How to use Cloud Apps
How to Log In
First, Go to https://cloudapps.byu.edu/ and log into Cloud Apps using your BYU email instead of using your NetID (see below). This will be formatted as "NetID@byu.edu".
Once you are logged in, look for the 2025 BYU Standard Desktop - All Apps. Clicking on the card will open a new tab and load a BYU remote desktop. You can think of a remote desktop as remote controlling another pc.
How to Connect to Box
Within the remote desktop, you can use BYU-purchased software. If you plan to save any work, start by logging into box. Saving your work in box ensures that you can access it later. Any data saved on the remote desktop will be deleted when you close Cloud Apps.
To access box, press the Log In button on the bottom of the box page. It may take a minute for the Cloud Apps desktop to load and for this window to appear. If it does not appear, then you may have logged into box in a previous session, so Cloud Apps has logged in to box automatically.
Box will prompt you with a login screen through Microsoft Edge. Use your BYU email address, formatted as "NetID@byu.edu".
Once successfully logged in, it will ask you if you wish to open box. Press Open to complete the Login.
The blue box pop up will close and your BYU box will open in file explorer. If it does not, open File Explorer to see if your box files are available, or try pressing the Log In button on the box window and re-entering your login.
How to Find your Application
To use a program, such as STATA or RStudio, you will need to search for it on the remote desktop. To do this, click the Windows button or search bar at the bottom of the screen. Be aware: depending on your device, there may be multiple bars at the bottom of your screen. You want the bar on the remote device, not the one on your local computer. It should appear above all the others.
A search menu will appear. Type in the name of the program you want. If available, an app will appear in the search results. Click it to open that program. You can also click the "All" button to scroll through all available programs.
How to Log Out
When exiting Cloud Apps, you will need to ensure that you log out in order to free up the licenses of any programs you were using. Before you close your apps, ensure that they have been saved to box and not the remote desktop. Then to log out, simply press the Cloud Apps menu button at the top center of the screen.
This will open a small menu for controlling your remote desktop session. From here, press the logout button on the right of the menu. It will ask you if you wish to logout. Press Logout to close Cloud Apps.
This will log you out and close the tab, returning you to the Cloud Apps page.