Longtime iOS app for Chrome Remote Desktop reaches end of the line

If you’ve been using Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop app on your iPhone for years, brace yourself for some bad news. The app is officially done for, and Google isn’t bringing it back.

The whole thing started when users began complaining about weird issues on Google’s support forums. One user, DDAA, posted about how their multi-monitor setup suddenly broke – they could only see one screen instead of their usual three. Pretty frustrating when you’re trying to get work done remotely.

But here’s where things took a turn for the worse. A Chrome Community Manager jumped into the thread just hours ago to confirm that the iOS Chrome Remote Desktop app has been deprecated. 

So what’s Google’s solution? They want you to use the web version at remotedesktop.google.com instead. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. Users who’ve tried the browser version are already calling it “horrid compared to the native app” on Reddit.

User chatter suggests the dedicated app had everything going for it. It felt smooth, responded well to touch controls, and just worked the way you’d expect an iOS app to work. The web version? Not so much. It’s functional, sure, but it lacks that polished feel that made the original app so good.

Chrome Remote Desktop started as a simple Chrome extension years back but evolved into standalone apps for both Android and iOS. The iOS version quietly served millions of users who needed quick access to their computers while away from their desks. Whether you were checking work files from home or helping your parents fix their computer remotely, it got the job done.

Another thing to note is that if you still have the app installed and delete it, thinking you can reinstall it later, you’re out of luck. It’s gone from the App Store for good. So you’re stuck choosing between keeping potentially buggy software or switching to the browser version permanently.

FYI, the app is still listed on the Google Play Store.

That said, your alternatives aren’t great either. Apps like RustDesk and Splashtop exist, but users say they don’t match the simplicity that Chrome Remote Desktop’s iOS app once offered. For something that many people relied on for quick, no-hassle remote access, finding a decent replacement won’t be easy.

The web version might technically do the same things, but sometimes technical functionality isn’t enough. When you’ve gotten used to something that just works, switching to a clunky alternative feels like a major step backward.

Share your thoughts on this decision to drop the app in the comments section below.