Chrome Remote Desktop Reviews

by 🇧🇬🇧🇫

I would like to start off by saying this would be helpful to me if what’s being displayed on ny computer was interactive with my screen reader. I am an iPhone user & i was looking for an easier way to get around my computer with using google meet & the Remote Desktop. Another thing that makes me confused is when I don’t have my PC turned on ChromeRemoteDesktop tries to connect me when i press the connet button & it says “host is off line.” I thought ChromeRemoteDesktop was to make it easier to access your computer regardless of if it’s turned off or on or if your far or near.

by I Is Not An IPhone

This is a great Remote Desktop app for iPad. Probably better than the one that Microsoft provides. The problem is that with Windows 10 and support for tablet mode and stylus, there is no support for the Apple Pencil. If it was possible to make it so that the Apple Pencil is supported and treated as a stylus in windows, PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN. It would be the best thing! Also, for trackpad mode, it would be nice if it supported the default Windows 10 gestures. Finally, please add support for the wake on lan feature. This way those desktop computers that this is used for often do sit there running all day! Thanks!

by ErvinTE8

Pretty ridiculous that you can’t use this to focus on on a certain display, like you can do on a PC.

I have a Mac running Boot Camp, and I want to use my iPad Pro as a second monitor like I do with macOS Sidecar. I have a virtualized second screen in Windows (USB Mobile Monitor by Amyuni), but it’s a much smaller resolution than my 4K monitor. Trying to zoom in on it while both screens are crammed together in one view is weird. I’d like to focus on just the virtualized screen and have that automatically adjust resolution to fit my iPad.

by Dgrums

I really love ChromeRemoteDesktop and it allows me to get work done from almost anywhere, however, there are some limitations that need to be corrected. I typically use this on my iPad with a bluetooth keyboard, but there are many keys on my keyboard (and from the on-screen keyboard) that won't send to the computer being controlled. For coding purposes, its a real pain that I can't use any F keys, the accent key, or my arrow keys while typing. Also, keyboard shortcuts with control, option, or alt do not send either. ChromeRemoteDesktop could be my most used app of all time if the keyboard functionality were improved. As for now, I'll have to continue to copy and paste from character map.

by Caleb Malick Yablonski

Why can’t I use chrome Remote Desktop when my computer cover is closed Well a good idea is to add a power button of course because I want my computer closed not open because it would be much easier so we can turn it on instead of going to the computer and opening the cover please add this So we can use chrome Remote Desktop easier and safely and securely instead of when someone’s using it and then you didn’t know they were using it when the cover is open

by XJtnc

ChromeRemoteDesktop is at the time of this review, one of the best Remote Desktop app there is, and it’s free. The track mode is awesome to use and there is minimal to no lag, given that you have a decent WiFi connection. However, what it lacks is the ability to use ctrl, alt and other function keys! This is definitely a big draw back that most of time you can live with. If somehow the on screen key road can be transparent, it will make ChromeRemoteDesktop even better but this is not something essential.

by Epicness001

By far the smoothest, easiest, most stable remote assist app I've ever used. The scrolling is so smooth on both sides I can even use it just as a remote control for my PC from across the room to amaze people. The screen share is MUCH better then teamviewer. HOWEVER, there is no file transfer part of ChromeRemoteDesktop . So you cannot simply view a list of the files on your remote client to transfer to your device. You would have to email the files to yourself from the computer you are controlling. Other then that it's awesome.

by SkellySkelly

CRD is pretty good in terms of simplicity and connectivity. What is annoying about the iOS app however is the bugginess with the keyboard and lack of key features. There is no way to invoke the arrow keys or special keys remotely, which can be a major issue in command line situations. Further, if you have a Bluetooth keyboard, often keystrokes will not register on the other end unless you do a full disconnect and reconnect. This happens frequently and is a showstopper. I wish some TLC was put into ChromeRemoteDesktop to tune it up a bit, because it is a very good low-latency remote access system otherwise.

by Cohaila, A.

I have been using ChromeRemoteDesktop for a while now and it has been incredibly useful in so many situations but there is one thing that bugs me so much; ChromeRemoteDesktop needs is own custom Keyboard, a semi transparent, customizable keyboard. It bugs me quite a bit that they haven't thought to do it yet because it is nessessary! How is anyone supposed to use Esc or any of the other essential keys?! A 4 layer keyboard would be great, first layer has the letters, backspace, Shift/CapsLock, space bar, return/enter and the main punctuation marks ( like most regular keyboards); And again like most keyboards there would be a second and third layer of numbers and other symbols and then ANOTHER layer that has all the Esc, Ctrl, Shift, Windows, Tab, Print Screen, F1-F12 buttons among others. That would really bring it all together, and instead of having it integrated make it a custom Keyboard that you have to enable in settings and all that but have its option settings in ChromeRemoteDesktop .
I hope you would take this suggestion into consideration because it would be so helpful to most of not all users of the Chrome Remote Desktop app.

