This post introduces how to enable Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode on Windows and Mac to protect your privacy when remotely controlling another computer via Chrome Remote Desktop.
“I’m remoting into work PC via Chrome Remote Desktop, and I have this sinking feeling that someone is peering over my shoulder on the other side. I’ve heard that Curtain mode helps effectively covers the monitor at the remote point. Is it just immediately initiated when I log on? If it is not, how do I enable Curtain mode on my work PC?
-Question from Reddit”
Curtain mode is one of the most useful features of Chrome Remote Desktop. With this mode enabled on the host computer, when you remotely log onto it, it will automatically show a lock screen, preventing someone physically present at the host machines from seeing what you’re doing when remotely connected. This helps protect the privacy of users when they use Chrome Remote Desktop to control their PC remotely.
Next, we provide you with two methods to enable Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode on Windows. But you need to note that this feature only works on Windows devices running Windows Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, or Server; for example, Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode for Windows 10 Home is not supported.
On the host computer, you can set the following four keys using Regedit to enable Curtain mode:
For Windows 10 computer, you will need to add one more registry key:
In case you don’t know how to do this, we’ll take the first key as an example, teaching you how to set it. For the next three keys, simply repeat the previous steps.
Step 1. Press Win + R and then type in “regedit” to open the Registry Editor.
Step 2. Navigate here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server. On the right pane, find and double-click fDenyTSConnections.
Step 3. Set its value to 0.
The second method to enable Chrome Remote Desktop stealth mode on the host computer is to use the Command Prompt to run an elevated command line to set the required registry key values and force them to take effect.
Step 1. Press Win + R and then type in “cmd” to open the Command Prompt.
Step 2. Copy and paste the following command into the Command Prompt and then press Enter:
reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome /v RemoteAccessHostRequireCurtain /d 1 /t REG_DWORD /f && reg add “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server” /v fDenyTSConnections /d 0 /t REG_DWORD /f && reg add “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp” /v SecurityLayer /d 1 /t REG_DWORD /f && reg add “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp” /v UserAuthentication /d 0 /t REG_DWORD /f && net stop chromoting && net start chromoting
Note: You can disable Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode by restoring the registry key values to their original settings.
In this part, we’ll introduce how to enable Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode on Mac. Also, you need to note that this feature is no longer supported on Mac devices running macOS Big Sur or later.
Step 1. Press the Command button and the space bar simultaneously, type Terminal in the search field, then click Terminal to open a terminal window.
Step 2. Use the defaults command to set the default value of RemoteAccessHostRequireCurtain to true for both the current user and root:
defaults write com.google.Chrome RemoteAccessHostRequireCurtain -boolean true
sudo defaults write com.google.Chrome RemoteAccessHostRequireCurtain -boolean true
✍Bonus tips: How to disable Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode on Mac
You can disable Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode on Mac by restoring RemoteAccessHostRequireCurtain, deleting the key from the defaults for the current user and root:
defaults delete com.google.Chrome RemoteAccessHostRequireCurtain
sudo defaults delete com.google.Chrome RemoteAccessHostRequireCurtain
Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode is surely a great feature to protect privacy during remote sessions. But it has some unavoidable defects:
As sometimes you may also encounter Chrome Remote Desktop not working problem, you may need a Chrome Remote Desktop alternative. Here we would like to introduce the free yet professional remote desktop software, AnyViewer, to you, which has the Privacy mode feature enabling users to black the screen of the remote device when remotely controlling it. Its advantages over Chrome Remote Desktop are mainly reflected in:
Download AnyViewer on your PCs and let’s get started with AnyViewer right now.
Note: To control a PC from a mobile device, go to App Store on an iOS device or Google Play on an Android device to download AnyViewer mobile app.
Step 1. Install and launch AnyViewer on both computers. Go to Log in > Sign up and create an AnyViewer account.
Step 2. Log into the same account on both devices. Your device will automatically be assigned to the account you’ve logged in to and displayed on My device list.
✍ Importance: Privacy Mode access is available in AnyViewer Professional and Enterprise. Upgrade your plan, and you can also enjoy other rights, including assigning more devices for secure one-click unattended remote access, controlling more computers from one computer at the same time, high-quality image, etc.
Step 3. On your local device, go to Device, click the remote computer, tick Connect in privacy mode, and click One-click control.
Immediately, Once connected successfully, the host computer will become a black screen; no one on that side can see what you're doing on it. Also, its mouse and keyboard will be blocked; no one can control it except you.
Note: If you remotely control your computer from your iPhone/iPad/Android device, you can find Privacy mode in the menu.
This post gives you a stepwise tutorial on enabling Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode on Windows and Mac. With this feature enabled, you can remote into a computer without anyone seeing what you’re doing on it. But still, Chrome Remote Desktop Curtain mode has certain shortcomings. Therefore, we recommend AnyViewer to you. With AnyViewer, you can remotely control another computer privately without any limitations. Download it and try it right away!
