# Connect to a Windows-based computer

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Before you can connect, you must first turn on the remote desktop setting on the computer that you want to connect to. The following procedures show the steps to follow to connect to a Windows-based computer from your Mac.

| ## Step 1: Allow remote connections on the Windows-based computer

Choose one of the following procedures based on whether the Windows-based computer that you want to connect to is running Windows Vista or Windows XP.

##### Allow remote connections on a computer that is running Windows Vista

Important

To change remote desktop settings, you must be an administrator on the Windows-based computer.

1. On the Windows-based computer, click Start , and then click Control Panel.

   If you are in Classic View, in the navigation pane, click Control Panel Home.

2. Click System and Maintenance, and then click System.

3. In the navigation pane, click Remote Settings, and then under Remote Desktop, click the option that you want.

   If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

   Note Network Level Authentication improves security because it requires that you enter your Windows login information on the Mac before the remote connection is initiated. For more information about Network Level Authentication, see Windows Vista Help.

4. Click Select Users.

5. Do any of the following:

   To | Do this
   --- | ---
   Verify that you have access | Make sure that your user account is listed underneath the box. If you are an administrator on the computer, you are automatically listed.
   Add another user account | Click Add, and then, in the box, type the user account name that you want.

##### Allow remote connections on a computer that is running Windows XP

Important

To change remote desktop settings, you must be an administrator on the Windows-based computer.

1. On the Windows-based computer, click Start, and then click Control Panel.

   If you are in Classic View, in the navigation pane, click Switch to Category View.

2. Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.

3. On the Remote tab, select the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer check box.

4. Click Select Remote Users.

5. Do any of the following:

   To | Do this
   --- | ---
   Verify that you have access | Make sure that your user account is listed underneath the box. If you are an administrator on the computer, you are automatically listed.
   Add another user account | Click Add, and then, in the box, type the user account name that you want.

| ## Step 2: Find the name of the Windows-based computer

When you open Remote Desktop Connection, you have to enter the name of the Windows-based computer that you want to connect to. Choose one of the following procedures based on whether the Windows-based computer that you want to connect to is running Windows Vista or Windows XP.

##### Find the computer name in Windows Vista

1. On the Windows-based computer, click Start , and then click Control Panel.

   If you are in Classic View, in the navigation pane, click Control Panel Home.

2. Click System and Maintenance, and then click System.

3. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings note the computer name, or the full computer name if the Windows-based computer is a member of a domain.

   When you open Remote Desktop Connection on the Mac, you have to enter this name.

##### Find the computer name in Windows XP

1. On the Windows-based computer, click Start, right-clickMy Computer, and then click Properties.

2. On the Computer Name tab, note the full computer name.

   When you open Remote Desktop Connection on the Mac, you have to enter this name.

| ## Step 3: Open a new connection

You can open a connection to a single Windows-based computer or to multiple Windows-based computers at the same time.

Important

The Windows-based computer must be turned on, and it must have a network connection. You can’t connect to a computer that is sleeping, hibernating, or on standby. Therefore, make sure that the settings for sleep, hibernation, and standby on the Windows-based computer are set to Never. For information about how to make those changes, see Windows Help. Make sure that the computer that you want to connect to is running a version of Windows that supports remote connections. For a complete list, see Windows version compatibility.

1. On your Macintosh computer, open Remote Desktop Connection.

2. In the Computer box, type the name of the Windows-based computer that you want to connect to, and then click Connect.

3. Type your user name, password, and domain for the Windows-based computer if they are required.

### See also

I can't connect to the Windows-based computer

Create and change connection files

Connect to multiple computers

Connect to a server console session

Close a connection