Remotely Connecting to Campus Computers from Off Campus

Connecting to a Windows Computer from a Windows Computer

  1. Set up the work PC you want to connect to so it allows remote connections.
    1. On the computer you want to connect to (likely on-campus), select Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop.
    2. Click on “Advanced settings” in the middle of the page.
    3. Make sure the box next to Require computer to user Network Level Authentication to connect is unchecked.
    4. From the computer you wish to remote into (same computer as Step a), go to help.utk.edu/whois.
    5. Make a note of the IP Name listed there. You will need to enter this on the other computer (It should look similar to test.desktop.utk.edu).
  2. Use the Remote Desktop client on the computer that you will be using to connect to the PC you set up.
    1. On your local Windows 10 PC: In the search box on the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection
    2. Select Remote Desktop Connection.
    3. In the “Computer” field type name of the PC you want to connect to (for example, the computer you configured in Step 1 test.desktop.utk.edu)
    4. Click “Connect.”
    5. It should give you fields with “User Name” and Password. Add your username in the format "utk\netid" and your NetID password. Press enter.
    6. You should now be connected.

Connecting to a Windows Computer from a Mac

  1. Set up the work PC you want to connect to so it allows remote connections.

    1. On the device you want to connect to, select Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop.
    2. From the computer you wish to remote into (same computer as Step a), go to help.utk.edu/whois.
    3. Make a note of the IP Name listed there. You will need to enter this on the other computer (It should look similar to test.desktop.utk.edu).

  2. On the Mac that you will be connecting from, you will need to install Microsoft Remote Desktop; this is available at no cost in the Mac App Store. Launch the Remote Desktop client on your Mac. Click Add Desktop to begin.

    1. In the dialog box that opens, type in the PC Name (I.E., Daves Computer) that you noted earlier.
    2. Add your username in the format domain\[netid] (I.E., utk\netid). You can add your password for automatic login. Leave it blank, and you’ll get a prompt to enter it each time.
    3. The Remote Desktop app will list your computer, with a thumbnail preview, under Saved Desktops. Double-click it to connect.

Connecting to a Mac from a Windows

Connecting to a Mac from a Windows PC is a little different. You’re not going to be able to use Remote Desktop; instead, there is a free client called RealVNC viewer that does the trick nicely.

  1. On the Mac you are connecting to, set up the Mac to accept remote connections.

      1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences > Sharing, then select the Remote Management
      2. If prompted, select the tasks that remote users are permitted to perform. If you are not prompted, click Options to select tasks (Observe/Control).
      3. From the computer you wish to remote into (same computer as Step 1), go to help.utk.edu/whois.
      4. Make a note of the IP Name listed there. You will need to enter this on the other computer (It should look similar to test.desktop.utk.edu).
      5. Click Computer Settings and make sure "VNC viewers may control screen with password" is checked. Enter a password of your choosing in the space provided. Note this password for later when connecting with VNCViewer.

  2. On the Windows computer being used to connect to the Mac, you will need to download and install RealVNC Viewer. You can find links to download RealVNC Viewer here: www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/

  3. Once the RealVNC Viewer is downloaded:
      1. Open VNC Client and enter the computer name of the Mac that was noted previously (I.E., Daves Mac). Leave encryption set as Let VNC Server choose
      2. When you connect to the target Mac, you will also need to log into your user account on the Mac.

Connecting to a Mac from a Mac

Detailed instructions can be found on our Mac to Mac Knowledge Base Article.

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