Connect to a Windows computer or server via RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)

• Overview
• Enable Remote Desktop
• Connect to your machine
  • On Windows
  • On Mac

Overview

In Windows, Remote Desktop allows you to access another computer from a different location, as if you were sitting in front of it. Remote Desktop Connection comes pre-installed on Windows 10.

Enable Remote Desktop

To set up the computer to which you would like to connect:

1. Enable the Remote Desktop feature on the computer you wish to access (the host):
   Note:

   This requires administrative rights. If you need to add this access on an Indiana University computer and do not have administrative credentials, contact your IT Pro for assistance.
   1. Select your options for allowing connections from other computers.
   2. To choose which users will have remote access, click Select Users.... Typically, all administrators of the computer will have access by default. Each user must have a password before you can allow remote access.
   3. Click OK.
2. Find your host computer's machine name. To do so, on the machine to which you are connecting, click the Windows search icon (the magnifying glass next to the Windows icon). Enter PC name, and then click View your PC name. The name will be listed next to "Device name."

Connect to your machine

On Windows

1. Click the Windows search icon (the magnifying glass next to the Windows icon). Enter mstsc or Remote Desktop Connection, and then select Remote Desktop Connection in the search results.
2. To adjust connection settings such as screen size, login information, availability of local hard drives and printers, or keyboard and sound behavior, click Show Options. If you need to use audio, be sure to go to Show Options > Local Resources > Remote Audio > Settings and select Play on remote computer and Record from this computer.
3. In the "Computer:" field, type the entire name or IP address of your host computer (you can find it in your computer or system properties). Click Connect.
4. Log into the host computer if needed. The credentials for an IU machine will be ads\username (where username is your IU username) and your IU passphrase.
5. When you are finished, in the "Remote Desktop Connection" window, select Start, click the person icon on the left, and then click Sign out.

On Mac

1. On your Mac, go to the App Store and install Microsoft Remote Desktop 10. On an IU-managed machine, you may also be able to open Self Service (click the magnifying glass at the top right of your screen, then type self service) and install Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 from there.
2. Click the + (plus sign) at the top of the window and select Desktop. (Alternatively, click Add Desktop.)
3. In the "PC Name" field, enter your computer name. At the end of the computer name, add .ads.iu.edu.
4. Click Add.
5. Click Devices & Audio, and then check the local devices to which you will need access when using your remote computer. You can also click display and customize display settings as desired.
6. Double-click the newly saved desktop.
7. When prompted for your credentials, enter ads\username (using your IU username) and your IU passphrase.
8. If you see a warning about connecting to the RDP host, click Continue.