There is no universal winner. Choose Phone Hub when you use a Chromebook with an Android phone and want Chromebook-specific controls, phone status, Chrome tab access, notifications, recent photos, or supported app streaming. Choose Microsoft Phone Link when you use Windows—especially with an iPhone—or when you want Windows access to messages, calls, notifications, photos and, on selected Android phones, phone apps or the Phone screen.
The computer operating system decides which service you can use. Your phone model, operating-system version, network and market then determine which features actually work. The official documentation does not establish that either service is faster, more reliable or more satisfying in a head-to-head test.
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Phone Hub and Phone Link are platform-specific choices
Phone Hub is built into ChromeOS for connecting an Android phone to a Chromebook. Microsoft Phone Link is a Windows feature that connects either an Android phone or an iPhone to a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. They are not two competing apps that you normally install on the same computer: the host operating system makes the first decision.
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|---|---|---|
| Computer | Chromebook running ChromeOS M89 or later for the Phone Hub feature set | Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC; the minimum Windows update differs for Android and iPhone |
| Phone | Android phone running Android 5.1 or later for Phone Hub | Android or iPhone; Android and iPhone have different requirements and capabilities |
| Best starting point | Chromebook owner with an Android phone | Windows owner, including anyone with an iPhone |
| Advanced app access | App streaming on selected Android models, with proximity and shared-Wi-Fi requirements | Apps and Phone screen on selected compatible Android models and, for some features, selected markets |
If you have not bought a computer yet, Phone Hub is a reason to consider a Chromebook only if its integrated controls are what you want. The documentation does not identify a particular Chromebook model, Windows laptop, cable, dock or adapter as necessary.
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What each service lets you do
Phone Hub on a Chromebook
Google describes Phone Hub as a way to use phone features from the Chromebook screen. Its documented everyday tools include viewing the phone’s signal and battery status, using quick commands for hotspot, silencing the phone and locating it, opening Chrome tabs that were recently viewed on the Android phone, controlling which phone notifications appear, and viewing recent Gallery photos and screenshots.
Phone Hub also supports app streaming on an eligible Android phone. Streaming is not included merely because a phone can connect to Phone Hub; Google limits it to specific models and software versions, and the phone must be near the Chromebook and on the same Wi-Fi network. Some public or private networks do not support the required connection. Instant Tethering can create a local network when the existing network does not work, while digital-rights-management rules can prevent some entertainment apps from streaming.
Google’s separate Android-phone connection guide describes additional ChromeOS integrations, including synced chat notifications and photos, Chromebook SMS, a phone-network connection and unlocking the Chromebook with the phone. That page states ChromeOS 71 or later and Android 6 or later for the connection features it covers. Those versions should not be substituted for Phone Hub’s own stated minimum of ChromeOS M89 and Android 5.1.
Microsoft Phone Link on Windows
Microsoft positions Phone Link as a way to access messages, recent photos, calls, notifications and, where supported, mobile apps from a Windows PC. Android setup normally pairs the Phone Link app on the PC with Link to Windows on the phone, often by scanning a QR code. Permissions then determine which messages, contacts, notifications, photos and other capabilities can be shared; feature toggles let you choose what remains synchronized.
On compatible Android phones, Phone screen lets you operate the phone from the PC with a mouse, trackpad, keyboard or touch screen. Microsoft says this function is limited to supported Android devices running Android 10 or later in select markets. Some games and apps may not respond correctly to mouse or keyboard input.
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iPhone support is a different integration. Bluetooth pairing can provide messages, calls, notifications, contacts and call history, but the iPhone experience should not be described as Android-style phone-app mirroring. Microsoft also says work or school accounts are not supported for the iPhone scenario described in its setup requirements.
Compatibility requirements at a glance
| Connection | Computer requirement | Phone requirement | Network or hardware condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Hub | Chromebook with ChromeOS M89 or later | Android 5.1 or later | Bluetooth must be enabled during connection |
| Phone Hub app streaming | Chromebook with Phone Hub | Eligible model, including listed Pixel, Nothing or Xiaomi devices, with the required Android version | Phone and Chromebook close together and on the same Wi-Fi; Instant Tethering may create a local network |
| Phone Hub-related general Android connection | ChromeOS 71 or later | Android 6 or later | Applies to the separate connection features documented by Google |
| Phone Link with Android | Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later, or Windows 11 | Android 10 or later | Phone and PC must use the same Wi-Fi network |
| Phone Link with iPhone | Windows 10 with the May 2019 update or later, or Windows 11 | iOS 16 or later | PC must support Bluetooth Low Energy; pairing uses Bluetooth |
Microsoft recommends using the latest Windows version. Both companies can change compatibility as ChromeOS, Android, iOS and phone firmware evolve, so check the linked support pages for your exact versions before treating a feature as guaranteed.
