Once you connect your Pixelbook with your Android phone, you can use it to seamlessly do things like:
- Sign in to or unlock your Pixelbook when your Android phone is nearby (called Smart Lock). Learn more.
- Automatically connect your Pixelbook to the internet using your Pixel phone's mobile data (called Instant Tethering). Learn more.
- Send text messages on your Pixelbook, get message notifications, and reply inline, even when the Messages app is closed. Learn more.
If you have a compatible Android phone, you'll have the option to connect it when you first set up your device or when it's completed an automatic system update. You can also connect your compatible phone any time in your device settings.
Note: If you're using your device through a work or EDU account, your admin determines the availability of these features.
Requirements
For your Chrome OS device, you'll need:
- Chrome OS version 70 and up.
- An internet connection.
- To be signed in to the same Google Account as your phone.
To learn how to update your Chrome OS software and sign in with a different Google Account, see Related articles.
- Android version L-MR1 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
- To be signed in to the same Google Account as your Chrome OS device.
- Bluetooth turned on.
To learn about additional requirements for Smart Lock, Instant Tethering, and text messaging, see Related articles.
Connect your phone during setup
When first setting up your device, you'll be prompted to connect your Android phone. You'll also be prompted if your device had a recent system update and you haven't enabled the feature yet.
- When prompted, select Accept & continue. (To skip this step, select "Cancel." You can opt in any time with these steps.)
- Select Done.
- This will enable Smart Lock and Instant Tethering on compatible devices. Once completed, you'll get a confirmation on your phone. If there are issues with your internet connection, there might be a delay in verifying your connected device. We'll continue to attempt verification, but these features won't be available until this step is completed.
- To learn how to turn on Messages for your device, see Related articles.
Connect your phone anytime
If you didn't connect your phone during setup, you can do so anytime with these steps:
- At the bottom right, select the time to open the status area.
- Select Settings
.
- Go to the "Connected devices" section. Next to "Android phone," select Set up.
- Enter your password and follow the steps.
- Once completed, you'll get a confirmation on your phone.
- To learn how to turn on Messages for your device, see Related articles.
.Disconnect your phone
You can disable all connected phone features at once, or turn off individual features as needed.
- At the bottom right, select the time to open the status area.
- Select Settings
- Under "Connected devices" you'll see your connected Android device labeled as "Enabled."
- To turn off all connected phone features on a specific Chrome OS device, select the toggle next to your Android device in "Connected devices."
- To turn off individual connected phone features on a specific Chrome OS device, select the arrow
next to your Android device in "Connected devices" and select the toggle next to the individual feature you want to disable to turn it off.
- To remove your connected phone entirely, select
next to "Forget device," then Confirm. This will completely remove the phone from all your Chrome OS devices. You'll need to set it up the again if you want to add it back.
next to your Android device in "Connected devices" and select the toggle next to the individual feature you want to disable to turn it off.