Google Chromebook Microsoft Remote Desktop

The portability of a Chromebook with the processing power and compatibility of a Windows 10 PC. It can be done with the Chrome Remote Desktop app!

The Chrome Remote Desktop app lets you control any of your computers over the internet. That includes Windows 10 PCs. This can come in handy, say if you bring your Chromebook with you to a coffee shop and you need to send yourself a file from your home computer or use a program that only runs on Windows. Just so long as your computer is running (and not sleeping or hibernating), you’ll be able to access your entire Windows 10 desktop from a Chromebook remotely. Here’s how:

Install the Chrome Remote Desktop Host Installer

The Chrome Remote Desktop Host is a bit like the Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Protocol, except it works with your Google account. This saves you the hassle of dealing with IP addresses and other networking headaches.

To install it, go to the Chrome Web Store, install the Chrome Remote Desktop app and then click Get started in the My Computers section.

You’ll be prompted to download the Chrome Remote Desktop Host Installer. Click Accept and Install.

This will download a .msi installer. Install it on your Windows 10 computer.

Now, go back to your Chrome Remote Desktop app in your Chrome browser. Click Enable remote connections.

You’ll be prompted to enter a PIN. Please do it.

Now, you’re all set up.

Connect to Remote PC

You can now install the Chrome Remote Desktop app on a Chromebook and click Get started in the My Computers section. As long as you are logged in with the same Google account, you’ll see your computers in this section. Click on it and enter the PIN to connect.

Note that if your Chrome browser is out of date, you’ll get this message. You can click Connect anyway to ignore the message.

When you are connected, you’ll see a message that says, “Your desktop is currently shared with .” Click Stop Sharing to end the session.

When you’re not using the Chrome Remote Desktop Host, you can disable it by going back to the Chrome Remote Desktop app and clicking Disable remote connections.

If you want to be extra sure it’s gone, you can uninstall it for good by going to Apps & features in Windows Settings and uninstalling Chrome Remote Desktop Host.

However, in theory, no one should be able to connect to your Chrome Remote Desktop Host installation on your Windows 10 PC unless they have your Google login credentials and your unique PIN. So unless you’ve lost physical access to your Chromebook, then you should be relatively secure.

Would you allow your Chromebook to control your Windows 10 PC over the internet? Tell me why or why not in the comments.

• Iv used ms rdp on an android phone before now in an extreme emergency. Wasquite difficult without using aphysical keyboard and mouse but managed to do what I needed to do. I wouldn’t want to use it for regular support but that moment when you desperately need to get on it was a life saver.
  Chromebooks are like laptops so can’t see why you would have many issues. If your getting a cheap cheerful used model, check compatibility requirements within the play store before committing to the hardware as ms rdp in the apple store has minimum os requirements.

  
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• As an alternative approach, you could use any of an old Chromebook such as an Acer C720* a newer one or one of the cheaper Windows 10 netbooks with soldered in RAM and soldered in 32 GB storage. Having got one you could put Linux on it or indeed run Linux from a USB stick and that will give you all the RDP ways that you could want. Maintenance with updates will be similar to a Chromebook.

  * I mentioned the Acer C720 because on mine I put Linux on it ages ago and that runs very well, is lightweight, still has about 5 hours battery life (5/6 years old) which is more than long enough to watch video recordings on flights, etc. You should note that Google only supports a Chromebook type for 6.5 years from the release of a build type and if you wanted to use Linux then most Distros will happily run on them after a BIOS update - see https://mrchromebox.tech/

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• RDP on Chromebooks are not the best to be honest. That said I would just check if you can get something that is better supported as 2300peterw​ recommended with Linux. 

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• I use it on my Android phone when needed.  Works.  Only problem is the awkwardness of not having a proper keyboard/mouse and the small screen but I would think those wouldn't be issues on a Chromebook.

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• Thanks for the replies all. I went ahead with it. I installed Remmina on it (Pixelbook Go) since many Linux apps are now compatible. Works beautifully. :)

• sudo apt install remmina

  100% working and compatibile RDP Windows