How to Access Another Computer Using an IP Address

You can access a computer over a network with Remote Desktop.

You can configure computers on a network to be accessible using their IP address. This is possible with a feature in Windows called Remote Desktop. Some versions of Windows 7 have Remote Desktop built in, including Ultimate, Home Premium and Professional. You will need one of these versions, or another version of Windows that supports this feature. The Remote Desktop client program is used to access another computer running Remote Desktop. You can connect to a second computer on a local network using its IP address with Remote Desktop after setup.

Things You'll Need

• Computer supporting Remote Desktop

Instructions

1. Click "Start," right-click "Computer" and select "Properties" on the computer you want to access over the network. Click "Remote settings" on the left.

2. Select the option to: "Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (more secure)." Click "OK."

3. Press the "Windows" and "R" keys. Enter "cmd" and press "OK."

4. Type "ipconfig" and press "Enter." Write down the numbers given for "IPv4 Address."

5. Go to the second computer and click "Start," "All programs," "Accessories" and "Remote Desktop Connection."

6. Enter the IPv4 address that you wrote down. This is the IP address of the other computer.

7. Click "Connect" and enter a username and password for an account on the other computer when prompted.

References

• Killer Tech Tips: Enable Remote Desktop in Windows 7