How to Use Chrome Remote Desktop on iPhone
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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 in your iOS app. This lets the iOS app be the 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.
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.
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.
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Open Google Chrome on your system
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Search for the Chrome Remote Desktop web application page
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Complete the installation process of Chrome Remote Desktop Host software on your system
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Use the on-screen prompts and generate a PIN. This Chrome Remote Desktop PIN is required for every remote session.
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Find your device name under “Remote devices”.
Step 2: Access PC by using Chrome Remote Desktop on iPhone
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Use the App Store to download Chrome Remote Desktop on iPhone
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Set up the app on your Chrome Remote Desktop iPhone by signing in to your Google Account same one you use on your system
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Open the Menu icon (≡) and then choose Remote Access to configure the app
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Choose the system to which you want remote access iPhone to PC
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If the system is showing faded, it is either not available or offline.
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Type the Remote Access PIN you created in the first step
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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 the Chrome Remote Desktop app. These gestures work efficiently on both Touch and Trackpad and help you use Chrome Remote Desktop app and control it from anywhere.
| Action | Trackpad Mode | Touch Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Move cursor | Swipe anywhere | Tap directly on the UI element |
| Left-click | Tap | Tap |
| Right-click | Two-finger tap | Long-press (varies by OS) |
| Middle-click | Three-finger tap | — |
| Scroll | Two-finger swipe | Two-finger swipe |
| Zoom | Pinch gesture | Pinch to zoom |
| Drag / Move items | Tap-and-hold until a gray circle appears, then drag | Tap-and-hold, then drag |
| Pan | — | Three-finger pan |
| Precision interactions | Uses trackpad pointer | One- or two-finger interaction, depending on OS |
Open the Safari app on your iPhone and navigate to remotedesktop.google.com/access. Click the share and add to home screen option. This will help you launch the application smoothly and give you a full-screen experience like a native app.
FAQ
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.
- Start your Chromebook and make sure the Chrome browser is running.
- Fire up your iPad and launch the Chrome Remote Desktop app.
- Select the Chromebook from the list of available devices.
- 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 the Chrome Remote Desktop app on the 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.