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Asked: 2024-09-25T02:48:48+05:30 In:

How can I enable Chrome Remote Desktop on my Ubuntu 20.04 system?

I’ve been trying to figure out how to enable Chrome Remote Desktop on my Ubuntu 20.04 system, but I keep hitting a wall. I thought I could just follow the steps I found online, but things are way more complicated than I expected. It seems like there are a million steps, and I’m lost in a sea of conflicting instructions.

So, first things first — I installed the Chrome browser, because I’ve read that you need it for Chrome Remote Desktop to work. That part seemed easy enough. But then I went on to install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension, and that’s when it all started to get confusing. I mean, I clicked on the link, installed it, and it looked fine, but then I saw the part about downloading and installing an additional .deb package. Why can’t everything just be in one place? I downloaded that package, but when I tried to install it using the terminal, it started throwing a bunch of errors.

I have to admit, my terminal skills are kinda rusty. I did some searching and found out I might need to use `dpkg` or `apt-get`, but those commands are still like a foreign language to me. Can someone explain it like I’m five? I just want to get this working so I can access my machine remotely without pulling my hair out.

Also, there’s something about setting up a virtual display? Like, why would I need that? Do I have to mess with the X server? I read some posts where people mentioned different desktop environments affecting how it works, and I’m just not sure if I should be using GNOME or something else entirely.

And let’s not forget about security! I want to make sure my remote connection isn’t going to be a free-for-all access to my system, but I’m not really sure how to set that up right. If anyone could just break it down for me step by step, I’d really appreciate it. Like, if you could share your setup process or any tips you found helpful, it would save me a ton of frustration. Honestly, I just want to be able to easily access my machine from my laptop without worrying I messed something up. Thanks!

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    1. Setting Up Chrome Remote Desktop on Ubuntu 20.04

      How to Enable Chrome Remote Desktop on Ubuntu 20.04

      First off, you’re on the right track by installing the Chrome browser. That’s definitely step one. Now, let’s break this down into smaller, manageable steps.

      Step 1: Install Chrome Remote Desktop Extension

      Since you’ve already installed the Chrome Remote Desktop extension, good job! Just make sure you have it correctly added to your Chrome browser.

      Step 2: Download the .deb Package

      After installing the extension, yes, you need that extra .deb package! Here’s how to install it:

      1. Open your terminal (you can usually find it in your applications).
      2. Navigate to your Downloads folder (where the .deb file is likely located) using the command:
        3. cd ~/Downloads
      3. Now, install the .deb package using the following command:
        4. sudo dpkg -i .deb
      4. If you run into errors, don’t panic! Just use this command to fix missing dependencies:
        5. sudo apt-get install -f

      Step 3: Set Up the Virtual Display

      You might need to set up a virtual display for this to work properly. Here’s how:

      1. Install Xvfb by running this command:
        2. sudo apt-get install xvfb
      2. You’ll want to start a virtual display. You can do this by running:
        3. Xvfb :1 -screen 0 1024x768x16 &
      3. You’ll also need to tell Chrome Remote Desktop to use the display by editing the config file. You can do this by running:
        4. echo "exec /usr/bin/fluxbox" > ~/.chrome-remote-desktop-session

      Step 4: Add Chrome Remote Desktop to Your Startup

      To make sure it runs every time you start up, you can create a script:

      sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/chrome-remote-desktop.service

      Then paste the following into the file:

      [Unit]
Description=Chrome Remote Desktop
After=display-manager.service

[Service]
Type=simple
User=YOUR_USERNAME
Environment=DISPLAY=:1
ExecStart=/usr/bin/chrome-remote-desktop --start
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=graphical.target

      Replace YOUR_USERNAME with your actual username, save, and exit the text editor.

      Finally, enable the service:

      sudo systemctl enable chrome-remote-desktop

      Step 5: Ensure Security

      Security is super important! Make sure you set up a strong password in the Chrome Remote Desktop settings to prevent unwanted access.

      Wrapping It Up

      After all that, you should be good to go! Just launch Chrome Remote Desktop from your Chrome browser, and it should connect. If you run into any issues, don’t hesitate to search for specific error messages online.

      Good luck! You’ve got this!



    2. To enable Chrome Remote Desktop on your Ubuntu 20.04 system, start by ensuring that you have the Chrome browser installed. You mentioned successfully installing it, which is great. Next, after installing the Chrome Remote Desktop extension from the Chrome Web Store, you need to install the additional .deb package, which you can download from the Chrome Remote Desktop website. To install the package, open your terminal and navigate to the directory where the .deb file is located. Use the command sudo dpkg -i your-package-name.deb (replace your-package-name.deb with the actual filename) to initiate the installation. If you encounter dependency errors, you can resolve them by running sudo apt-get install -f. This will fix broken dependencies automatically. The use of the terminal and commands like `dpkg` and `apt-get` may seem daunting, but they are essential for managing packages and resolving installation issues in Ubuntu.

      Regarding the need for a virtual display, Chrome Remote Desktop requires a graphical user interface to function properly. If you are using a desktop environment like GNOME, it should work seamlessly. However, if you encounter issues, you may want to ensure that your X server is running; this can usually be checked by rebooting your system. For security, it’s important to set a strong PIN when prompted during the setup process, and make sure your firewall is configured to allow only trusted external connections. After setting everything up, go back to the Chrome Remote Desktop site, select your computer, and once it prompts for the PIN, input it to gain access. This setup will make accessing your machine remotely more manageable and secure. Take your time with each step to avoid confusion, and don’t hesitate to consult Ubuntu forums or documentation for further clarity!


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