Chrome Remote Desktop lets you control one of your computers from another computer, a phone or a tablet. It takes two steps: install Chrome Remote Desktop on the computer you want to reach and choose a PIN, then open remotedesktop.google.com/access on the other device and enter that PIN. The steps below follow Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop help.
New to it? What Chrome Remote Desktop is explains what it can and can’t do. If it is set up but won’t connect, see Chrome Remote Desktop not working.
Step 1: Set up the computer you want to reach
Do this once, sitting at the computer you want to control later. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux, and you need Chrome on it (get it for Windows, Mac or Linux).
- Open Chrome.
- In the address bar, enter remotedesktop.google.com/access.
- Under Set up Remote Access, click Download.
- Follow the onscreen directions to download and install Chrome Remote Desktop. Along the way you set a PIN, which you type each time you connect.
You may have to enter your computer password to give Chrome Remote Desktop access, and you may be asked to change security settings.
Extra steps on Linux
Google provides a 64-bit Debian package for the Linux host. Download it from dl.google.com, install it, then follow the four steps above.
When you first connect, you’ll get a session chooser where you pick a desktop environment. To always start the same one, create a file named .chrome-remote-desktop-session in your home folder containing exec /etc/X11/Xsession '<command>', where the command is the Exec= line from your desktop’s file in /usr/share/xsessions/. For Cinnamon that can be exec /etc/X11/Xsession 'gnome-session --session=cinnamon'. The change applies the next time the Chrome Remote Desktop host restarts.
Step 2: Connect from another computer
- Open Chrome on the computer you are using now.
- Go to remotedesktop.google.com/access and press Enter.
- Click Access and select the computer you want.
- Enter the PIN you chose in step 1.
- Select the arrow to connect.
Google says all remote desktop sessions are fully encrypted. When you’re done, close the tab, or select Options > Disconnect.
Connect from an Android phone or tablet
- Install and open the Chrome Remote Desktop app from Google Play.
- Tap Menu > Remote Access.
- Tap the computer you want. A dimmed computer is offline or unavailable.
- Enter the PIN and tap the arrow.
See the Android version of Google’s help for every control.
Connect from an iPhone or iPad
On iPhone and iPad, use the website in your browser:
- In your browser, go to remotedesktop.google.com/access.
- To use it full screen, add it to your Home Screen: next to the address bar, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. Google says this is the only way to view your remote desktop in full screen.
- Open it, tap Menu > Remote Access, tap your computer, enter the PIN and tap the arrow.
Details are in the iPhone and iPad version of Google’s help.
Control the computer from a phone
On a phone or tablet you start in trackpad mode, where your screen acts like a laptop trackpad:
- Move the pointer: swipe anywhere on the screen.
- Click: tap the screen.
- Right-click: tap with 2 fingers.
- Middle-click: tap with 3 fingers.
- Zoom: pinch and stretch with 2 fingers.
- Scroll: swipe with 2 fingers.
- Drag: press and hold until a gray circle appears, then drag.
If the remote computer runs Windows, you can switch to touch input: tap the arrow on the edge of the screen to open the session menu, then under “Input controls” tap Configure touch input. This option isn’t available for a Mac or Linux computer.
Let someone help you with a one-time code
To let a friend or support person control your computer for one session, without setting up a PIN:
- On your computer, open Chrome and go to remotedesktop.google.com/support.
- Under Get Support, click Download and follow the directions to install Chrome Remote Desktop.
- Under Get Support, select Generate Code and send the code to the person helping you.
- When they enter it, you’ll see their email address. Select Share to give them access.
- To end the session, click Stop Sharing.
The person helping goes to the same address, enters the code under Give Support and clicks Connect. Each code works only once, and while you share you’re asked every 30 minutes to confirm that you still want to. Only share with someone you trust: they get full access to your apps, files, email and history.
Remove a computer or uninstall
- Remove a computer from your list: at remotedesktop.google.com/access, click Disable remote connections next to it. In the Android app, tap Delete next to it.
- Uninstall on Windows: in Control Panel, open the programs list, find “Chrome Remote Desktop” and remove it.
- Uninstall on a Mac: open the “Chrome Remote Desktop Host Uninstaller” app and click Uninstall.