Overview
The Pitt IT Virtual Desktop (Microsoft) enables faculty and staff to remotely access a set software and resources. The convenience of the Virtual Desktop is that you can access it from any location, using almost any computer or mobile device, at any time of day. It's your personal 24/7, on-the-go solution. It is available on most desktop and mobile operating systems via a web browser or via the Windows App.
Benefits of Virtual Desktop
- Software access without saving it on your device's hard drive, for machines with limited storage capacity
- Uses less bandwidth and compute resources than Office online, for those experiencing performance issues
- Connect from a web browser or app on nearly any Windows, MacOS, Android or iOS device
- Access the most popular software for staff use, with synced access to files saved in your OneDrive cloud storage
- Secure your work with cloud-based services and storage behind Pitt Passport sign-on and Duo multifactor authentication
Detail
Access
Virtual Desktop access is available for all faculty and staff. If you can not access the Virtual Desktop service, please contact the Technology Help Desk.
Use the Web Client
Note: The web client requires HTML 5. The latest version of most browsers supports HTML 5.
- Navigate to pi.tt/vdesktop (https://client.wvd.microsoft.com/arm/webclient/index.html).
- Enter your University email address. You are redirected to the Pitt Passport login screen.
- Log in using your University Computing Account username and password.
- Double click Enterprise Remote Access under the heading Pitt IT – Remote Work.
- Enter your University Computing Account username and password to complete the login process.
Important: You will be saving your files to your OneDrive account. You cannot save files to your local computer or device when using the web interface.
Install and Use the Windows App
Specific instructions for each operating system are listed below:
Windows
- Visit the Microsoft Store using this link while on your Windows computer and select the Get button, to install the Windows app.
- Select the open button.
- Enter your University email address, and select Next. Sign in to Pitt Passport with your username and password and select Submit then multi-factor authenticate through Duo.
- Select Windows Enterprise Remote Access.
- Enter your University computing account password, and select Connect.
macOS
- Visit the App Store using this link while on your mac computer and select the Get button to install the Microsoft Windows app.
- Select Open. Then Select your sharing preference. Select Continue, to grant the app microphone and camera permissions. Select OK and then OK again.
- Select Workspaces and then Add Workspace. Enter your University email address, and select Add. Type your University email address a second time, and select Next. Enter your University of Pittsburgh Username and Password and select Submit. Complete your authentication through Duo then select Yes, this is my device.
- Select Windows Enterprise Remote Access under the heading Pitt IT – Remote Work.
- Enter your University computing account password, and select Continue.
iOS
- Visit the App Store using this link while on your iOS device, and select the get button to install Windows App Mobile.
- Select open and then select allow on the local resources and Bluetooth screens. Swipe from right to left to get through the welcome screens and then select done.
- Select the plus button and then workspace. Enter your university email address and select next. Type your university email address a second time and select next. Enter your University of Pittsburgh username and password and select submit. Complete your authentication through duo. Then select yes, this is my device.
- Select Windows Enterprise Remote Access under the heading Pitt It - Remote work.
- Enter your University Computing account password and select continue.
Android
- Visit the App Store using this link while on your Android device, and select the install button to install the Windows App.
- Select open. Skip past the introduction screen and then select workspace.
- Enter your university email address and select next. Type your university email address the second time and select next. Enter your University of Pittsburgh username and password and select submit. Complete your authentication through duo, then select yes, this is my device.
- Select Windows Enterprise Remote Access under the heading Pitt IT - Remote Work. Select the resources that you would like to grant access to and then select the connect button. Allow Microsoft Remote Desktop to take pictures and record video and audio, either while using the app, or only this time depending upon your preference. Confirm file access by toggling the Allow Access to manage all files switch. Use the back arrow to continue.
- Enter your University computing account password and select continue.
Available Software
Available Software
The following software is available on Pitt IT Virtual Desktop:
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Named User Licensing (Acrobat, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, etc.)
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft 365 (Access, Excel, Work, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc.)
- Microsoft Project (Project Online Pro for Office 365 license needed)
- Microsoft Teams (Note: Installation of Teams software is required for its use.)
- Microsoft Visio (Visio Pro for Office 365 license needed)
- Mozilla Firefox
- Palo Alto Identity (Identity Firewall Rules needed)
- Perceptive Content
- Windows Applications(Calculator, Edge, IE)
Save and Access Files
- You are automatically logged into OneDrive upon connecting to Virtual Desktop.
- Files saved to Virtual Desktop or in its Documents or Pictures folders will be saved to your OneDrive Account.
- If you are using the desktop client, you can also save files to your local device.
- Files saved in OneDrive will automatically sync with any device you use to connect to the Virtual Desktop, via the web or desktop client.
- If you connect to OneDrive directly—at portal.office.com—the Desktop folder contains the files saved to Virtual Desktop.
Related Information
Cloud Computing Offerings