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Chrome Remote Desktop Multi-User Limitation: Can Several Users Access at the Same Time?

Author: Robert Agar
Robert Agar Article author

Chrome is Google’s very popular web browser that can be installed on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux systems. The popularity of the browser probably led to Google naming their laptop offering the Chromebook. The two tools have become somewhat synonymous with surfing the web and taking advantage of the vast capabilities of the Internet.

One of Chrome’s features that has become increasingly important in the past several years is the ability to connect to physically distant computers using the Chrome Remote Desktop facility. With this tool, users can connect to remote machines to share data and perform tasks without physically touching the connected computer.

Chrome Remote Desktop provides a free and simple way of accessing your home or work computer remotely or sharing your screen with friends or colleagues.

This article will look at some of the challenges of using Chrome Remote Desktop with multiple users.

The software may have helpful features, but Chrome Remote Desktop can stop different users from accessing the same computer remotely. Teams and individuals need to remember this when more than one person wants to access a remote computer.

Chrome Remote Desktop multiple users

Can Multiple Users Access One Computer with Chrome Remote Desktop?

Indeed, it is possible for multiple users to connect to the same computer from different devices using Chrome Remote Desktop. This allows for a single machine to be utilized by different teams or departments.

On the other hand, Chrome Remote Desktop has a limitation of no simultaneous access. The connection is always determined by the current active Chrome profile, hence at any given moment, only one user can have control over the remote setup, the PIN, and the host configuration.

Chrome Remote Desktop monitors usage based on the host computer rather than on individual Google accounts. This means that only one active session and one PIN are allowed at a time. Connecting a new user will generate a new PIN and the previous session will be instantly cut off.

Why CRD Only Allows One User Session at a Time

Chrome Remote Desktop was not built to support multiple users. Here are the main technical reasons:

  • • CRD only shows the main desktop that’s currently active. It cannot create separate sessions for different users, like Windows RDP can do.
  • • CRD uses Chrome Sync to verify users. The active Chrome profile controls which user “owns” the device.
  • • The PIN is linked to the profile, not the computer itself. Adding a new Chrome user replaces the previous setup.
  • • There’s no separation of sessions or user roles. Unlike AnyDesk, RDP, VNC, or HelpWire, CRD cannot let multiple technicians work at the same time.

How to Set Up Different User Profiles in Chrome Remote Desktop

Use the following procedure to set up Chrome Remote Desktop with multiple accounts that can be used to access remote machines.

  1. Open the Google Chrome app on your computer and sign in to your Google account.

  2. Go to the Google app store and download the Chrome Remote Desktop application. It will be associated with the account used to download the app.

  3. Launch the Chrome Remote Desktop App and create a shortcut to the instance of the app just created with a specific user account.

  4. Log out of the first Google account, and log back into Chrome with different account credentials.

  5. Download the Chrome Remote Desktop app to this account.

  6. Launch the Chrome Remote Desktop app and you will notice there are now two distinct instances of the tool. Again, you can create a shortcut with a meaningful name to distinguish this instance from others.

  7. Repeat the preceding steps as many times as necessary to create an instance for all users who need access to the remote machine.

After setting up multiple accounts to use the app, the Chrome Remote Desktop can change users by executing the appropriate instance, though there is still the limitation of one connection at a time to the target computer.

Remember, whenever a new user sets up CRD, it replaces the existing device registration and PIN. And so, it becomes hard or impossible for several people to use the system at once.

How to Change a Chrome Remote Desktop Account?

You cannot simply log an account out of the tool to change a Chrome Remote Desktop user. The following steps are necessary when using Chrome Remote Desktop to switch accounts.

  1. Close the Chrome Remote Desktop session that is currently accessing the remote computer.

  2. Open the Chrome Remote Desktop app and select an instance that has been set up with a different user.

  3. Click on the instance to initiate connectivity for the remote session.

This procedure illustrates the inability to have multiple users accessing a remote machine at the same time. The only way in Chrome Remote Desktop to change accounts is to end a session and start a new one. This limits the viability of Chrome Remote Desktop as a technical support tool, as often more than one specialist is needed for problem resolution. Having to switch back and forth negatively impacts productivity and makes it impossible for multiple users to collaborate while working on a remote machine.

This happens because Chrome Remote Desktop cannot keep multiple accounts active on the same device at once. Users must close one session before starting another.

What are Alternative Solutions that Offer a Multiple Users Feature?

Other solutions are available that provide the capabilities required to share remote computers with multiple users. These applications offer more flexibility and features than Chrome Remote Desktop and are suitable for remote technical support departments using a centralized platform for activities such as software deployment or user problem resolution.

Not all alternative RDP solutions enable multiple users to connect at the same time. Let’s look at some popular RDP tools and see if they furnish this important feature.

      • • HelpWire allows users to run several chat support sessions at the same time.
      • • TeamViewer enables multiple users to access a remote machine simultaneously.
      • • Zoho allows up to six simultaneous users (Enterprise plan).
      • • AnyDesk provides the functionality to run multiple sessions simultaneously with a professional license.
      • • LogMeIn supports multiple accounts but only one active session at a time.
      • • VNC enables multiple concurrent sessions but requires licensing.
      • • RemotePC allows a single connection at a time, with limited shared access options.
      • • Splashtop allows up to two concurrent users in premium tiers.
      These tools allow multiple users to run separate sessions simultaneously, work together as a team, and keep sessions isolated — capabilities that CRD does not provide.

Conclusion

The limitations of Chrome Remote Desktop may make it inappropriate for your needs. While it can be used to connect to Linux or macOS servers from an iOS device, the lack of simultaneous connectivity makes it a poor choice for organizations looking to develop a support team that relies on the ability to access a user’s remote desktop. It is, however, a great solution for individuals and small businesses that need limited access to remote computers.

However, Chrome Remote Desktop isn’t the ideal solution for workflows involving multiple users, sessions that individuals share, or even troubleshooting as a team. The good news is that other professional tools — HelpWire, Zoho Assist, AnyDesk, or TeamViewer — give teams and businesses the tools they need for multi-user access

FAQ

No. CRD is built for single-user access. Only one active Google profile can connect to a host computer per session.

The PIN and remote-access options are linked to the currently active Chrome profile and saved via Chrome Sync. And so, the software replaces the existing setup when another profile logs in.

No. According to Google developers on the Chromium bugtracker, Chrome Remote Desktop won’t get multi-user functionality.

No. While it’s possible to add multiple accounts to the host device, only the account currently in use can stay connected remotely, and starting another session will replace it.

Yes. The restriction is due to how CRD uses Google profiles and Chrome Sync. You’ll find the same restriction on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

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Chrome Remote Desktop, Free, Tips & Tricks