LogMeIn Free — back when remote access was simple and didn’t cost a thing
Before remote desktop tools started requiring accounts, subscriptions, cloud relays, and marketing emails… there was LogMeIn Free. A small installer. A tray icon. An IP address. That was enough.
Install it once, link the PC to your LogMeIn account, and from that point on, it was accessible from anywhere. A browser window, a login, and — boom — the remote machine was on-screen, ready to be clicked. No port forwarding. No firewall dancing. It just worked.
And for many sysadmins, field techs, or traveling consultants, it was the tool. Reliable, unassuming, and free — until it wasn’t.
What It Did (When It Still Existed)
| Feature | Why It Was a Lifesaver |
| Browser-based RDP | No client needed — full remote session from Chrome, Firefox, or IE |
| Always-on connectivity | Machines stayed available 24/7 — even after reboots or user logouts |
| NAT traversal | No port forwarding required; worked through firewalls |
| File transfer | Drag and drop files between local and remote systems |
| Wake-on-LAN | Remote wakeup for sleeping or offsite PCs (if supported by hardware) |
| Multi-monitor support | Let users switch between remote screens in a click |
| User management | Allowed multiple admins to access shared devices with permission control |
When It Was Perfect
– A remote server rebooted unexpectedly — and someone needed to log in from an airport browser
– A family member called about a “frozen desktop,” and the fix took two minutes via LogMeIn
– A field engineer needed access to documentation stored on a workstation back at HQ
– Machines spread across small offices, no VPN in place — just open LogMeIn and work
– Remote access needed to be fast, reliable, and not break the budget
Technical Basics (At the Time)
| Component | Details |
| Platform | Windows and macOS; worked on XP, Vista, 7, 8, and early 10 |
| Internet Access | Required for relay — all traffic routed through LogMeIn cloud |
| Installation | Small agent (~10–15 MB); ran as a background service |
| Account Required | Yes — user had to create a LogMeIn account to manage connected devices |
| Security | Encrypted tunnels, two-factor login support, strong password policies enforced |
What Happened
In January 2014, LogMeIn announced that the Free version was being discontinued. Users were given seven days to upgrade to the paid plan or lose access. For many, that marked the end of what had been a go-to tool for nearly a decade.
Some moved to TeamViewer. Others built their own tunnels. A few paid — but most just missed the simplicity of what had worked.
Legacy
It’s gone now. But LogMeIn Free showed how remote access could be done right: quick setup, no config hell, and nothing in the way of just getting to the machine. It proved that a remote desktop didn’t need to be complicated — just reliable.
For anyone who used it back then, it likely still lives in a muscle memory: open browser, log in, click system, fix problem, log out.
