Chrome Remote Desktop Android to Android

Controlling a desktop computer using a remote-access app on an Android device is generally like trying to run underwater; you can move forward, but only at a frustratingly slow pace.

Google’s new Chrome Remote Desktop app, released Wednesday for

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Before you can use the free Google app, you must install the Chrome Remote Desktop app from the

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Once everything is set up, you launch Chrome Remote Desktop on your Android device. (Your computer must not be in not sleep mode.) In the app, you see whatever is on your remote computer screen. So far, so good.

Unlike LogMeIn, a remote access service with mobile apps, Chrome Remote Desktop let me see all three display attached to my home office computer. (I use an iMac with two additional displays, both in portrait orientation. And to answer your question, yes, my setup looks like it belongs to a stock broker or air traffic controller.) LogMeIn only shows me my iMac’s screen.

To fit onto a Google Nexus 7-inch tablet screen, of course, everything on my desktop screens appears in miniature. When you add to that a tiny cursor in the Chrome Remote Desktop app, and no obvious way to enlarge it, selecting things to open was nearly impossible. For example, I was never successful in navigating to the Mac OS’s Dock to open the Finder and navigate to a file I wanted to open. When I clicked the cursor in the dock, something else — such as an application — opened instead of the Finder. Only when I watched the cursor in Chrome Remote Desktop move across my Mac’s screen was I able to click and open the Finder, something I wouldn’t have accomplished had I actually been away from my office.

Another downside: When you use your device’s on-screen keyboard, even less of your remote desktop screen is visible. Your underwater jog just got slower. There’s no iOS app yet, though one is promised.

With some patience, you can probably figure out some use for the Chrome Remote Desktop app. And again, it’s nice that it doesn’t cost anything. LogMeIn’s Pro service, by contrast, is $99/year. But for me, keeping files in Dropbox and accessing them through Dropbox’s mobile apps is a much more efficient form of “remote access.”

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Remote access to a desktop is one of the most niche power-user features out there. However, it is perfectly doable on an Android device. There are two basic ways to do it. Users can remote into their Android device from a computer. We covered that functionality in our best screen mirroring apps for Android list. This list focuses more on accessing your desktop computer from your Android device. There are a bunch of apps that boast remote access as a feature. However, only some of them are actually good. Here are the best remote desktop apps for Android!

The best remote desktop apps for Android

Price: Free / $79-$229 per year

AnyDesk is a serviceable option in the remote desktop space on Android. It works like any other remote desktop app. You connect your phone to your computer and then use your computer from your phone. It worked pretty well in our testing and it uses a simple UI. There weren’t any real issues with it. The app is free for personal use. The prices we listed are for commercial use mostly. It definitely has its flaws, but we also put apps in lists for a reason. Give it a try and see if you like it. Worst case, you don’t and have four other options. VNC Viewer and this app competed for the fifth slot on this list so it’s right up there as well.

Chrome Remote Desktop is one of the most popular remote desktop apps. Users install the app from the Chrome Web Store on their computer and then this app from Google Play. From there, follow the installation instructions and you should be able to connect. The app worked most of the time in our testing. It’s quicker and simpler than many of the other options, including TeamViewer. However, it’s also been two years since Chrome Remote Desktop saw an update as of the writing of this article. We recommend trying this one first, but don’t be shocked if it’s not a flawless performance.

Microsoft Remote Desktop is arguably Chrome Remote Desktop’s biggest free competitor. It works about the same way. You simply enable remote access on your Windows PC and install this app on your phone. The two should let your devices connect to one another. The positive part is you not needing a Google Chrome installation for this one to work on Windows devices. The bad news is the performance is about the same so you’re not really getting a better product. In any case, PC users should definitely try this one first since it’s first-party software and it may prove to be more stable over a longer period of time. Microsoft has another remote desktop app (Google Play), but it’s more for Windows Server and Enterprise.

Splashtop is a less popular, but still fairly successful remote desktop app. It works like the others with dual apps on your computer and Android device. You can access anything on your computer from your phone on your local network. You can add access from anywhere for $5 per month or $16.99 per year. This lets you access your device on any network, including any WiFi network or mobile data. The app also lets you access your webcam to check up on your home without too much trouble. It worked as well as Chrome and Microsoft did in our testing.

TeamViewer is kind of the obvious choice for remote desktop apps. It gives remote access to your computer from your Android device. It’s a little bit more complicated of a setup, but it works just as well as one would expect. It also includes features like file transfers in both directions, encryption, and real-time sound and HD video transmission. There are features included for helping, say, a friend or coworker. However, it works perfectly fine for just goofing around on your computer as well. The app is entirely free for personal use. Those who use it for business need a subscription.