Chrome Remote Desktop is a free and fast technical tool that connects a desktop computer far away from a separate computer or mobile device to access files and use applications. It is created by Google. It is available in ChromeOS, iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems.
Getting access to your own computer by using Chrome Remote Desktop
There are two main steps to get access to your own computer using Chrome Remote Desktop. They are the following.
Step 1: Prepare the computer for connections.
Open Chrome on the host computer, go to Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop web app, and click the blue arrow in the box marked “Set up remote access” from within Chrome. Click the “Turn On” button.
Download the Chrome Remote Desktop extension. Click the “Add to Chrome” button. After that, return to your initial tab, and a prompt will appear asking you to name your computer before proceeding.
You can give your PC any name. You will be prompted to create a PIN with at least six digits after giving the computer a name and clicking the “Next” button. For security purposes, you’ll require that PIN and endorsed into your Google account to remotely get to the PC.
The Chrome Remote Desktop tab will show you that the computer is online and waiting for you after you confirm that you want to allow the app access to initiate a remote connection. Your operating system may also prompt you to grant Chrome Remote Desktop a few permissions in System Preferences.
Since Chrome typically starts itself automatically and runs in the background, it will probably be accessible whenever the computer is awake. The computer will remain available whenever Chrome is running, and it is powered on.
Check your computer’s power management settings to ensure that the system will not enter hibernation mode (even if the display turns off) if you want connections to continue working for an extended period.
Return to remotedesktop.google.com/access or click the Chrome Remote Desktop icon on the right side of the browser’s address bar to disable remote connections.
Click the trash can icon next to your computer’s name to remove it from the app. Alternatively, you can uninstall the app by selecting “Remove from Chrome” from the right-click menu.
Step 2: Connect to the computer from another mobile device or desktop
If your host computer is ready for connections, you can access it from another desktop computer by visiting the same Remote Desktop website in the Chrome browser at remotedesktop.google.com/access.
Chrome will require you to be signed in with the same Google account you used on the host system, but you won’t need to install any specific apps or extensions; You will see the name of your computer, which you can click to initiate the connection.
Enter the PIN to access the computer as if you were sitting in front of it. Options for adjusting the display are available in a panel on the side of the screen.
If you want, it will also let you synchronize the clipboards on the host computer and your current computer, allowing you to copy and paste text between them seamlessly.
Download the Chrome Remote Desktop app for iOS or Android for mobile access. The app will automatically display the computer and enable you to connect to it with a single tap and type your PIN if your phone is signed in with the same Google account as your computer.
After that, you can use your fingers to move around your desktop like a mouse. By sliding in any direction, you can scroll and zoom by pinching.
Swiping down from the top of the screen in the Android app will bring up a control bar that lets you switch between a trackpad mode, where you can left-click with one finger and right-click with two, and a keyboard mode, where you can use your device’s on-screen keyboard to type. To access the same options in iOS, click the menu button in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Getting access to someone else’s computer by using Chrome Remote Desktop
There are two main steps to access someone else’s computer using Chrome Remote Desktop. They are the following.
Step 1: Prepare the computer for connections.
Go to the Support section of Google’s Remote Desktop web app on the computer you want to access remotely. Click “Get Support” → “Add to Chrome” → Confirm the Chrome Remote Desktop companion extension installation.
If you want to grant someone else access, Go back to the original tab and click the “Generate Code” button to generate a one-time access code that will be valid for five minutes.
Step 2: Connect to the computer from another mobile device or desktop
Go to remotedesktop.google.com/support within Chrome. Type the access code into the “Get Support” field and click the “Connect” button.
If you want to connect from a mobile device, you’ll need to open a new Chrome tab on your phone, select the desktop site from the main menu of the Chrome browser, and then follow that link.
You won’t be able to use the Chrome Remote Desktop mobile app in this situation because it only works with connections associated with your own Google account.
At last, the person on the other end manually clicks a button to approve the connection.
Use of Remote Desktop Protocol
There are two ways to use Chrome Remote Desktop. They are the following.
1. Adding clients to your account
To add a client to your account, log in to your Google account on the computer you want to access remotely using Chrome and go to https://remotedesktop.google.com/access. Install the client by following the on-screen instructions.
2. Setting up permanent PINs
Direct the person you assist to https://remotedesktop.google.com/support, ask them to generate a code, and then follow the installation instructions to add the extension to the browser. The chrome extension should be installed before doing all this. Chrome is required for Chrome Remote Desktop.
After that, they give you the code, and you can use the “Connect to another computer” function to get on their desktop and control it.
RDP is mainly used to access data and apps on that desktop. RDP is used in the following situations.
Work from Home
Employees require a tool to access their work desktops from home because many companies are embracing remote work and telecommuting. Employees can work from home with remote desktop software. Individuals can use this software to connect to their workplace safely and legally.
Problem-Solving
If your desktop experiences a significant issue, a computer technician may be required to intervene and offer a solution. A remote desktop protocol makes it simple for them to do so. User technical issues can be addressed remotely by IT staff using remote tools.
Traveling
Chrome Remote Desktop comes in handy when you need to access files or documents on your office computer while traveling.
Conclusion
Chrome Remote Desktop is a browser-based app that connects to a desktop remotely. Individuals and organizations can get benefits from Chrome Remote Desktop. It helps to save money, improve security, increase productivity, and troubleshoot issues.