As more people shift to “work from home” this year due to the global health crisis, many small businesses are finding ways on how to still work efficiently without going to their offices. Thanks to remote desktop software, they can connect to their work network and servers without any hassle.
A remote control program allows employees to work as if they were sitting at their office desk. Without having to set up new or sophisticated equipment, office systems are safely accessed within their homes using this platform.
Remote desktop access is a big help for businesses, and Chrome Desktop is one of the best free applications available now. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the program’s features. With its convenience and accessibility, it will surely satisfy the requirement of those working remotely.
Price
Chrome Remote Control completely free. You don’t have to pay for any subscription or other types of premium content; you only need a Google account. To set up remote access, simply log into your Google account and you’re good to go.
Availability
This application is only available as a Chrome extension so it will require you to have a Google Chrome browser on your computer. With this app, you can link the host computer with another computer or mobile device.
Features and Tools
Chrome Desktop has beneficial features that simplify the user experience and allow cross-device functionality.
One of its features is the keyboard and trackpad mode for mobile devices. It also has available shortcuts like Ctrl+Alt+Del and Print Screen on the menu options. However, some keyboard shortcuts do not work on several mobile devices. Another downside of Chrome Desktop is that it cannot transfer files between devices.
Other than that, desktop or laptop users won’t face any difficulty accessing another computer remotely. It is easy to deploy and reconfiguring key mapping is also possible if both devices have a physical keyboard.
Setting Up Chrome Remote Desktop
To have a Chrome Remote Control on your device, you need to download the browser extension on the host computer. You can look for it in the Chrome Web Store. Once you’ve installed it, you can leverage its remote desktop features, which will be available on the upper right corner of the screen, beside the favorites icon.
To start accessing the computer remotely, you will have to enter the name of the PC and a PIN. You may have to modify permissions to give access to remote devices.
Also, don’t forget to install Chrome Remote Desktop on the device where you want to access your desktop. You can see all the remote devices from the desktop or mobile app as long as they are logged into the same account.
Interface and performance
Chrome Remote Desktop is very responsive as long as you have a stable internet connection. The application interface is very simple and straightforward, only showing the most basic functions. This tool is more than enough for small businesses, personal use, or for troubleshooting computer issues.
Security
In terms of security, Chrome Remote Desktop requires a PIN every time you sign into a device remotely. You can set and change the PINs of the devices you have (must be at least six characters long).
To ensure that only authorized people can see the computer, Chrome Remote Desktop asks the user if they still want to share their screen every 30 minutes. This is great for IT professionals as they can safely get to the bottom of the problem without being physically present in front of the device in question.
Support
If you have any trouble using the app, you can go to the Help Center by clicking “Help.” This page offers a simple guide on how to set up remote access, share your computer, or remove the application. For other queries other than FAQs, you can search in the Help Community. However, one-on-one customer support isn’t available so you can only rely on the answers posted on the community page.
Final Thoughts
Chrome Remote Control offers satisfactory performance and accessibility. It works across various systems – Mac, Windows, Linux, and mobile devices. However, since it is free, it has limited functionalities. If you’re looking for a better remote solution to monitor and manage endpoints remotely, try Itarian. It is third-party software that offers useful features in a neatly organized unified console.
