Android · Devices
Link your phone to a Chromebook for messages and files
Cross-device services link an Android phone to a Chromebook or other trusted devices signed into the same Google Account, enabling features like viewing phone notifications, texting, checking battery level, and instantly tethering internet access from the Chromebook's Phone Hub panel.
How to open Phone Hub / Cross-Device Services
- Open Settings on the phone
- Tap Connected devices, then Connection preferences
- Select Cross-device services (or Phone Hub linking)
- Sign in and confirm the Chromebook to link
- Toggle individual features like notifications, tethering, and messaging
What you should know
- Requires signing both devices into the same Google Account
- Enables Instant Tethering to auto-connect the Chromebook to the phone's hotspot
- Surfaces phone notifications and recent Chrome tabs directly on the linked Chromebook
- Individual features (messages, tethering, notifications) can be toggled independently
Why it matters
Constantly picking up a phone to check a text or manually turning on a hotspot breaks focus when working on a laptop nearby; cross-device linking surfaces the phone's most useful functions directly inside the Chromebook interface, reducing context switching. For users in the Google ecosystem with both an Android phone and a Chromebook, this integration is one of the more distinctive productivity benefits of staying within that ecosystem.
Best practices
- Enable only the specific cross-device features you'll actually use to avoid unnecessary background activity
- Keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on both devices, since several features depend on both radios
- Use Instant Tethering only when needed to avoid unexpectedly draining phone data or battery
- Review linked devices periodically and unlink any Chromebook no longer in regular use
Common problems and fixes
- Phone Hub doesn't show notifications
- Confirm notification access is granted for cross-device services in the phone's notification access settings
- Instant Tethering doesn't connect automatically
- Ensure both devices are signed into the same account and that Bluetooth is enabled on both
- Messaging feature fails to send texts from the Chromebook
- Reconnect the linked devices from the Chromebook's Phone Hub settings and confirm the phone has cellular signal
Tips and tricks
- Use Phone Hub's 'Do Not Disturb' sync to silence the Chromebook automatically when the phone is in Do Not Disturb
- Enable the eye icon feature to hide notification content on the Chromebook lock screen for added privacy
Frequently asked questions
Do both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network?
Not necessarily for basic linking, though some features work best on the same network or with Bluetooth in range.
Can I link more than one Chromebook to my phone?
Yes, multiple Chromebooks signed into the same account can each link to the same phone.
Does this drain phone battery significantly?
The background connection uses minimal battery, though Instant Tethering itself uses more when actively providing internet access.
Related settings
- Connected DevicesConnected devices is the hub screen for every accessory linked to your phone, including Bluetooth headphones, watches, car systems, and USB or NFC connections, plus shortcuts to Cast and Nearby Share preferences.
- Nearby ShareNearby Share — recently rebranded Quick Share — lets you send photos, videos, links, and files directly to another nearby Android device, Chromebook, or Windows PC using a mix of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, without needing cellular data or a shared internet connection. Visibility settings control exactly who can discover your device and send you something.
- CastCast lets you send audio, video, or your entire phone screen wirelessly to a Chromecast-built-in TV, Chromecast device, or other Cast-enabled speaker on the same Wi-Fi network.
More Devices guides for Android
- PrintingPrinting settings let Android discover printers on your Wi-Fi network or connect to manufacturer print services, so you can print documents, photos, and web pages directly from apps using the system Print option.
- USB PreferencesUSB Preferences controls what happens when your phone is plugged into a computer or other USB device — whether it charges only, transfers files, shares a network connection, or acts as a MIDI/audio device.
- Android AutoAndroid Auto projects a simplified, driving-friendly interface — navigation, calls, messaging, and media — onto your car's built-in display, either over a USB cable or wirelessly on supported vehicles.
- Fast PairFast Pair detects nearby supported Bluetooth accessories, such as earbuds or speakers, in pairing mode and shows a one-tap notification to connect instantly, skipping the usual manual Bluetooth pairing menu.
- Previously Connected DevicesThis screen lists every Bluetooth accessory, Chromecast, or other device the phone has connected to in the past, even if currently disconnected or out of range, so you can reconnect, rename, or permanently forget them.
- Physical Keyboard SettingsPhysical Keyboard settings appear once a Bluetooth or USB keyboard is connected, letting you select the correct keyboard layout, remap modifier keys, and enable keyboard shortcuts for navigating Android without touching the screen.