Remote Computer Access

Remote Access allows you to connect to your on campus computer from a computer off campus. for instructions click the OS that matches what you are using on campus.

• Windows 10

  To remote into your Williams issued Windows 10 computer from a computer off campus follow these steps:

  1. On the your Williams computer (the you want to connect to), select Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop.
     Make note of the name of this PC under How to connect to this PC Or click here to get your IP address. You'll need this later
  2. Set the on campus computer to not sleep: go to Start , and select Settings  > System > Power & sleep. Under Sleep, select Never.
  3. On the off campus computer connect via the VPN client. More info here: https://oit.williams.edu/help-guides/wifi-and-wired-connections/vpn/
  4. Use Remote Desktop on the off campus computer to connect to your Williams computer:

     • Windows 10 PCs: In the search box on the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection, and then select Remote Desktop Connection. In Remote Desktop Connection, type the IP address or name of your Williams computer (from Step 1), and then select Connect.

     • macOS, Android, or iOS device: Open the Remote Desktop app (available for free from Microsoft Store, Google Play, and the Mac App Store), and add the IP address or name of your Williams computer (from Step 1).  Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete.

     More info here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028379/windows-10-how-to-use-remote-desktop

     Note: When you have fished working please disconnect from the VPN client.

• macOS

  To remote into your Williams issued macOS computer from a computer off campus follow these steps:

  1. On your on campus Mac, choose Apple menu> System Preferences, click Sharing, select Screen Sharing, then note the VNC address of the Mac (it’s listed on the right). The address looks like vnc://[IPAddress] or vnc://williams-123-45.williams.edu.
  2. Set your on campus computer to never go to sleep: choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Energy Saver. Set the amount of time your computer or display should wait before going to sleep: Drag the “Computer sleep. Keep your Mac from going to sleep automatically: Select “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.”
  3. On the off campus computer connect via the VPN client. More info here: https://oit.williams.edu/help-guides/wifi-and-wired-connections/vpn/
  4. On the off campus computer do the following to connect to your on campus Mac
     • Mac: In the Finder bar on the top of your screen, choose Go > Connect to Server, enter the VNC address of your on campus Mac (from Step 1), then click Connect. You can also use the spotlight search to search for "Screen Sharing". Once you launch Screen Sharing type the VNC address of the  on campus computers address into the dialog box.
     • Windows: To connect from a PC to a Mac, you’ll need to install a VNC client on your Windows PC. There are a number of free clients you can choose from, including RealVNC https://www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/ . After you’ve downloaded and installed a VNC client on your PC Launch it and use the VNC address (from Step 1) to connect to your on campus computer.
  5. If prompted, enter your Mac's user name and password, then click Sign In.

  Detailed instructions from Apple: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-the-screen-of-another-mac-mh14066/mac

  Note: When you have fished working please disconnect from the VPN client.