Technology

Use ScreenConnect to Allow Remote Access to your Mac Computer

Last modified 9/18/2023

ScreenConnect is a free application that you may use to allow someone remote access to your computer. This is useful when you are experiencing an issue with your computer and would like to allow a Technology Support Center (TSC) associate or member of your direct support team access to be able to see what is occurring on you computer.

If a TSC associate or member of your direct support team asks to use ScreenConnect in order to help troubleshoot an issue on your computer, and you agree to do so, the associate may initiate the ScreenConnect session with you in one of two ways:

  • They may send you a ScreenConnect invitation via email.
  • They may direct you to the ScreenConnect website where you will enter a code in order to join the session.


Attention!

Some Mac users are unable to ScreenConnect with the Help Desk due to their Mac's Security and Privacy settings. If you find that you are unable to Screen Connect due to this, see the following article on how to resolve this issue: Unable to ScreenConnect with Mac


Joining a ScreenConnect Session via Email Invitation

To join a ScreenConnect session via email invitation:

  1. Depending upon how you are instructed to join the ScreenConnect session, do one of the following:
    1a. If the associate sent you an email with a link to join the ScreenConnect session, click on the Join Now link in the email (Figure 1).

    Figure 1:
    Join Now link sent through email from ScreenConnect TSC agent
  2. The link will take you to the ScreenConnect website (ScreenConnect.IllinoisState.edu). Click on the Right-facing Arrow next to the text Join Your Session (Figure 2).

    Figure 2:
  3. If the associate instructs you to the ScreenConnect Website to join the ScreenConnect session, navigate to ScreenConnect.IllinoisState.edu and enter the number code provided to you by the associate in the field labeled Join with a Code (Figure 3).

    Figure 3:
    Join with a Code option - customer facing 
  4. When presented with the Terms of Using ScreenConnect, click I Agree, Join Session (Figure 4).

    Figure 4:



  5. A page entitled Join Session will appear (Figure 5) which contains instructions to either download the app or download and run the ScreenConnect application. Click Launch App to save and open the application. If the application does not open up after downloading, go to your Downloads folder and double-click the ScreenConnect Client application.

    Figure 5:


  6. You will now see a message stating, “You have successfully connected to your session.” Close the window by clicking on the X in the upper-right of the window.
  7. You will now see a message stating, “Your computer is being controlled by name of associate.” (Figure 6). The associate will be able to click on items, and type information into your computer as though they were using your computer.

    Figure 6:


  8. When the associate ends the session, you will see a dialogue box informing you of this. Click OK.
  9. You can also exit the session whenever you would like by going to the top menu and clicking Options, then click Exit (Figure 8). 

    Figure 8:


  10. Your ScreenConnect session has now ended. 



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