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Although Chromebooks and Chromeboxes are relatively limited compared to traditional desktop platforms, the devices always had a bit of workaround. Using the Chrome Remote Desktop app, you can tap into a Mac, Windows or Linux computer that has Chrome installed, giving you full access to files and apps. Now, one of the more often requested features is available to Chrome Remote Desktop: Remotely accessing one Chrome OS device from a computer that has Chrome installed.

Google’s François Beaufort notes that the feature is currently only available if your Chrome OS computer is on the Developer channel; it hasn’t yet officially progressed to either the Beta or Stable channels of Chrome OS. Unlike other experimental features, there’s no need to enable a setting or flip a switch for remote access to work.

At first glance, it may sound like the new feature is unnecessary: Why would you want to remotely access a [company]Google[/company] Chromebook or Chromebox which has fewer apps that other ecosystems and uses a browser for the interface?

Chrome OS isn’t just a browser; there are native apps and various settings for the environment. So remote access can be very beneficial from a tech support standpoint. Perhaps a non-tech savvy person in the family needs help with Chrome OS; the same applies to classrooms where Chromebooks are gaining momentum and even in enterprises that decide a less-expensive thin-client computer is advantageous. It was smart of Google to support remote access to Mac, Windows and Linux computers early on. Now that Chrome OS is being used by more people, it makes sense to bring it into the remote access fold.