The quickest way to connect an Android phone to a Chromebook is Phone Hub: turn on Bluetooth, select the Phone icon beside the Chromebook clock, choose Get Started, accept the terms, then open Settings > Connected devices > Android phone > Set up and follow the prompts. Phone Hub requires ChromeOS M89 or later and Android 5.1 or later. The wider connected-phone system has additional account and feature requirements, while app streaming and Instant Tethering are optional features with narrower compatibility.
What you need before connecting
Phone Hub is built into ChromeOS; you do not install a companion desktop app. Prepare both devices before opening the setup flow.
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| Capability | Chromebook requirement | Phone requirement | Other conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Hub | ChromeOS M89 or later | Android 5.1 or later | Bluetooth must be on during setup |
| Broader connected-phone features | ChromeOS 71 or later | Android 6 or later | The same Google Account must be signed in on both devices |
| Instant Tethering | ChromeOS 71 or later and a Chromebook that supports Instant Hotspot | Android 8.1 or later | The same Google Account is required; carrier rules and charges may apply |
| Phone-to-Chromebook app streaming | A compatible Chromebook with current connected-device support | Pixel 4A or later on Android 13 or later; Nothing Phone (1) or (2); or selected Xiaomi models on Android 13 or later | Devices must be nearby and normally on the same Wi-Fi network; permissions are required |
Turn on Bluetooth first
On the Chromebook, select the area beside the clock to open Quick Settings and turn on Bluetooth. Keep Bluetooth enabled on the phone as well. Phone Hub setup depends on the nearby Bluetooth connection even though several Phone Hub features can continue to work when the Chromebook is offline.
Use the same Google Account for connected-phone features
Sign in to the same Google Account on the Chromebook and Android phone. This account match is a requirement for the broader connected-phone experience and for Instant Tethering. It is also one of the first things to check when a phone is missing from the setup list.
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Check for administrator restrictions
A Chromebook managed by a school or employer can have Phone Hub or individual features disabled. If the device is managed, an administrator may need to allow the connection; local troubleshooting cannot override that policy.
Set up Phone Hub on a Chromebook you already use
Use this path when the Chromebook has completed its initial setup.
- On the Chromebook, select the time or the area beside the clock to open Quick Settings.
- Confirm that Bluetooth is on.
- Select the Phone icon beside the time.
- Select Get Started.
- When the consent screen appears, select Accept & continue.
- Under Connected devices, next to Android phone, select Set up.
- Follow each on-screen instruction. If ChromeOS asks you to choose a phone, select the device you want to connect.
- When setup finishes, select Done.
The Phone icon may not appear until Bluetooth is enabled or until ChromeOS has detected a phone eligible for setup. If you do not see it, use the Settings route below rather than assuming that Phone Hub is unavailable.
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- Select the time on the Chromebook, then open Settings.
- Open Connected devices.
- Next to Android phone, select Set up.
- Confirm the connection when prompted.
- Enter the Google Account password if ChromeOS requests it.
- If more than one phone is listed, select the correct phone.
- Follow the prompts and choose the connected-phone features you want to enable.
- Finish the flow and return to Settings > Connected devices to review the phone entry.
The setup screens can offer individual feature switches. You can complete the pairing and leave optional features off, then enable them later from the connected-phone settings.
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Connecting during first-time Chromebook setup
Google also provides a Quick setup flow when a Chromebook is being configured for the first time. That route can display a QR code and ask you to verify the phone. It is different from turning on Phone Hub after the Chromebook is already set up: if you are at the desktop, use the Phone icon or the Connected devices settings path instead.