Thank you,
A loyal customer.

by Coool Boi 12345

Overall ChromeRemoteDesktop works great! I can control my laptop from pretty much anywhere, which is so cool. ChromeRemoteDesktop runs smoothly, but there are a few flaws. My laptop’s aspect ratio isn’t the same as my iPad, and there is no ability to have black space on the top/bottom of my remote device’s screen so I don’t have to scroll over to see things on the other side of the computer screen. Also, there is no ability to scroll down easily, you have to click downwards on the scroll bar which is a big hassle. Somewhat included in that problem is the lack of ability to drag and drop. Other than those few problems, great app!

by BeeVeeMiami

For me ChromeRemoteDesktop works great. Before this one I tried several remote desktop-apps, also pay-apps, but in my case they all did not work. I wanted the Windows Media Center-screen from my Windows 10 Pro-computer, besides via HDMI on my smart TV, to show on my iPad. So I could choose. Nothing worked till I tried the Google Remote Desktop-app. Easy to install, free and it worked right away! Not five stars but four because after two hours or so the connection drops. Looked everywhere at the cause. Still can not find if it’s ChromeRemoteDesktop on the iPad or the connection of the desktop (of course both are on the same – fast 5GHz – network). Reconnection is easy made, however.

by Mross002

Really is a great lightweight app, can almost always connect to the machine I need to, responds fast, doesn't slow down the machine, etc. My main suggestion would be multi-tasking, it can take 10-15 seconds to connect and if your phone locks, you switch apps (perhaps you need to check something in your email, Notes or a text message, etc) it disconnects you and you need to connect all over again. Other suggestions include ability to add a button for Ctrl (other special keys as well but this is probably the most needed / common), and finally clipboard support would be great. But overall is a solid free method for connecting to a machine remotely.

by SoCal Ken

I’ve been using Chrome Remote Desktop for a couple years and it has worked very well, consistently. Just tried this new version and I can definitely see the performance improvement. That’s very nice. The bad news is that Google changed the user interface. It takes two presses to bring up the keyboard or change the mouse mode, instead of one. (I wish there was a “shortcut” press [3D?] to quickly change mouse mode or toggle the keyboard.) Also, the new titles given to the two mouse modes are not helpful.

In the previous version and this new version, iOS dictation and keyboard shortcuts (like auto-capitalization at the start of a sentence and adding a period after pressing two spaces) do not work.

Still all in all, a great app that I love and highly recommend.

by AlchemicKnowledge

Works great for me, I haven’t used it extensively but when I use it on my laptop to log into my desktop that seems to work excellent. Now being on the iPad it seems pretty well I’ve only used it for a few weeks now but all in all it does exactly what it needs to do. I have a feeling it’s not as good as screens but for what I use it for at all I need.

Screens is still my go to but this has actually been more reliable.

UPDATE, screens has actually been less reliable lately (2 months) so this has been my go to. I’m hoping that is a bug in Screens.

by New Chrome User

I love ChromeRemoteDesktop. I'm new to google products, been an apple man, however Google has made such wonderful free products I've considered switching. I tried splashtop Remote Desktop and was going to pay $10 and $15 yearly subscription until I found ChromeRemoteDesktop. Highly recommended for anyone with a desktop at home. Now I get use out of my desktop!!! Only problem is no audio playback, but that could be my settings, still experimenting but same issues with Splashtop. Either way FREE and works great!!! Keep up the great work Chrome-Google. #Winningcustomers

by PSSnyder

Do not pay attention to the star ratings, sort by most critical and you will see that the 1 star ratings are from 3 years ago. I have used many remote desktops, they worked well but all seemed overly complicated. Google Desktop Remote does exactly what you want a remote to do - it lets you feel like you are sitting in front of your monitor. You simply need to try it and you will understand why simplicity is better than dozens of features.

by Tastysauce

This was wonderful for years but it doesn’t work on my iPhone anymore. There’s something wrong with the screen resolution. I can’t tap anything on the computer I’m connecting to. I use this to connect to my PC and Mac from my iPhone and my PC is even worse: I only get to see one monitor out of two and I still can’t click anything. Something really bad happened in a recent update

by CreeperHugger7

Needless to say, this is a wonderful app to have, definitely more than 5 stars. I'm not on the go much and when I do end up on the go I either bring my laptop with me or have no use for it. But ChromeRemoteDesktop is still pretty fun to play around with. There are only a few things that I would say could be done with ChromeRemoteDesktop :

- Latency can be reduced. I have a feeling it is something to do with ChromeRemoteDesktop , because it will lag on my iPod while my laptop is running quite fine.
- Add mouse wheel, left click, and right click buttons off to the side when using the mouse. That would be a nice addition and add more functionality to the mouse.
- Fix the mouse sync. When I move the mouse on my iPod, it is in sync with my laptop, but when I move the mouse on my laptop, it does not sync with the mouse on my iPod.
- Add full screen support. I noticed that apps in full screen will not appear on my iPod.
- Earlier I said I like to toy around with it. It is pretty fun to play games on my laptop through my iPod. This goes along with the mouse sync part, but it would be nice if the mouse in ChromeRemoteDesktop would go to the center of the screen when playing games. It makes it a little hard to play games when, depending on where your mouse is, you constantly make a hard left. Oh well!

If you did these things, it would still be worth more than 5 stars! Keep up the good work, Google!

by Spartans Never Die

As a student who can't always bring his PC to class, this is a reliable and efficient alternative. I can basically get Windows on my iPhone with ChromeRemoteDesktop.

One recommendation for the developers: Chromecast support. Imagine being able to cast a desktop to a tv while using the phone as a trackpad along with a Bluetooth keyboard. I can already get similar functionality with airplay, but I think with the Chromecast handling the actual visual link to the desktop, latency can be reduced.

by Chiomzonline

Thank you so much for this. I’m shocked it doesn’t have 5 stars across the board. Microsoft made it so that windows 10 home can’t have a remote connection unless you upgrade to windows 10 pro for $99. I explored another DIY method by downloading a GitHub RDP wrapper which seemed to work for everyone else on the internet but me, so that failed and took me hours! Then all of a sudden I try this and boom not only does it work instantly but is intuitive and anything else I can figure out easily. It was exactly what I needed, thank you.