Chrome Remote Desktop

Chrome Remote Desktop is a free remote desktop program from Google that runs as an extension that's paired with the Chrome web browser.

With Chrome Remote Desktop, you can set up any computer running the Chrome browser to be a host computer that you can connect to at any time, whether the user is logged in or not, for full unattended access.

• Windows, Mac, and Linux computers can install Chrome Remote Desktop
• Works from Android devices that install the app through Google Play
• iOS users can install the mobile app from iTunes
• Both spontaneous support and unattended access are supported
• Clipboard syncing can be enabled
• Key mapping is supported
• You can upload and download files between your computer and the remote one
• Ctrl+Alt+Del, PrtScr, and F11 can be sent to the remote computer with the press of a menu button
• Lets you pick between full-screen, scale to fit, and resize to fit display options when connected to the remote computer

A number of other free remote access tools are more robust but Chrome Remote Desktop is certainly easy to get going with:

Pros:

• Quick install
• Works between operating systems
• Supports multiple monitors
• Updates often
• Works even when the host user is logged off

Cons:

• Requires a particular web browser
• Unable to print remote files to a local printer
• No chat capability

Like all remote access programs, Chrome Remote Desktop works where there's a client and host that are paired together. The client connects to the host to control the computer.

Here's what the host needs to do (the computer that will be connected to and controlled remotely):

Here's what the client should do to connect to the host to remotely control it:

When the client connects to the host computer, a message displays on the host that says "Your desktop is currently shared with <email address>," so Chrome Remote Desktop doesn't log in discreetly like some remote access programs.

Another way to use Chrome Remote Desktop is through temporary access codes. If you need someone else to connect to your computer, even someone who didn't set up the access in the first place, this is the route you want to go.

Open the Remote Support tab on this page and choose Get Support to get a one-time access code that you can share with the person who will connect to your computer. You'll be asked to install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension if it's not already on your computer.

All they need to do is enter the code in the Give Support section of the same page on their computer. They can log in under any Google account to control your computer, so long as they enter the correct code.

We really like how easy it is to use Chrome Remote Desktop. Once installed, the menu is easily accessible with all the important actions you can take, but otherwise its hidden from view to make room for the screen.

Because Chrome Remote Desktop is run entirely from the browser, it's great that nearly all operating systems can use it. This means you're hardly limited to who you can provide support to.

Also, given that Chrome Remote Desktop is installed in the background, the remote user can shut down Chrome and even log off their account, and you can still access the computer (given you have the user's password). 

In fact, the client can reboot the remote computer and then log back in once it's fully powered back on, all from Chrome Remote Desktop.

While it's too bad that there isn't a chat function built-in, you can always use a third-party tool to communicate while you're connected to the other computer. Lots of mobile messaging apps can be used from computers, too.