Remote into your Windows Office Computer

Some users need access to files or resources on their on-campus office computer while working from a different device. This guide walks you through the requirements, setup, and steps for leveraging the Remote Desktop Connection App or Windows App to remotely access your on-campus Windows computer from another device.

In this Article:

• Requirements
  • VPN
    • "VPN Getting Started" article
  • Remote access
• Windows PC
• MAC/Apple Computer
• Troubleshooting

Minimum Requirements

• VPN Connection - "VPN Getting Started" article available here  
  • Permission to use the VPN
    • Most faculty, staff, and students already have this automatically.
  • A supported operating system
    • Your computer must meet the minimum OS requirements and have current system updates installed.
  • Up-to-date antivirus software
    • Your device should have active, current antivirus protection.
  • A reliable highspeed local Internet connection

• You must be approved to access that computer remotely
  • If you haven’t been added to the *Remote Users Group* on your campus PC, you can request access using the form provided here.
• Your on-campus computer must be powered on and connected to Ethernet
• Your local (off-campus computer) must have a stable Internet connection
• Your local (off-campus computer) can’t be running another VPN or security software that interferes with GlobalProtect.

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How to remotely access an office desktop PC

Windows PC

All images are thumbnails and can be clicked to view full size.

1. Connect to the VPN and verify your identity with multi-factor authentication.
   1. Learn how to connect in our VPN Getting Started article. 
2. Open the Remote Desktop Connection app.
   1. This is included in the Window operating system and should already be available on a Windows computer.
   2. In the future it may at some point be renamed "Windows App"
      • 
      • You can quickly find the app by typing "remote" into the Search field in the taskbar.
      • In the screenshot you can see circled examples of the taskbar Search, app name, app icon in taskbar, and freshly opened app.
3. Enter the target on-campus computer's asset number (eg. A000XXXXX.stthomas.edu).
   1. Reminder - The target on-campus computer must be powered on and connected to the Ethernet
   2. If entering the asset as "A000XXXXX.stthomas.edu" fails, you can try just the asset number "A000XXXXX" 
      • 
4. Log in with your university username and password when prompted. 
   1. Do not enter the "@stthomas.edu" after your username
   2. If the Domain doesn't automatically show "UST" (see the circled area in the above screenshot) then you may need to enter your username in the "User Name" field as "UST\username" 
   3. If you'll regularly be remoting from your current device into this target asset then you can check the "Remember Me" box
      • 

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Apple Computer

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1. Connect to the VPN and verify your identity with multi-factor authentication.
   1. Learn how to connect in our VPN Getting Started article. 
2. Open the "Windows App"
   1. This may already be installed on your computer or can be added from your app store.
3. Click on the plus sign in upper right corner of the opened app
4. Click the "add pc" option
5. Enter the target on-campus computer's asset number (eg. A000XXXXX.stthomas.edu) in the "PC name" field.
   1. Reminder - The target on-campus computer must be powered on and connected to the Ethernet
   2. If entering the asset as "A000XXXXX.stthomas.edu" fails, you can try just the asset number "A000XXXXX"
6. Click the dropdown box next to "Credentials" and choose "Add Credentials"
7. On the Username line enter "UST\username" only instead of entering username enter your UST username (usually four letters of last name followed by 4 numbers xxxx####)
8. On the Password line enter your UST account password and then click the "Add" button
9. Now back on the "Add PC" screen you can leave the other defaults settings and click the "Add" button at the bottom.
10. The computer you just added should now show on the list of saved PCs in the Windows App. You can now double click on the PC to remotely connect to it

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Troubleshooting

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• Error "The connection was denied because the user account is not authorized for remote login"
  • 
  • Verify that you have entered the correct asset number/computer name for the computer you have access to
  • You may not have remote permissions to this computer.
    • You can request to be added to the *Remote Users Group* on your campus Windows PC using the form provided here.
• Error "Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer for one of these reasons: Remote access to the server is not enabled, The remote computer is turned off, The remote computer is not available on the network. Make sure the remote computer is turned on and connected to the network, and that remote access is enabled."
  • 
  • Ensure that the on-campus computer is powered on and connected to university Ethernet. You may need to visit the computer to check on its status.
  • Verify that you have entered the correct asset number/computer name for the target computer
  • If you are located off-campus, make sure that your local computer is connected to the university's Global Protect VPN.
• Someone is already logged in error
  • Need screenshot and specific error

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