I have stated several times on this website that the future belongs to those who are able to recognize performance and collaborate with the teams behind these performances. A new eleccovent example recently came from Google.
Set up & use Phone Hub on your Chromebook
You can use features on your phone from your Chromebook screen with Phone Hub. For example, you can check your phone notifications, find open tabs, and stream apps from your mobile Chrome browser on your Chromebook.
What you need
A Chromebook that runs M89 or later
An Android phone that runs Android 5.1 or later
Connect your phone to your Chromebook
Important: Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on first. At the bottom right of your screen, select the time and turn on Bluetooth .
On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, next to the time, select the Phone .
Select Get Started.
When prompted on your Chromebook, select Accept & continue.
Under “Connected devices” next to “Android phone,” select Set up.
To complete Phone Hub setup, follow the on-screen instructions.
Select Done.
Tip: If you use your Chromebook at work or school, you may not be able to use these features with your phone. For more help, contact your administrator.
Use Phone Hub features
On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the Phone . You can:
Check your phone’s cell signal or battery status
Use quick commands like enable hotspot, silence phone, or locate phone
Browse Chrome tabs from your Android device on your Chromebook
Control and sync notifications
Access or download recent photos and screenshots from your phone’s Gallery
Stream your phone’s apps
Tip: You can still use these features when your Chromebook is offline.
Turn Phone Hub features on or off
On your Chromebook, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under “Connected devices,” select your phone.
Turn on or off features:
Toggle Phone Hub on or off.
Toggle the individual feature on or off
Tip: In Phone Hub, to find “Connected devices,” tap Settings .
Stream apps on your Chromebook
Important: To use Phone Hub to stream apps, you’ll need:
A Pixel 4A and higher that runs Android version 13 or later.
Select Xiaomi devices with Android version 13 or later:
12T
12T Pro
13
13 Pro
App streaming is supported on select devices that run on Android 13 or later. Once connected, Phone Hub will inform you when:
An app stream is terminated due to inactivity
An app stream is terminated because your phone is too far away from your Chromebook
An app stream is terminated due to a connection error
An app window will terminate an ongoing activity when you try to close a window
To stream apps, you’ll need to meet certain requirements:
Both devices must share the same Wi-Fi network.
Some public/private Wi-Fi networks may not be supported.
Your phone and Chromebook must be close to each other.
You can also use Instant Tethering to put both devices on the same local area network if your current network environment doesn’t support app streaming.
This unblocks users who aren’t able to get on the same network and enables app streaming. Learn more about Instant Tethering.
Important: Before you can stream apps, you need to grant the necessary permissions on your connected Android phone.
On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, next to the time, select the Phone .
Select Connected devices.
Under “Connected devices,” select your phone.
Under “Enabled,” next to “Recent photos, notifications and messaging apps,” select Setup.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Select Done.
On your phone, allow access to:
Notifications
Photos and Media
Apps
After the set up is done, on your Chromebook, under “Connected devices,” turn on Notifications and Apps.
Stream apps easily
There are 3 ways you can launch an app stream:
Through a messaging app notifications:
Phone Hub shows a loading indication that your app will open.
The app’s streaming window opens.
The app icon appears next to the Phone Hub icon.
Through the Recent apps list in Phone Hub:
On your Android device, open an app you want to stream. Once the app is opened, it’s added to “Recent apps” in Phone Hub.
On your Chromebook, select Recent Apps.
Select the app you want to stream.
Through “All Apps,” which you can access through the Recent Apps list in Phone Hub:
On your Android device, open an app you want to stream. Once the app is opened, it’s added to “All Apps” in Phone Hub.
On your Chromebook, select Recent Apps and then All Apps.
Select the app you want to stream.
Tips:
Use your Chromebook’s trackpad to zoom in and out on an app in the same way you would on the phone’s touchscreen.
If your Chromebook has touch support, you can use the touch screen to interact with the streamed app.
End a stream easily with your phone
On your phone, swipe down to open your Notifications.
You’ll find the notification “Streaming with your Chromebook.”
To end a stream, tap End stream.
Tips:
You can stop the stream on your Chromebook if you close the streaming window.
When a streamed app is idle, it automatically stops the stream on your Chromebook.
Manage your Chromebook profile on your phone
On your phone, open Settings .
Tap Connected devices.
Under “Connected devices,” next to “Chromebook,” tap Settings .
Choose your profile.
Allow access to:
Notifications
Apps
Photos and media
Wi-Fi Sync
How lock-on-sleep setting works
The lock-on-sleep setting needs to be verified before you can open each stream. If you get an error that the app can’t open, turn on “Show lock screen when waking from sleep” and try the steps again.
