Connect to Remote Computer with Windows 8

Connecting to a Remote Computer in Network is quite easy with few steps. First of all you need to make sure that the computer to which you wish to connect is on Network and is turned ON. Tests were performed when writing this tutorial on 2 computers running Windows 8 and connected by a Ethernet Switch. Simple Network Connection was used without any workgroup of domain settings. Depending on your Network Connections, you would need appropriate access to connect to the remote computer from Windows 8 or to a Windows 8 Computer.

Network discovery Status on Windows 8

Enable Network Discovery on Windows 8 Computer to Connect to a Remote Computer

Connecting to a Remote Computer needs Network Discovery enabled on your Computer. Navigate to the Network from Windows Explorer and if required enable Turn On Network Discovery on your Computer. As this test was performed on a Windows 8 Computer, your Windows Explorer will look different if you are connecting from a Windows 7 or Windows Vista Computer. Once your computer can access network information, now you need to make sure that the remote computer allows incoming connections. Go to the Remote Computer, note it’s name (you would need this later to connect to this computer remotely), Open System properties from the Control Panel and enable Incoming Remote Connections as displayed in the screenshot below.

Allow Remote Connections to a Windows 8 Computer

Allow Remote Connections to a Windows 8 Computer

Once you have done and confirmed both the above mentioned steps, all you need now is appropriate access. Make sure that you do have appropriate User Name and Password to connect to Remote Computer. Open your Network from Windows Explorer, locate the remote computer by name and right click on it as displayed on the screenshot below.

Connect to Network Computer from Windows 8 Computer

Connect to Network Computer from Windows 8 Computer

Now your Computer would try to connect to Remote Computer and once connected, it would ask you to enter the user name and password. Yes you will be allowed to store the user name and password so that next time you connect from this computer to the same remote computer you would not need to authenticate yourself. Once connected a full screen view of the remote computer would be launched in your computer’s display resolution.