What Phone Hub gives you after setup
Open the phone entry at Settings > Connected devices > [your phone] to control features individually. The available switches depend on the Chromebook, phone, ChromeOS version and Android version.
| Feature or control | What it does | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Phone status | Shows cellular signal and phone battery information on the Chromebook | The information reflects the connected phone, not the Chromebook battery |
| Quick commands | Can enable the phone hotspot, silence the phone or help locate it | Commands depend on the phone and enabled connected-device features |
| Recent Chrome tabs | Shows Chrome tabs recently open on the phone so you can continue on the Chromebook | Both devices must remain associated with the same account for the broader experience |
| Notifications | Synchronizes selected phone notifications to the Chromebook; chat notifications are included among the broader connected-phone options | Notification access can be enabled or disabled separately |
| Recent photos and screenshots | Exposes recent phone photos and screenshots through Phone Hub | Phone permissions and feature support are required |
| Messages and texting | Can provide Chromebook text messaging through the connected phone | Availability depends on supported devices, software and enabled settings |
| Phone-network connection | Can use the phone connection for Chromebook internet access through supported tethering features | This is separate from basic Phone Hub and can use mobile data |
| Unlock | Can let the phone help unlock the Chromebook | Enable it only if the option is offered for your devices |
| App streaming | Streams selected phone apps in a Chromebook window | Eligibility is limited; see the dedicated section below |
Phone Hub features can continue to work when the Chromebook is offline, but functions that need an active network—such as loading new web content, messaging services or app streaming—still depend on the relevant phone, Wi-Fi or mobile-data connection.
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How to enable or disable individual features
- On the Chromebook, select the time and open Settings.
- Select Connected devices.
- Select the connected Android phone.
- Review the available feature switches, such as notifications, photos, tabs, hotspot controls, messages, unlocking or app streaming.
- Turn a feature on, complete any permission or confirmation prompt, and test it. Turn it off from the same page if you no longer want it available.
Choosing features separately is useful on a shared Chromebook: you can keep basic status and tab features while leaving notifications, photos or messages disabled. If a switch is absent rather than merely turned off, the device, software version or administrator policy may not support it.
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App streaming: a separate, limited feature
App streaming is not a general Android-to-Chromebook capability. Google lists a specific set of supported phones: Pixel 4A or later running Android 13 or later, Nothing Phone (1) and (2), and selected Xiaomi models—12T, 12T Pro, 13 and 13 Pro—running Android 13 or later. A phone outside that list may still use Phone Hub for status, notifications, tabs or photos without being able to stream apps.
Network and distance conditions
- Keep the phone and Chromebook near each other.
- Connect both to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Some public or private networks do not permit the local traffic that streaming needs.
- Instant Tethering can place the devices on the same local network when the current Wi-Fi environment blocks streaming, provided the tethering requirements are met.
Phone permissions
App streaming requires the phone to grant permissions for Notifications, Photos and Media and Apps. If a stream starts but cannot show a notification, photo or app content, revisit the phone permissions and connected-device settings rather than repeatedly pairing the devices.
Why a stream can stop or behave differently
A stream can end after inactivity, when the devices move too far apart or when the connection fails. Some entertainment apps may not behave as expected because of digital-rights-management restrictions. A successful Phone Hub pairing therefore does not guarantee that every app will open or that protected video will play in a streamed window.
Use the phone’s network with Instant Tethering
Instant Tethering is an optional connected-phone feature, not a prerequisite for Phone Hub. It can connect a Chromebook through the phone’s mobile network when the Chromebook supports Instant Hotspot, ChromeOS is 71 or later, Android is 8.1 or later, and both devices use the same Google Account.
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Before enabling tethering
- Confirm that the mobile operator allows hotspot use on your plan.
- Check whether the operator charges an additional fee or counts tethered data differently.
- Expect higher phone battery use while the Chromebook is using the phone connection.
- Remember that mobile-data use can be substantial when streaming video, downloading files or updating software.
Enable the phone-network option from the connected-phone settings when it is offered. If the option is missing, verify the ChromeOS and Android versions, account match and Instant Hotspot support before treating it as a pairing failure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a phone that will not connect
The Phone icon or Set up option is missing
- Open Quick Settings and turn on Bluetooth.
- Install available Android system updates and update Google Play Services on the phone.
- Verify that the same Google Account is signed in on both devices.
- Open Settings > Connected devices and check whether the phone appears there even if the Phone icon is absent.
- If several phones are listed, select the one you actually want to use.
- Check whether the Chromebook is managed by a school or employer; ask the administrator if connected devices are restricted.
