Update, Aug 2026: We have split this guide up for readability. Scroll down and select the link that corresponds to your specific setup (Windows to Windows, Windows to Mac, etc).
Overview
You can use remote desktop applications to log into one computer from another. This comes in handy if, for example:
- You need to access files from your Dornsife-managed office computer, and you're off-campus
- You need to log into a Dornsife lab computer, and you're in another building on your own Dornsife-managed computer
- You need to log into a Dornsife-managed virtual machine
Remoting into a Dornsife computer
In our guides, we explain how to set up and use remote desktop access. Be aware that the initial setup requires you to have physical access to both computers. For simplicity, we refer to the two computers as:
-
On-campus computer: The computer you're trying to access. Must be connected to the USC network via Ethernet and must be powered on. Cannot be in sleep mode or hibernate mode.
-
Off-campus computer: The computer you're using to access the on-campus computer. Can be either a Dornsife-managed computer or a personal computer, and you don't actually have to be off-campus.
Follow the guide that corresponds to your on-campus and off-campus computer operating systems:
Contributors: Josh Paulsen, Albert Rodriguez.