money.

[pcowanvt]

How about sending a message to users that you detect that usage may be for commercial use and giving  them 30 days to reply on a form that you send them so that they have the opportunity to defend their usage as personal and not commercial????  That would show a commitment to customer service.  Just take a moment to imagine what it is like to be invited to depend on a program for free, then have it removed without notice?  My friend is disabled and needs the program to communicate with friends and family and to operate various devices in her home.  She earns no money from its use and the effect of loss of use of the software has interrupted many aspects of her daily life.  Your policy comes across as thinly veiled averace.  

[IvanDuncan]

It's a total **bleep** this commercial bug on android devices.
If devs has at least 2 neurons they could be able to avoid this happening with trusted devices, since would be simple as **bleep** don't block access or consider commercial use up to 3 PCs from the trusted devices list.
Now I can't support my 76 yo dad from my phone because it's says I'm suspect of commercial use and even with the warning of 5 min I just can connect up to 1 min.
Considering that there's only 3 devices that I use to log, my dad and son's computer and my own, this one btw is connected 50% of time at the same ISP modem as my phone.
What more I need to prove personal use than my trusted device is at the same ISP modem as the phone? Or same GPS location?
Ridiculous
And now to be worse, they don't even let you open a ticket, because "they were receiving too much tickets" and now support just answers who pays.
OFC u're getting too much tickets, ur devs are brainless!

[GYW]

Welcome to the club...I'm in the same boat.

[GYW]

I haven't gotten a reply yet, but I have researched other software products that actually do the same thing.  I've downloaded one myself and just used it...not bad at all.  I'm sure if I posted the name of it, this post would be deleted..[deleted by moderator].  Anyway...this is what happens when big companies get very greedy... I have friends and family all over the states and the only thing it may cause by switching programs is some very direct contact with the people or have someone who is computer savvy to help my very old family members download the programs...

[GYW]

I just tried **Third Party Product**...pretty good and free

[GYW]

Agree totally and I have also noticed that their status in the "free" remote control ratings has gone away completely.

[GYW]

The best thing you can do is find another free application to control your other computer.  I am currently trying one, which I can't name , but begins with A, and so far, it's quite simple to set up and easy to use.  Has all the bells and whistles of TV without the attitude...so far.  TV's ratings in the "free" catagory has disappeared and word has gotten out of this fiasco and the way they are treating people...their loss.  Just do some searching...I found this one right away.

[gquiring]

TeamViewer is no more.  I installed **Third Party Product** today and it works great.  To get my free license restored and then taken away afer 4 uses is ridiculous.  I just wish they would come clean and admit they don't want any free users anymore.  

[tinkerstoys]

TV is not an US company so it doesn't have to follow any laws or rules of business. So let's all quit complaining and do what we can to help others. Give them what they want no customer.

[Boxallw]

**Third Party Product** - mainly a windows solution. Looking at others but so far**Third Party Product** is good.

[Glassdub]

**Third Party Product**  is no good, no clipboard or cloud logon if you don't pay, worthless.

[OzRob]

With **Third Party Product** keep in mind that you can only connect for up to 17 hours a month.

[Boxallw]

For honest discussion this is not the place. They don't like us talking about better products.

[NYCNative]

It's been nearly two weeks since I submitted the form and no response. Twitter support people have intermitantly responded to messages but no solution as of yet.

I log into my home computer while I am at work to check my personal email, stream music from my home PC and pay my personal bills. This is not commercial use as far as I can tell. But nearly two weeks later, I still have no response to the ticket I created and you guys say creating more tickets can make it take even longer...

If you are so busy that you can't even respond to people in a reasonable amount of time, then perhaps whatever steps you are taking to deter business users from using your product for free has actually caused a lot of false positives and should be revisited. Or you just don't want people using your product for free, in which case why don't you just say so?

[GeorgiosBalas]

Hello.I use it for personal use only but teamviewer say that is detecting business software and not let me use it for free.what is happening?

[future_evolium]

Hi,

    TeamViewer have a real problem at this moment. They offer two type of accounts private use and commercial use. Private use is free, commercial use based on license which should be payed.

     The problem is that the account under private mode, free teamviewer is locked with the message trial expired, even if the application is free for private use. To unlock you have to contact the teamviewer but teamviewer team does not accept any ticket from customers who use free version, I mean private account. So they are at a point of no way for people who chose to test teamviewer or to use in private mode.

      Beside this, even if at installing the teamviewer ask you to chose the mode of using, commercial or both, and if you chose both, you can be found as suspicious if you use two accounts commercial and private on the same device. This difference between commercial and private accounts using should be very well defined and limited.

      At this moment the support for free version is not available even if the account is locked.

[JayM]

Had to unsubscribe from this thread since I was getting so many emails (and conveniently not a single one from a TeamViewer rep).

Unbelievably pathetic customer relations, especially with the vast amount of alternative programs for remote connections.  They can "fix" my account now; I don't even care.  I'll never use TeamViewer again.

[DaveCT2003]

Same here.  I actually sent me an email (after 3.5 months) to tell me my account was confirmed to be a private use, but that's the SECOND TIME and I don't care anymore.  I'm using **Third Party Product**, and 17 hours a month for this truly private user is just fine with me.

I've seen some seriously flawed thinking in my time, but this one is over the top.  I hope the guy in charge is happy with his decision to wreck PR.

[AulPedajas]

---

@gquiring wrote:

TeamViewer is no more.  I installed **Third Party Product** today and it works great.  To get my free license restored and then taken away afer 4 uses is ridiculous.  I just wish they would come clean and admit they don't want any free users anymore.  

---

Aero?

[Jager67]