Want to connect to a remote computer or permit someone else connect to your arrangement? Chrome Remote Desktop is a free and unproblematic way to do this. You can utilize information technology on any reckoner running Chrome, as long every bit it's online.
Let's await at how to use Chrome Remote Desktop and how information technology works.
What Is Chrome Remote Desktop?
Chrome Remote Desktop is a free remote access tool that will seem familiar if y'all've used other remote access solutions. The service allows you to access another estimator over the cyberspace as if you were sitting correct in forepart of it. Your keyboard and mouse inputs control the remote PC.
Potential uses for Chrome Remote Desktop include:
- Using a platform-specific app on a different calculator.
- Checking in on a computer from anywhere around the earth.
- Offer tech support for a friend or family member from distant.
Chrome Remote Desktop works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome Os. Despite its name, you don't really need Google Chrome to use the service; we tested it as functional in Firefox. However, Google recommends it for the all-time results, and so you should use Chrome if possible.
Likewise, you lot can remotely access and control a desktop with an Android or iOS device. We'll prove you how to install Chrome Remote Desktop on each platform so y'all take everything you need to use it. Yous'll need a Google account, then brand sure that's set up upwardly before proceeding.
How to Set Chrome Remote Desktop
We'll walk through the differences in the Chrome Remote Desktop install process for each platform. However, they all take the first few steps in common: install Google Chrome if it's not already. Then, head to the Chrome Remote Desktop web hub and sign in with your Google business relationship.
You lot'll and then see the Chrome Remote Desktop homepage. At the top, in that location are two headers: Remote Access and Remote Support. Remote Access is for decision-making your own computers from anywhere. Remote Support allows y'all to control someone else's estimator (or have someone control yours) past generating a 1-fourth dimension code.
Chrome Remote Desktop requires you to install an app to get remote back up or access your computers from anywhere. We'll assume you lot desire to access your calculator remotely; if not, y'all'll observe a download link for the required app in the Get Support section of the Remote Support tab instead.
Permit's await at the install process for Windows to illustrate the main process, then we'll cover the differences in the other operating systems.
How to Fix Chrome Remote Desktop on Windows
If you want to make your electric current figurer accessible using Chrome Remote Desktop on other computers, go to the Remote Access tab. And then click the Download button in the Set up remote access box.
This will launch a new window to the Chrome Remote Desktop extension on the Chrome Web Store. Click Add together to Chrome, and then Add extension to approve the permissions. You tin then close the new window.
Next, you'll see a prompt to download a file called chromeremotedesktophost.msi. Salvage this somewhere convenient, and then click Have & Install in the Ready to install box to run the installer.
Once it installs, you'll see a prompt to choose a name for your estimator. Make sure this is descriptive so you lot don't confuse information technology with other machines.
Next, you lot'll need to choose a Pin for this device. You must enter this every fourth dimension you lot connect to this computer using Chrome Remote Desktop. Enter a Pin that's at least 6 characters, check the box if you want to let Google collect usage statistics, and striking Starting time.
Y'all may meet a UAC prompt from Windows to allow the remote connexion; click Aye to approve this.
Now on the Remote Access tab, yous'll see your electric current calculator listed equally Online. This means everything is ready.
Set Up Chrome Remote Desktop on a Mac
Considering most of the app works through a browser interface, installing Chrome Remote Desktop on a Mac is about the same equally the Windows procedure higher up. You'll need to install an app and extension just like Windows.
Click the Download button in the Set up remote access section to download it. Choose a location to relieve the DMG file, then open it to reveal the installer file inside.
Double-click on the PKG file to open the installer, then walk through the process. Y'all'll need to enter your ambassador password to approve the installation.
Once that's washed, back on the website, click Turn on to fix access from your other devices. Fix a device name and PIN. After doing this, you'll see a prompt to grant Accessibility permissions to Chrome Remote Desktop so it can piece of work properly. This is a security characteristic of modern macOS versions.
