Access ChromeOS devices remotely

As a Chrome Enterprise administrator, you can remotely access and troubleshoot ChromeOS devices, including kiosk devices, by starting a Chrome Remote Desktop session from the Google Admin console.

Considerations

• If you're a Chrome Education Upgrade customer, make sure you turn on Chrome Remote Desktop in your Admin console. For details, see Turn Chrome Remote Desktop on or off for users.
• To connect remotely to a device, it must be online and running the following versions:
  • ChromeOS version 78 or later for kiosk devices
  • ChromeOS version 96 or later for for user and managed guest sessions devices
• On a kiosk, when you start a Chrome Remote Desktop session:
  • If there was user activity on the device within the last 5 minutes:
    • You see a privacy warning: Device is in use.
    • If there’s new user activity while you are connected to the device, your remote session continues and you remain connected to the device.
  • If there was no user activity on the device within the last 5 minutes:
    • You see no privacy warning.
    • If there’s new user activity while you are connected to the device, your remote session terminates automatically and you are disconnected from the device.
• For user and managed guest sessions, when you connect remotely to a device, a remote connection request is displayed. The user must accept this before the remote session can continue.
• All remote connection sessions are logged in the Admin audit log under ChromeOS Device Command.
• Delegated admins that have the Start Remote Desktop privilege can remotely access a user's device but cannot make changes within the device details. For details, see Delegate administrator roles in Chrome.

Start a remote session to a device

1. Sign in to your Google Admin console.

   Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).

2. From the Admin console Home page, go to  Menu  DevicesChromeDevices.
3. Click the serial number of device that you want to remotely access.
4. On the left, click Remote Desktop.
   Note: For user or managed guest session devices, the end user must accept the connection request.
5. (For kiosk devices only) If the device is currently being used or was used in the last 5 minutes, you’ll see a warning for privacy reasons. Choose an option:
   • To cancel the remote session and return to the Chrome devices page, click Cancel.
   • To start the remote session on a new page, click Connect Anyway.
     When the remote session is connected, you’ll see Connected at the bottom of the screen.
6. To open the remote session in a new window, click Open.

Transfer files

In ChromeOS kiosk devices, you can transfer files to and from the remote host if you have enabled the Chrome Remote Desktop File Transfer policy.

1. Sign in to your Google Admin console.

   Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).

2. In the Admin console, go to Menu  DevicesChromeSettingsDevice settings.
3. To apply the setting to all devices, leave the top organizational unit selected. Otherwise, select a child organizational unit.
4. Go to  Kiosk settings.
5. Click Allow remote access admins to transfer files to/from the host. 
6. Select Enable Chrome Remote Desktop File Transfer.
7. Click Save.

You can now access file transfer under the File transfer section in the Chrome Remote Desktop options panel.

Related topics

• Access another computer with Chrome Remote Desktop
• Admin audit log (View admin activity in the Admin console)