Google Launches Chrome Remote Desktop App for iOS - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Launches Chrome Remote Desktop App for iOS

by

Google today launched a Chrome Remote Desktop app for iOS, which allows Chrome users to access their Mac or PC desktop computers remotely using an iOS device. Google has had an Android version of the Chrome Remote Desktop app for several months and has finally brought the tool to iOS.

To access a PC or Mac remotely with the new app, users will first need to install the Chrome Remote Desktop on their computer, which is a free download from the Chrome Web Store. With both the desktop browser app and the iOS app, it’s possible for users to access their computers on an iOS device through the Chrome browser with a few simple taps after verifying through a generated code.

chromeremotedesktop

Securely access your computers from your iOS device.
- On each of your computers, set up remote access using the Chrome Remote Desktop app from Chrome Web Store.
- On your iOS device, open the app and tap on any of your online computers to connect.

In addition to allowing access from an iOS device with the new app, Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop feature also allows computer-to-computer access, which Google suggests is useful for securely accessing files on one machine from another or giving a friend temporary access to help solve a computer problem.

The Chrome Remote Desktop app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tags: Chrome, Google

Top Rated Comments

154 months ago
The fact that apple doesnt have this built in to any iOS device is behind me.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
154 months ago
Do you believe that Apple doesn't spy on you at all? Proof?

The proof is it would be all over the news if they did, which they don't, so it hasn't happened. Every little thing that puts the slightest dent in Apple's image as the best tech company in the world (that is how they're viewed whether its true or not - their brand is the most valued in the world) ends up on the front page news.

Bendgate, a manufacturing defect that impacted 1 out of 1 M iPhone 6+s, for example. That wouldn't be anywhere in the news at all if it happened with a Samsung (actually, the S5 has a tendency for its screen to shatter in your pants. I've seen it happened on two separate coworkers - so far more prevalent, and yet precisely zero news articles on it).

If you want to make accusations like this, you really should have some evidence. You need to prove something has happened - it'd be retarded for us to have to prove something hasn't happened. A lot of us here are pretty tech savvy and would be capable of noticing the network traffic that would be generated by our own Apple devices spying on us.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
seamer Avatar
154 months ago
If you're already using Chrome, Google theoretically already sees what you're doing. I think the novel you're writing via free public wifi at Starbucks cafe is safe, though.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
154 months ago
And Apple doesn't? Typical.

----------



And Apple doesn't spy on you? Classic!

Why would Apple spy on you? Whereas Google's sole source of revenue is intelligently serving up ads based on your interests, Apple makes most of their money off of hardware they sell and stuff purchased from their online store. They don't do much targeted advertising, and they don't sell info on you the way Google does.

Furthermore, it's not a conspiracy theory or something that Google spies on you and their users. Google exploits bugs in browsers specifically to track you - there's news on it and they've been sued over it.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneMadRssn Avatar
154 months ago
The fact that a Chrome Webstore App allows someone to reach into and control my computer through only a browser is a bit scary. That is not an App I want installed.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
154 months ago
Install Chrome Remote Desktop so that Google can spy on everything I do on my Mac?

Err, no thanks!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Switch to Safari

Apple Explains Why Chrome Users Should 'Switch to Safari'

Tuesday October 13, 2026 5:29 am PDT by
Apple has launched a new "Switch to Safari" marketing campaign that encourages Chrome users to switch to Safari as their web browser of choice on the Mac. "Safari is a more powerful and private browser than Chrome," says Apple. Apple has a new "Switch to Safari" page on its website that outlines more than 10 reasons that Chrome users should switch to Safari, including faster performance...
google photos wardrobe

Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS

Thursday September 24, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Google today said its digital wardrobe option is available in the Google Photos iOS app in the U.S., India, and Brazil. Google first announced the feature back in April, but it was limited to Android users until now. The wardrobe option uses AI to pull images of clothing from the Google Photos library, organizing them into a digital closet. Users can put items together to create outfits ...
google synthid

Google's SynthID AI Detector is Now Available to Everyone

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:42 pm PDT by
Google today said it is making its SynthID Detector available to everyone for identifying content created using AI. SynthID Detector first rolled out to members of the media last year, and it is now available worldwide in English. SynthID Detector is a website that lets users upload a photo, video, or audio file to determine whether it has a SynthID watermark that identifies it as...
Latest Stories
Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff
Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff
2 hours ago
Apple Calls iPhone Duo Demand 'Extraordinary' After Orders Slip to 2027
Apple Calls iPhone Duo Demand 'Extraordinary' After Orders Slip to 2027
3 hours ago
New App Store Rules Target AI Deepfakes and Nudify Apps
New App Store Rules Target AI Deepfakes and Nudify Apps
3 hours ago
Didn't Pre-Order Apple's HomeView? Here's How Long the Wait is Now
Didn't Pre-Order Apple's HomeView? Here's How Long the Wait is Now
6 hours ago
Apple's $79 iPhone Duo Case Sticks On With Adhesive
Apple's $79 iPhone Duo Case Sticks On With Adhesive
6 hours ago
Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini Price Increases 'Much More Striking' Than New Features
Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini Price Increases 'Much More Striking' Than New Features
8 hours ago
The MacRumors Show: Was HomeView Worth the Wait?
The MacRumors Show: Was HomeView Worth the Wait?
9 hours ago
Apple Refers to HomeView as 'HomePodDevice' in Legal Document
Apple Refers to HomeView as 'HomePodDevice' in Legal Document
10 hours ago
Apple Pre-Orders Kick Off With First Discounts on HomeView and Apple TV 4K
Apple Pre-Orders Kick Off With First Discounts on HomeView and Apple TV 4K
11 hours ago
Developers Question Scope of Potential Apple Antitrust Settlement
Developers Question Scope of Potential Apple Antitrust Settlement
12 hours ago
iPhone Duo Resold for $5,000 on eBay After Selling Out
iPhone Duo Resold for $5,000 on eBay After Selling Out
12 hours ago
Massive Discounts Hit 2026 MacBook Pro With Up to $800 Off
Massive Discounts Hit 2026 MacBook Pro With Up to $800 Off
12 hours ago
iPhone Duo is Sold Out for Christmas as Shipping Estimates Slip to 2027
iPhone Duo is Sold Out for Christmas as Shipping Estimates Slip to 2027
12 hours ago
Didn't Pre-Order an iPhone Duo Yet? Wait Times Are Significant Now
Didn't Pre-Order an iPhone Duo Yet? Wait Times Are Significant Now
13 hours ago
First Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Arrives at Amazon
First Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Arrives at Amazon
13 hours ago
iPhone Duo Pre-Order Deals: The Best Carrier Offers From AT&T and T-Mobile
iPhone Duo Pre-Order Deals: The Best Carrier Offers From AT&T and T-Mobile
14 hours ago
iPhone Duo Now Available to Pre-Order From Apple
iPhone Duo Now Available to Pre-Order From Apple
14 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone Duo Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone Duo Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
16 hours ago
Apple Store Down Ahead of iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
Apple Store Down Ahead of iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
16 hours ago
Oops, Apple's Website Just Hinted at iPad Mini 8
Oops, Apple's Website Just Hinted at iPad Mini 8
1 day ago
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
1 day ago
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
1 day ago
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
1 day ago
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
1 day ago
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
1 day ago
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
1 day ago
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
1 day ago
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
1 day ago
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
1 day ago
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
1 day ago