Click the Open Accessibility Preferences button, which brings y'all to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy. Here, select Accessibility from the left sidebar, so click the lock in the bottom-left and enter your password to allow changes.
In the list on the correct, bank check the ChromeRemoteDesktopHost box. If it's already checked, uncheck it and check it again.
Adjacent, y'all'll see another prompt to grant screen recording permissions for Chrome Remote Desktop. Click Open System Preferences in that warning to jump to the Screen Recording tab on the same Privacy settings page.
Again, check the box for ChromeRemoteDesktopHost.
System Preferences will warn that the app won't work properly until you restart information technology. Click Quit Now to shut Chrome Remote Desktop. Render to the Chrome Remote Desktop folio in your browser and if everything is working properly, you should come across your Mac'due south name and Online under This device.
At present yous're all set to utilise Chrome Remote Desktop on your Mac. Y'all may need to approve the Input Monitoring permission the starting time time you connect, which may crave restarting Chrome Remote Desktop again before information technology works properly.
Set Up Chrome Remote Desktop on Linux
The Linux procedure for Chrome Remote Desktop is a lot like the higher up (assuming that Chrome is available for your distro). On the Chrome Remote Desktop page, click the Download push button nether Set remote admission and you'll be prompted to add the Chrome Remote Desktop extension to Chrome in a new window.
Once this downloads, click the Take & Install push button and ostend the prompt that launches. Y'all'll then need to install additional packages to run the Chrome Remote Desktop app.
Afterwards that completes, you're ready to generate a code so someone else can access your estimator. Still, you'll also see a prompt to install Chrome Remote Desktop in the lesser-right corner of the window.
If it doesn't announced, click the Plus icon at the far right of the address bar to bear witness a prompt to install it.
This opens a dedicated Chrome Remote Desktop app on your computer. However, in our testing, the Linux reckoner didn't appear in the Remote Admission console, meaning that you tin can't connect to your Linux machine from other devices. It still allows you to remotely command other computers and receive incoming connections, though.
If this is a deal-breaker for you, see other ways to remotely from Linux from Windows.
Gear up Chrome Remote Desktop on Chrome OS
To utilize Chrome Remote Desktop on your Chromebook, make certain yous're signed into the same Google account that y'all used to set up your other motorcar(southward). Like every other platform, get to the Chrome Remote Desktop site, click Download, and follow the steps to install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension. Then you're all set.
Like Linux, it seems that you can't set up a Chromebook equally one of your computers in the Remote Access section. This is an unfortunate drawback, only the residuum of the app nonetheless works.
How to Command Your Own Computers With Chrome Remote Desktop
Using Chrome on any computer, open up the Chrome Remote Desktop page and sign into your Google account. On the Remote Access tab, click i of your computers. It must bear witness as Online to connect, so make sure the system is reachable.
You'll need to enter your Pin to connect to that device. Check the Think my PIN on this device box (not available for all connections) to skip this step in the time to come.
In the listing of devices, click the Pencil icon to the correct of an detail to modify its name. You tin also change the current device'south Pivot. Use the Trash icon to remove a computer from your account.
How to Give or Become Assistance With Chrome Remote Desktop
The other one-half of Chrome Remote Admission is the Remote Back up tab, which lets you help a friend (or have someone connect to you).
If yous want someone else to connect to your computer, yous'll need the Chrome Remote Desktop extension, every bit described above. If y'all don't have it installed yet, you'll see a prompt to install information technology under Become Back up.
Once it'due south prepare, click Generate Code and y'all'll run across a 12-digit lawmaking. Give this to the other person (via text, email, or another method), who will need to enter it in Chrome Remote Desktop on their end.
Once they practise, you lot'll run across a box asking for your permission to permit your friend connect to your PC. Just approve this if information technology's someone you expect to connect.