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- Update both devices. Confirm that the Chromebook is on ChromeOS M89 or later and that the Android phone is on Android 5.1 or later for the Phone Hub feature set.
- Turn on Bluetooth. Phone Hub’s initial connection requires Bluetooth on the Chromebook and phone.
- Open Connected devices. On the Chromebook, open Settings, choose Connected devices, and select the Android phone connection option.
- Follow the pairing prompts. Keep the phone nearby, approve the pairing and sign in or confirm permissions when ChromeOS requests them.
- Choose the features you want. Enable the relevant Phone Hub controls for notifications, recent photos, Chrome tabs, hotspot, silencing, locating and other available integrations. Phone permissions and individual feature toggles affect what appears.
- Test the everyday functions first. Check the phone’s signal and battery display, open a recent Chrome tab, view a recent photo and send a test notification before troubleshooting advanced streaming.
Google says the listed Phone Hub features can still be used while the Chromebook is offline. App streaming is the exception: it needs the phone and Chromebook to be close and connected through a compatible local network.
How to set up Phone Link with an Android phone
- Meet the Windows and Android minimums. Use Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later, or Windows 11, and an Android phone running Android 10 or later.
- Put both devices on the same Wi-Fi. This is a stated Android requirement, not merely a recommendation.
- Open Phone Link on Windows. Launch the Phone Link app and choose the Android-phone setup path.
- Install or open Link to Windows on the phone. Follow the prompt to connect the phone app with the PC app. Microsoft commonly uses a QR code to complete this pairing.
- Grant only the permissions you need. Approve access for notifications, messages, contacts, photos, calls or other functions you intend to use. If a permission is declined, the corresponding feature will not synchronize.
- Review feature switches in Phone Link. Turn individual content and capability toggles on or off so that the PC receives the information you actually want.
- Verify calls and messages separately. Place a test call, send a test message and check a recent photo. This separates a basic pairing problem from a permission problem affecting one category.
Basic Android integration does not automatically provide Phone screen or every app feature. Before promising a mirrored app experience, compare the exact handset with Microsoft’s supported-device list.
How to pair an iPhone with Phone Link
- Check the Windows version. Microsoft lists Windows 10 with the May 2019 update or later, or Windows 11.
- Check iOS and Bluetooth. The iPhone must run iOS 16 or later, and the PC must support Bluetooth Low Energy.
- Start iPhone pairing in Phone Link. Choose the iPhone option in the Windows app and follow the Bluetooth pairing instructions.
- Confirm the displayed code. Match the code shown on the PC and iPhone, then approve the requested Bluetooth and iOS permissions.
- Allow the categories you want to share. Permissions govern notifications, messages, contacts and call history. The iPhone path does not provide the same Android app-mirroring model.
- Check the account type. Microsoft states that work and school accounts are not supported for this iPhone setup scenario.
For an iPhone owner using Windows, Phone Link is the documented option in this comparison. Its value is convenient access to supported communication and notification data, not a promise that every iOS app will run on the PC.
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Advanced app access: where the two services diverge
Phone Hub app streaming eligibility
Google lists the following examples for Phone Hub app streaming: Pixel 4A or later running Android 13 or later; Nothing Phone (1) and (2); and selected Xiaomi 12T, 12T Pro, 13 and 13 Pro devices running Android 13 or later. The list is a compatibility boundary, not a representative sample: an Android phone that meets the general Phone Hub minimum may still lack streaming.
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The phone and Chromebook must be close and on the same Wi-Fi network. Google warns that some networks—whether public or private—may not work. Instant Tethering may establish a local network when the existing network cannot carry the stream. Digital-rights-management restrictions can also affect individual entertainment apps, so a stream that works for one app may fail for another.
Phone Link Apps and Phone screen
Microsoft restricts Phone screen and Apps to supported Android devices, with Android 10 or later and select-market limitations for Phone screen. Its examples include selected Samsung, HONOR, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, ROG and vivo devices. The exact model, manufacturer software and market availability matter; the brand category alone is not enough to establish compatibility.
Phone screen can be controlled with a mouse, trackpad, keyboard or touch screen, but Microsoft cautions that some games and apps do not accept mouse or keyboard input. Treat this as remote interaction with a phone app, not as a native Windows installation.
Why app access cannot produce a universal winner
The services use different eligibility rules and network paths. Phone Hub streaming has a short, explicitly listed set of Android models and requires proximity plus shared Wi-Fi. Phone Link’s advanced features depend on Microsoft’s supported-device and market lists. A person choosing primarily for app access should check both the phone model and the local network conditions instead of assuming that the service with more advertised features will work on that handset.
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Which one fits common situations?
