We’ve gradually made the transition from PCs and laptops to tablets as time has progress. Most of the tablets we use today let you do almost everything that is possible on a desktop. For instance, you can use a tablet for video calls, stream movies, play games and surf the internet. And if that’s not enough, the tablets of today also let you work on productivity software. Still, there might be large amounts of data back on your PC or laptop, and that might be the preferred way of doing intensive work and so keep going back to it from time to time. Most of us today own a smartphone and a tablet. But did you know that you can access your home PC desktop on your Android tablet and smartphone? Yes, if you’ve forgotten an important file or you want to remotely help your family or friend fix some computer issues, Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop is one of the easiest ways to do this. All you’ll need is an Android device.
What you need
The first thing you need to do is install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension from this link; https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chrome-remote-desktop/gbchcmhmhahfdphkhkmpfmihenigjmpp?hl=en. You will also need to install the tablet/smartphone app from the Google Play store at; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.chromeremotedesktop.
What can you do with Chrome Remote Desktop
Simply put, the Chrome Remote Desktop lets you securely access your computer running the Chrome browser, from any Android device. All connections are fully secured and you can also access your PC for as long as you want. Most competing products would cost a lot of money, or there would be limitations on how long you can use it.
Setting up the app on your tablet/phone
Assuming that you have the Chrome Remote Desktop app installed on your Android device, start it. It will sign-in to the service using your Google credentials. The interface on your smartphone will look something like the image above. Remember to use the same Google ID on your smartphone / tablet and the PC. To access your PC, just click on the device name. Once logged in successfully, the interface would look like in image above.
Configuring Chrome Remote Desktop on the PC/laptop
Using your Chrome browser, go to Chrome Web Store and download the Chrome Remote Desktop extension. Once downloaded, it will show up in your list of installed apps. Just click on the Chrome Remote Desktop and you will have two options - Remote Assistance and Get Started. Click on Get Started and create a 6 digit password. It will ask to authorise and use the extension. Click on Accept and continue. Once the setup is complete, the screen will look something like the image above. You can also access other computer from your PC. To be able to do that, the recipient should provide you with the access code. In Remote Assistance, clicking on “Share this computer for another user to see and control” option will generate a code. After you enter this code, you get temporary access to the recipient’s computer, which is valid till the session lasts. Just remember to keep your home PC connected to the internet at all times, to be able to use Chrome Remote Desktop remotely. There are some other benefits of using the Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android tablets and smartphones. It supports a pinch-to-zoom feature which is quite smooth and can be handy. The on-screen mouse is very responsive and smoothly hovers through the screen. While there is no option to right-click, you can point the cursor to the folder / file can double click on the screen to open it. Overall, with a decent connection, it’s actually a very usable tool.
