How to use Chrome Remote Desktop

With Chrome Remote Desktop You can use a computer or mobile device to access files and applications on another computer over the Internet. You bought your parents / grandparents / other relatives a new computer, set it up, and showed them all of its nifty new features. You’ve gone home, knowing that you’ve made them very happy. But, deep down, you know that this isn’t the end of the story.

It’s not going to be long before that dreaded call comes in asking for support. “I can’t find the draft of the email I started!” “Why can’t I make a Skype call?” “My speaker / mouse / keyboard isn’t working!” They’re going to want you to come over as soon as possible to fix the problem or to talk them through a fix, and both of those activities are probably going to take several hours out of your day.

But there is a solution. If both you and your troubled relative use the Chrome browser (or own a Chromebook), you can use the Chrome Remote app to easily gain temporary control of their computer to either fix the issue or show them what to do. It’s available for PCs, Macs, Linux systems, and Chromebooks; there are also separate apps for iOS and Android.

Chrome Remote Desktop is available on the web on your computer. You will need to download the Chrome Remote Desktop app to use your mobile device for remote access.

Set up remote access to your computer

You can set up remote access to your Mac, Windows, or Linux computer.

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. In the address bar, type remotedesktop.google.com/access.
3. Under “Set up Remote Access,” click Download . 
4. Follow the onscreen directions to download and install Chrome Remote Desktop.

You may have to enter your computer password to give Chrome Remote Desktop access. You may also be prompted to change security settings in Preferences.

Learn more about how to use Chrome Remote Desktop on Linux.

To use Chrome Remote Desktop on your Chromebook, learn how to share your computer with someone else.

Share your computer with someone else

You can give others remote access to your computer. They’ll have full access to your apps, files, emails, documents and history.

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. In the address bar at the top, type remotedesktop.google.com/support, and press Enter.
3. Under “Get Support, “ click Download .
4. Follow the onscreen directions to download and install Chrome Remote Desktop.
5. Under “Get Support,” select Generate Code.  
6. Copy the code and send to the person you want to have access to your computer.
7. When that person enters your access code on the site, you will see a dialog with their e-mail address. Select Share to allow them full access to your computer.
8. To end a sharing session, click Stop Sharing.

The access code will only work one time. If you are sharing your computer, you will be asked to confirm that you want to continue to share your computer every 30 minutes.

On Computer

Access a computer remotely

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. In the address bar at the top, type remotedesktop.google.com/access, and press Enter.
3. Click Access to select which computer you want.
4. Enter the PIN required to access another computer.
5. Select the arrow to connect.

For your security, all remote desktop sessions are fully encrypted.

Stop a remote session

When you’re finished, close your tab to stop your session. You can also select Options  Disconnect.

Remove a computer from your list

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. In the address bar at the top, type remotedesktop.google.com/access, and press Enter.
3. Next to the computer you want to remove, click Disable remote connections  .

Give remote support 

1. If someone has shared their remote access code with you, you can remotely offer support.
2. On your computer, open Chrome.
3. In the address bar at the top, type remotedesktop.google.com/access, and press Enter.
4. Enter the code under “Give support” and click Connect.

Use Chrome Remote Desktop on Linux

Step 1: Install the Debian package for the host components

Download the 64-bit Debian package here.

Step 2: Allow remote connections

Go to the “Set up remote access to your computer” section above.

Step 3 (Optional): Customize your virtual desktop session

When you first connect, you’ll get a default session chooser where you can select your desktop environment. If you always want to launch a specific desktop environment:

1. In /usr/share/xsessions/, find the .desktop file for your preferred desktop environment. In the file, you’ll find a line that starts with Exec= with the command you need to start the session.
   • For example, Cinnamon has a file named cinnamon.desktop. In some versions, the file might have the command: gnome-session --session=cinnamon.
2. Create a file called .chrome-remote-desktop-session in your home directory with the content: exec /etc/X11/Xsession '<YOUR_EXEC_COMMAND>'.
3. Replace <YOUR_EXEC_COMMAND> with the command at the end of your .desktop file.
   • In the example for Cinnamon, the correct command is exec /etc/X11/Xsession 'gnome-session --session=cinnamon'.
4. Save the file called $HOME/.chrome-remote-desktop-session. You’ll find this change the next time you restart the Chrome Remote Desktop host.
5. The virtual desktop session is created and .chrome-remote-desktop-session starts when Chrome Remote Desktop starts.

Tip: Your desktop environment may not support more than one session at a time. In this case, we recommend that you use different desktop environments for your ChromeRemote Desktop session and your local session, or use the session chooser.

If you use the session chooser, we recommend that you sign out of the desktop environment in Chrome Remote Desktop or your local session before you sign in to the same desktop environment on the other.

