Does Google remote desktop work on Ubuntu?
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Chrome Remote Desktop is a remote desktop tool developed by Google. It uses a proprietary protocol, unofficially called Chromoting. In this tutorial we’ll install Chrome Remote Desktop on a headless remote machine (typically a server) running Ubuntu 20.04, along with XFCE desktop environment, then connect to it via Google Chrome browser and use it as a remote desktop. When a machine/computer is headless, it means it operates without a monitor, GUI (Graphical User Interface) or peripherals (keyboard, mouse). This tutorial should work for regular computers as well. Should you be interested in other remote desktop technologies for Ubuntu, we also have written detailed tutorials for VNC, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP via a software called xRDP), NX (via a software called X2Go), or Xpra. They all have similar goals, however their methods for achieving them differ. Prerequisites
Step 1 – Install Chrome Remote Desktop on Ubuntu 20.04
Step 2 – Install an X Windows System Desktop EnvironmentYou need to install an X Windows System desktop environment and window manager to be able to use Chrome Remote Desktop. Some of the most popular ones include:
For this example we’ll install XFCE.
Switching Desktop Environments for Chrome Remote DesktopIf you’d like to install multiple desktop environments and switch between them, then you can check this very short write-up on switching the desktop environment from the command line for Chrome Remote Desktop. Step 3 – Configure Chrome Remote Desktop
Step 4 – Connect to the Remote Machine via Chrome Remote DesktopNow you should be able to connect to the remote machine using the Chrome Remote Desktop web application.
Well done. Now you should have an easily accessible Ubuntu 20.04 remote desktop by using Google Remote Desktop. We also recommend you check out the Google Cloud docs for Chrome Remote Desktop, under: If you’re encountering any issues, then feel free to let us know in the comments or contact us, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
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