Do not try to solve a missing Phone Hub setup option by buying a Bluetooth accessory. A phone is not paired to a Chromebook as an ordinary Bluetooth peripheral for Phone Hub.
The devices were paired before, but Phone Hub stopped working
- On both the Chromebook and phone, remove the old Bluetooth pairing.
- Turn Bluetooth off and back on on the phone.
- Restart the Chromebook.
- Turn Bluetooth on again and repeat the Phone Hub setup flow.
Removing the stale pairing on both sides matters: deleting it on only one device can leave the other device trying to use outdated connection information.
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- Open Settings > Connected devices on the Chromebook.
- Disconnect the currently connected phone.
- Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
- Start setup for the replacement phone and select it if multiple phones appear.
Disconnecting the old phone first prevents ChromeOS from continuing to offer the previous device during selection.
Pairing succeeds, but a particular feature does not
- Open the connected phone’s settings page and confirm that the feature switch is on.
- For notifications, photos and app streaming, check the requested phone permissions.
- For app streaming, verify the exact supported-phone list, Android 13 requirement, same-Wi-Fi condition and proximity.
- For tethering, verify Instant Hotspot support, Android 8.1 or later and the carrier’s hotspot policy.
- If a switch is unavailable on a managed Chromebook, contact the administrator.
A working status panel does not prove that every optional feature is supported. Phone Hub, app streaming and Instant Tethering have different eligibility rules.
App streaming starts and then ends
- Move the phone and Chromebook closer together.
- Confirm that both are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Try a different network if the current public or private network blocks local device traffic.
- Keep the phone awake and avoid long periods of inactivity.
- Check Notifications, Photos and Media, and Apps permissions.
- Test another app if the problem affects only a DRM-protected entertainment app.
If the connection error continues on a supported phone, use ordinary Phone Hub features while diagnosing the network; app streaming is an additional capability, not the definition of a successful phone connection.
Instant Tethering is unavailable or costly
Recheck the separate requirements instead of changing the basic Phone Hub pairing: ChromeOS 71 or later, Android 8.1 or later, the same Google Account, Instant Hotspot support and a carrier plan that permits tethering. A carrier may limit hotspot use or charge extra, and the phone’s battery will drain faster while sharing mobile data.
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| Your goal | Use | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| See phone status, recent tabs, notifications or recent photos | Core Phone Hub | ChromeOS M89+, Android 5.1+, Bluetooth during setup |
| Text from the Chromebook, unlock it with the phone or use other account-linked controls | Broader connected-phone features | ChromeOS 71+, Android 6+, same Google Account and feature-specific support |
| Open a phone app in a Chromebook window | App streaming | Supported phone model, Android 13+, same Wi-Fi, nearby devices and permissions |
| Give the Chromebook internet access through cellular data | Instant Tethering | ChromeOS 71+, Android 8.1+, Instant Hotspot support, same account and carrier approval |
Start with Phone Hub. Add only the features you need, because streaming and tethering introduce extra device, network, permission, data-use or carrier conditions.
Privacy and control choices
Connected-device setup is modular. During setup and later under the phone’s entry in Connected devices, choose which information and controls cross between the devices. Leaving notifications, photos, messages or unlocking off does not prevent you from using the basic connection features that remain enabled.
On a shared, school or workplace Chromebook, review these switches before accepting every option. A managed policy can still override your choices, so an administrator—not a reset or repeated Bluetooth pairing—is the right escalation path when a feature is blocked.
Quick Recap
Quick verification checklist
- Chromebook runs ChromeOS M89 or later for Phone Hub.
- Phone runs Android 5.1 or later for Phone Hub.
- Bluetooth is enabled before setup.
- The same Google Account is used for broader connected-phone functions and Instant Tethering.
- The phone appears under Settings > Connected devices.
- Each desired feature is switched on in the phone’s connected-device settings.
- App streaming is attempted only with a listed phone model, Android 13 or later, nearby devices, same Wi-Fi and required permissions.
- Instant Tethering is treated as optional and checked against carrier hotspot rules, data costs and battery impact.
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