Remove Chrome Remote Desktop

Windows

1. On each computer where you want to remove Chrome RemoteDesktop access, remove the app:
   1. Go to Control Panel  Programs  Add/Remove Programs.
   2. Find the “Chrome RemoteDesktop” application.
   3. Click Remove.

Mac

1. On each computer where you want to remove Chrome Remote Desktop access, uninstall the app:
   1. Find the “Chrome Remote Desktop Host Uninstaller” application.
   2. Launch the uninstaller and click Uninstall

Troubleshooting tips

If you’re having problems with Chrome Remote Desktop, try these tips:

• You need to be connected to the Internet to share or access a computer. If the page won’t open, check your computer’s network settings.
• Antivirus software might prevent you from using Chrome RemoteDesktop. If you are having problems using Chrome Remote Desktop, make sure your antivirus allows the following:
  • Outbound UDP traffic
  • Inbound UDP responses
  • Traffic on TCP port 443 (HTTPS)
  • Traffic on TCP and UDP on port 3478 (STUN)
• If the computer being accessed is on a work or school network, it might not let you give others access. For more information, contact your administrator.
• Make sure you’re using the latest version of Chrome or Chrome OS.

If you have any other issues, please report them in the Chrome Help Forum.

Improve Chrome Remote Desktop

To learn how to improve Chrome Remote Desktop, Google collects and stores some anonymized data about network delays and how long your session lasted.

To learn more about Chrome Remote Desktop, view our Chrome Privacy Notice and Google Privacy Policy.

On Android

Access a computer remotely

Important: Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Chrome Remote Desktop app.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome Remote Desktop app . If you don’t have it, download it from Google Play.
2. Tap the computer you want to access from the list. If a computer is dimmed, it’s offline or unavailable.
3. You can control the computer in two different modes. To switch between modes, tap the icon in the toolbar.
   • To do actions with a virtual mouse pointer, tap Trackpad mode .
   • To do actions with taps, tap Touch mode .

For your security, all remote desktop sessions are fully encrypted.

Use gestures while using a computer remotely

• Scroll up or down: Swipe with two fingers.
• Click and drag: Drag with a finger.
• Zoom: Pinch and stretch with two fingers.
• Show keyboard: Swipe up with three fingers.
• Show the toolbar app: Swipe down with three fingers.
• Move the mouse: Swipe anywhere on the screen (only in Trackpad mode).
• Left click: Tap the screen.
• Right click: Tap the screen with two fingers (only in Trackpad mode).
• Middle click: Tap the screen with three fingers (only in Trackpad mode).

Remove a computer from your list

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome Remote Desktop app .
2. Touch and hold the computer you want to remove.
3. Tap Delete.
4. Tap Ok.

Troubleshooting tips

If you’re having problems, try these tips:

• If the page won’t open, check your device’s connection.
• If the computer being accessed is on a work or school network, it might not let you give others access. For more information, contact your administrator.
• Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Chrome Remote Desktop App .

If you have any other issues, report them in the Chrome Help Forum.

Improve Chrome Remote Desktop

To learn how to improve Chrome Remote Desktop, Google collects and stores some anonymized data about network delays and how long your session lasted.

To learn more about Chrome Remote Desktop, view our Chrome Privacy Notice and Google Privacy Policy.

On iPhone & iPad

Access a computer remotely

Important: Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Chrome Remote Desktop app.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Chrome Remote Desktop app . If you don’t have it, download it from iTunes.
2. Tap the computer you want to access from the list. If a computer is dimmed, it’s offline or unavailable.
3. You can control the computer in two different modes. To switch between modes, on the bottom right, tap More .
   • To do actions with a virtual mouse pointer, tap Trackpad mode .
   • To do actions with taps, tap Touch mode .

For your security, all remote desktop sessions are fully encrypted.

Use gestures while using a computer remotely

You can use gestures while remotely accessing a computer.

• Scroll up or down: Swipe with two fingers.
• Click and drag:  Tap and hold then drag with a finger.
• Zoom: Pinch and stretch with two fingers.
• Show menu: Tap the screen with four fingers.
• Move the mouse: Swipe anywhere on the screen (only in Trackpad mode).
• Left click: Tap the screen.
• Right click: Tap the screen with two fingers (only in Trackpad mode).
• Middle click: Tap the screen with three fingers (only in Trackpad mode).

Remove a computer from your list

If you want to edit your list of computers, sign in on any computer on your list and visit remotedesktop.google.com/access on Chrome.

Troubleshooting tips

If you’re still having problems, try these tips:

• If the page won’t open, check your iPhone’s or iPad’s connection.
• If the computer being accessed is on a work or school network, it might not let you give others access. For more information, contact your administrator.
• Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Chrome Remote Desktop App .

If you have any other issues, please report them in the Chrome Help Forum.

To learn more about Chrome Remote Desktop, view our Chrome Privacy Notice and Google Privacy Policy.