Chrome Remote Desktop arrives on Android

GOOGLE on Wednesday launched a Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android, which lets you remotely control your computer using your smartphone or tablet. You can download the new app now directly from Google Play.

The app’s description says you can “securely access your computers from your Android device” but doesn’t elaborate on the security features. Instructions are fairly straightforward though:

• On each of your Windows or Mac computers, set up remote access using the Chrome Remote Desktop app from the Chrome Web Store.

• On your Android device, open the app and tap on any of your online computers to connect.

Chrome Remote Desktop first launched out of beta in October 2012, but it only let you remotely access your machine from another laptop or computer. 

With the app release, you can now do so the same thing from your Android device. There have been rumors of an iOS version coming as well, but Google didn’t reveal anything about such an app today.

We first heard about a Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android back in July 2013, but at the time it was called “Chromoting.” It’s probably a good thing Google went with the more familiar “Remote Desktop” name, although there might be some confusion with Microsoft’s offerings.