How do I know if my work admin has stopped remote access on my computer?

Ensuring Your Work Admin Has Discontinued Remote Access to Your Computer

In today’s remote work environment, allowing IT administrators to access your computer can be essential for troubleshooting and software installations. However, it’s equally important to confirm that such access has been properly terminated once the necessary tasks are completed. If you’re uncertain whether your work IT team has disconnected their remote session, here are some steps to help you verify the status of remote access on your Windows computer.

Understanding Remote Access and Its Lifecycle

When an IT administrator connects to your device remotely—often via tools like Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or company-specific management software—they typically notify you or request your permission beforehand. Once the authorized work is done, they usually disconnect, but confirmation may not always be explicitly provided.

How to Check if Remote Access Has Been Disconnected

1. Observe Network Activity

Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager.
Check the Performance Tab: Navigate to the “Performance” tab and click on “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet” to monitor network activity.
Look for Unusual Activity: A significant drop in network activity may suggest remote connection has ended. Conversely, ongoing high activity could indicate an active connection.

2. Use Built-in Windows Tools

Check Remote Desktop Sessions (if RDP was used):
Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type query session and press Enter.
A list of active sessions will appear. If no sessions are listed, no remote RDP session is active.
Review Remote Assistance or Remote Desktop Settings:
Go to Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
Ensure “Remote Desktop” is turned off or that no active sessions are currently listed.

3. Examine Event Viewer for Remote Connection Logs

Press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc, and hit Enter.
Expand “Windows Logs” and select “Security.”
Look for Event ID 4624 (An account was successfully logged on) with remote login details.
Verify if there are recent remote login events related to your account or session.

4. Check Installed Software and Active Sessions