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By , IT support technician

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Connect to your company VPN, open Remote Desktop Connection, enter your work computer's IP address, and sign in with your corporate credentials.

How to Connect to Your Work Desktop Remotely ​

Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11, VPN
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-10

Summary ​

If you have a powerful desktop computer sitting at your physical office desk, you don't need to copy all your files to a USB drive when you work from home. Using Remote Desktop, you can open a window on your home laptop that shows the exact screen of your office computer, allowing you to use its software and access its files as if you were sitting right in front of it.

Prerequisites ​

  • Your office computer must be turned ON and connected to the internet (it cannot be asleep or shut down).
  • You must know the "Computer Name" or IP Address of your office computer.
  • You must be connected to your company's VPN on your home laptop.

Instructions ​

Step 1: Find Your Office Computer's Name (Do this while at the office) ​

You must do this step before you go home.

  1. Sit at your physical office computer.
  2. Click the Start button and type About your PC. Press Enter.
  3. Scroll down to the Device specifications section.
  4. Look for Device name (e.g., DESKTOP-ABC1234 or NY-MARKETING-01).
  5. Write this name down or email it to yourself.

Step 2: Configure Your Office PC to Allow Connections ​

  1. Still on your office computer, click Start and type Remote Desktop settings. Press Enter.
  2. Toggle the switch to Enable Remote Desktop.
  3. Confirm any security prompts.
  4. Leave your computer powered on when you go home. Do not shut it down. (You can lock the screen by pressing Windows Key + L).

Step 3: Connect from Your Home Laptop ​

  1. At home, turn on your laptop and connect to your company VPN. (Remote Desktop will not work over the open internet for security reasons).
  2. Click the Start button on your home laptop, type Remote Desktop Connection, and press Enter.
  3. A small window will appear. In the Computer field, type the Device Name you wrote down in Step 1 (e.g., NY-MARKETING-01).
  4. Click Connect.
  5. A pop-up will ask for your credentials. Enter your standard work email address and the password you use to log into your office computer.
  6. A security warning may appear saying the identity of the remote computer cannot be verified. Check the box that says Don't ask me again for connections to this computer and click Yes.

Your screen will now display the desktop of your office computer!

Step 4: Disconnecting ​

When you are finished working, do not "Shut Down" from the Start menu. If you shut down the office computer, you won't be able to connect to it again tomorrow.

  1. Move your mouse to the very top middle of the screen to reveal the blue connection bar.
  2. Click the X on the far right side of the blue bar.
  3. This closes the window and leaves your office computer running exactly as you left it.

Troubleshooting ​

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
"Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer"PC is asleep or VPN is offEnsure your VPN is connected on your home laptop. If it is, the office PC likely went to sleep or lost power
It asks for credentials but rejects my passwordDomain formattingTry typing your username as CompanyDomain\YourUsername instead of your email address
The remote screen is tiny and hard to readResolution mismatchBefore clicking Connect, click "Show Options" > "Display" tab and slide the resolution all the way to "Large (Full Screen)"