You have a Chromebook and an Android phone
Start with Phone Hub. It is integrated into ChromeOS and combines phone status, quick controls, Chrome tabs, notifications and recent photos in the Chromebook interface. If app streaming is essential, verify the phone against Google’s listed models and Android versions before choosing the Chromebook for that reason.
You have a Windows PC and an iPhone
Use Phone Link after confirming Windows, iOS and Bluetooth Low Energy requirements. Expect messages, calls, notifications, contacts and call history subject to iOS permissions. Do not plan around Android-style Apps or Phone screen.
You have a Windows PC and an Android phone
Phone Link is the broader documented Windows integration for this pairing: messages, calls, photos and notifications are part of the core description, while Apps and Phone screen may be available on supported models. Check Microsoft’s current supported-device page before purchasing or changing a phone for those advanced functions.
Your priority is controlling phone apps on a larger display
Compare the exact eligibility lists first. Phone Hub requires one of Google’s supported streaming configurations, proximity and a workable shared Wi-Fi path. Phone Link requires a compatible Android handset and may impose market restrictions; some apps also reject keyboard or mouse input. Neither service’s official setup material supports a blanket claim that it is faster or more reliable.
You only need notifications, photos or basic status
Choose the service that matches your computer. Phone Hub exposes Chromebook-oriented status, tabs, quick controls, notifications and recent photos. Phone Link exposes Windows-oriented messages, calls, notifications and recent photos, with the iPhone path relying on Bluetooth and iOS permissions.
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Troubleshooting by symptom
The phone does not appear during setup
- Confirm that Bluetooth is enabled for Phone Hub.
- For Android Phone Link, verify that the PC and phone are on the same Wi-Fi and that the phone runs Android 10 or later.
- For iPhone Phone Link, verify iOS 16 or later and Bluetooth Low Energy support on the PC.
- Install pending ChromeOS, Windows, Android or iOS updates, then restart both devices before pairing again.
Pairing succeeds but notifications, photos or messages are missing
- Open the phone’s app permissions and allow the category you want to share.
- Revisit Phone Hub or Phone Link feature toggles; a successful pairing does not automatically enable every data type.
- For iPhone, confirm Bluetooth and the individual iOS permissions for notifications, messages, contacts and call history.
- For Android Phone Link, ensure Link to Windows remains installed, signed in and permitted to run.
Phone Hub app streaming will not start
- Check that the phone is one of Google’s listed streaming models and runs the required Android version.
- Move the phone close to the Chromebook.
- Place both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. If that network blocks streaming, try Instant Tethering as Google describes.
- Test another app. DRM restrictions may block a particular entertainment app even when the connection itself works.
Phone Link Phone screen or Apps is unavailable
- Check Microsoft’s supported-device list rather than relying on the phone manufacturer name.
- Confirm Android 10 or later and whether the feature is offered in your market.
- Update Windows and the phone’s Link to Windows software.
- If an app opens but ignores keyboard or mouse input, the limitation may belong to that app; Microsoft warns that some games and apps do not respond to those controls.
Privacy, permissions and control
Both integrations are permission-driven. During setup, the phone may request access to notifications, messages, contacts, photos, calls or call history. Enable only the categories you need and review the switches later if a shared computer should stop receiving a particular type of content.
Phone Hub’s Bluetooth pairing and Phone Link’s Android QR-code pairing or iPhone Bluetooth pairing establish the connection; they do not make every phone feature available by default. The resulting feature set is the intersection of the computer platform, phone operating system, permissions, network and model eligibility.
What the official documentation does—and does not—prove
The official guides establish supported platforms, minimum versions, setup paths, feature categories and several device or network restrictions. They do not provide a comparative speed test, uptime study, failure-rate analysis or user-satisfaction survey. It would therefore be misleading to call Phone Hub objectively faster, Phone Link objectively more reliable or either service universally better.
Support details are volatile. Microsoft’s advanced-feature compatibility varies by model and market, and Google’s requirements can change as ChromeOS and Android update. Recheck the current pages before publishing or making a purchase decision: Google’s Phone Hub guide, Google’s Android phone connection guide, Microsoft’s Phone Link requirements and setup, Microsoft’s supported-device list and Microsoft’s Phone screen guide.
Quick Recap
Decision checklist
- Computer first: Chromebook points to Phone Hub; Windows points to Phone Link.
- Phone second: Phone Hub documentation covers Android; Phone Link covers Android and iPhone.
- Basic integration: Match the documented status, tab, notification, photo, message and call features to your priorities.
- App access: verify the exact phone model, Android version, market and network conditions.
- Permissions: plan which notifications, messages, contacts, photos and calls the computer may receive.
- Freshness: check the current support pages because requirements and supported-device lists can change.
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