Remote Desktop is a feature of Windows that allows you to access another computer through the Internet.

Note: For UI departmentally managed computers, contact your local IT support provider to discuss remote desktop access.

What are the requirements for Remote Desktop?

To use Remote Desktop you will need the following:

• A host computer that:
  • has Windows 10 or 11 installed,
  • is powered on,
  • has a high-speed Internet connection, and,
  • has been configured for Remote Access.
• A client computer that:
  • has the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection software installed,
  • has a high-speed Internet connection, and,
  • has is connected to the UI Anywhere Virtual Private Network (VPN) client.

Microsoft Remote Desktop comes pre-installed on Windows 10 and 11 and is a free download for macOS.

How Does Remote Desktop Work?

First, you need to configure your Windows computer for Remote Desktop access. When you configure Remote Desktop on your system, this computer acts as a "host" computer. You can then go to a "client" computer and access your desktop. For our purposes here, we'll assume you are at home (on the "client" computer) and wish to use your computer at work (the "host" computer), on the University of Iowa network.

Note: The host computer must be turned on and connected to the network or Internet to connect to it using Remote Desktop. If your computer is on the UI network, you can use PowerUp to save energy and turn off your computer, then turn your computer on remotely.

Once you have configured your computer (the host) for Remote Desktop, you can connect to it from another computer on the Internet by using the Remote Desktop Client, which is pre-installed on any Windows 7 or later version of a Windows machine. The Remote Desktop Client can be downloaded and installed on macOS computers. You will also need your host computer's hostname or IP address to connect from a client computer.