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Updated on Published on November 19, 2021 in How to

How to Use Chrome Remote Desktop on iPhone

Author: Robert Agar
Robert Agar Article author

Many people use mobile devices like the iPad or iPhone as their primary computing platform. The power and functionality of these devices rival that of more traditional desktop or laptop machines. 

Chrome Remote Desktop is a free Google tool that lets you access your computer (Windows, Linux, or Mac) or your phone or tablet remotely using the Chrome browser. You’ll get options, such as PIN-based login, encrypted sessions, and touch and trackpad controls. This lets Chrome Remote Desktop be an easy option for faster iPhone to PC remote access.

However, some desktop features, including file transfer, full mouse or keyboard support, and multi-monitoring switching, are not available on smartphones. 

In this article, we will look at how to use Chrome Remote Desktop to control remote machines. You can easily set up this connectivity in just a few minutes.

⚠️ Update:  As of September 2025, Google has deprecated the Chrome Remote Desktop app for iOS and removed it from the Apple App Store. It’s no longer available for download, and previously installed copies can’t be reinstalled once deleted. Google now directs iOS users to the web-based version at remotedesktop.google.com/access instead. The steps below have been updated to reflect this.

Setting Up Chrome Remote Desktop for iPhone Users

If you wish to control your computer, you need to follow the steps below to set up Chrome Remote Desktop on iPhones. Before going to the steps, configure Chrome Remote Desktop on a host machine first.

✍️Note:  : In this article, the term iPhone is used for both iPhone and iPad.

Step 1: Initiate Chrome Remote Desktop on Your Desktop or Laptop

To set up Chrome Remote Desktop on your system, you first need to authorize your iPhone to be able to access PC from iPhone remotely.

  1. Open Google Chrome on your system

  2. Search for the Chrome Remote Desktop web application page

  3. Find the “Download” option below “Set Up Remote Access”.

  4. Complete the installation process of Chrome Remote Desktop Host software on your system

  5. Use the on-screen prompts and generate a PIN. This Chrome Remote Desktop PIN is required for every remote session.

  6. Find your device name under “Remote devices”.

Step 2: Access PC by using Chrome Remote Desktop on iPhone

The app can no longer be downloaded from the App Store, so if you don’t already have it installed, connect through the browser-based version instead:

  1. On your iPhone, open Safari (or any browser) and go to remotedesktop.google.com/access

  2. Sign in with the same Google Account you used when setting up remote access on your PC

  3. Tap the Remote Access tab

  4. Choose the system to which you want remote access iPhone to PC. 

    ✍️Note: If the system is showing faded, it is either not available or offline.

  5. Type the Remote Access PIN you created in the first step

  6. After you connect with your computer, choose Touch mode or Trackpad mode. This will allow you to connect iPhone to Windows PC remotely.

This completes your Chrome Remote Desktop setup steps. After this, you’ll get complete access to your remote desktop from iPhone.

Tips to Control Touch and Trackpad on Your iPhone

Below, there is a table where you can find important signs to access your system from your iPhone using Chrome Remote Desktop. These gestures work efficiently on both Touch and Trackpad and help you use Chrome Remote Desktop and control it from anywhere.

ActionTrackpad ModeTouch Mode
Move cursorSwipe anywhereTap directly on the UI element
Left-clickTapTap
Right-clickTwo-finger tapLong-press (varies by OS)
Middle-clickThree-finger tap—
ScrollTwo-finger swipeTwo-finger swipe
ZoomPinch gesturePinch to zoom
Drag / Move itemsTap-and-hold until a gray circle appears, then dragTap-and-hold, then drag
Pan—Three-finger pan
Precision interactionsUses trackpad pointerOne- or two-finger interaction, depending on OS
Tip:  Pin Chrome Remote Desktop to your iPhone’s Home Screen

Open the Safari app on your iPhone and navigate to remotedesktop.google.com/access. Tap the share icon and choose “Add to Home Screen.” This will help you launch the tool smoothly and give you a full-screen experience similar to a native app, a handy option now that the app is no longer available for new downloads.

FAQ

Not for new downloads. Google deprecated the Chrome Remote Desktop app for iOS and pulled it from the Apple App Store in September 2025. If you already have it installed, it continues to work, but if you delete it, you won’t be able to reinstall it. Everyone else needs to use the web version at remotedesktop.google.com/access, which works directly in Safari or any mobile browser.

Limited support. Trackpad mode works better.

No. CRD does not support file transfer on iOS.

Right-clicking on an iPhone or iPad is a simple procedure that all iOS users should know. Tap the screen, and leave your finger in place for a second. A menu of options will be displayed just as if you had executed a right-click with a trackpad or mouse. No extra pressure is required, just lightly tap and hold your finger still until the menu opens.

Use the following procedure to connect to a Chromebook from your iPad. Both machines must be properly configured as described in previous sections of this article.

  1. Start your Chromebook and make sure the Chrome browser is running.
  2. Fire up your iPad and go to remotedesktop.google.com/access in Safari.
  3. Select the Chromebook from the list of available devices.
  4. Enter the Chromebook’s PIN to establish connectivity.

Yes, you can control a Chromebook with an iPhone. All you need to do is install the remote desktop extension in the Chromebook’s Chrome browser and open remotedesktop.google.com/access on your iPhone. After configuring the devices as described earlier in this article, you can easily connect to the Chromebook and take control of the machine from your iPhone.

Tags:
Chrome Remote Desktop, Free, iOS