Conversely, if you're the one connecting to a friend, take them follow the above steps to install the extension and generate a code. Then type the code they provide in the Give Back up box at the bottom of this folio, followed by Connect.
Using Chrome Remote Desktop
In one case yous're connected, yous tin can freely control the other computer using your mouse and keyboard equally you lot'd look. On the right side of the screen, you'll see a small pointer that y'all can click to reveal more options.
Enable Full-screen if you demand access to certain keyboard shortcuts. For example, if you lot're using a Windows machine to control a Mac, Chrome Remote Desktop sends the Command key when you press the Windows key. However, unless you lot're in full-screen, your figurer will intercept commands like Win + R.
You can Enable clipboard synchronization if you'd like to copy and paste between devices. Under Input controls, you'll discover the pick to transport Ctrl + Alt + Del, Print Screen, and F11 to the remote estimator. The choice to Configure key mappings is particularly handy, as it lets yous reassign keys if the defaults don't piece of work for y'all.
Use Displays to choose which screen you desire to control, if the remote device has multiple.
File Transfer lets yous send a file to the remote machine or grab i from it.
Finally, the Add together to desktop option lets you install another Chrome Remote Desktop app (which y'all may have installed earlier) for a few enhancements.
If you're the ane being controlled, click the Stop Sharing push at the bottom to end the session.
Chrome Remote Desktop on Android and iOS
Desire to control your computers from your smartphone or tablet? You can install Chrome Remote Desktop on Android or iOS for anywhere access.
The apps are simple: install them, sign in with your Google account, and you lot'll meet all your added machines under My Computers. Tap ane to initiate a connection and provide the PIN to remote into it.
Unfortunately, you tin't utilize the mobile app to get back up or connect to others using codes; only machines that you lot've added to your account will work.
One time continued, hither's how to interact in Trackpad mode:
- Drag one finger to motility the mouse cursor. The display will follow the cursor as you move it.
- Tap ane finger to click (you lot'll click whatever is under the cursor).
- Tap with two fingers to right-click.
- Use a three-finger tap to middle-click.
- Pinch or spread with ii fingers to zoom in and out.
- Swipe up or downwardly with 2 fingers to scroll vertically.
- On Android, swipe downward with three fingers to bring up the toolbar.
- On iOS, tap the screen with iv fingers to show the card.
Using the toolbar/carte, you can switch between Touch and Trackpad modes. Trackpad (mouse icon) is the default, while Touch behaves similar other apps by letting you use a finger to curlicue the screen and tapping anywhere to click in that location.
Also on the toolbar, you lot can bring up the keyboard to start typing, ship a Ctrl + Alt + Delete combo, resize the desktop to fit your display, and terminate the session.
Download: Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android | iOS (Complimentary)
Is Chrome Remote Desktop Rubber?
Google says that "all remote desktop sessions are fully encrypted." Combined with the fact that you need a PIN to connect to your remote devices, you can be reasonably sure that Chrome Remote Desktop sessions are safe from snooping. For best results, utilise stiff PINs that aren't easy to guess.
In addition, the one-fourth dimension codes generated when you connect to someone'due south computer expire later v minutes. This prevents old PINs from beingness used in the futurity.
Now You Know How Chrome Remote Desktop Works
You're all gear up to utilize Chrome Remote Desktop for your ain machines or connecting to others. Regardless of which platforms you set up, though, brand certain yous configure their settings to disable sleep way when idle.
Chrome Remote Desktop can't connect to a remote machine when it's offline, sleeping, or turned off. The app doesn't support Wake-on-LAN, and then if you want to access it at any fourth dimension, make sure your calculator won't get to sleep or run out of bombardment.
Need another selection? For a cross-platform remote desktop app that doesn't involve Google, check out our full guide to TeamViewer.
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About The Author
Ben Stegner (1805 Manufactures Published)
Ben is the Editor in Principal at MakeUseOf. He left his It job to write total-time in 2016 and has never looked dorsum. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional writer for over eight years.
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