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Set up your Pixel Slate

Congrats on your new Google Pixel Slate! Let's take a quick tour and get you set up.

Note: Pixel Slate, Pixel Slate Keyboard, and Pixelbook Pen are no longer sold by Google.

 

What's in the box?

  • Google Pixel Slate
  • USB-C cable
  • Power adapter
  • USB-C to 3.5mm audio jack adapter
  • User guide

Get to know the basics

First, get familiar with your new Pixel Slate.

Pixel Slate diagram 1. Power button / Pixel Imprint™ fingerprint sensor
  • To turn the power on, press the button.
  • To turn the power off, press and hold for about 3 seconds.
  • To lock your device, quickly press the button.
  • To quickly and securely unlock your device, tap the button with your finger (requires set up, see Step 9).
2. Volume control

To increase volume, press the end of the button that's closest to the power button. To decrease volume, press the end of the button that's furthest from the power button.

Change volume from the touchscreen by tapping the time in the bottom right and moving the slider for the speaker Sound.

With Pixel Slate Keyboard (sold separately), you can also adjust the volume with the keyboard's speaker keys.

3. USB-C ports

There's one port on each side of your Pixel Slate. Use either of these ports to connect to power or other external devices.

4. Quick Snap Connectors

The connectors instantly attach to the Pixel Slate Keyboard. No charging or pairing is required.

5. Power adapter & cable

Pixel Slate comes with a power adapter and power cable. To charge, attach the adapter to the cable, then plug the adapter into a power outlet and the cable into one of Pixel Slate's ports.

You'll know it's charging when the battery icon in the lower right of your screen changes from Low battery to Battery charging and the LED light next to the connected cable glows orange.

6. USB-C to 3.5mm audio jack adapter

Use this adapter to connect headphones or other wired audio devices to Pixel Slate.

What you need to get started with Pixel Slate

  • A Google account.
  • An internet connection.
  • Access to a wireless network. If the network requires a password, make sure you have it handy.

Switching from a Mac or Windows computer? Learn how to easily backup your files and photos so you can access them on your new Pixel Slate.

Set up your Pixel Slate

Step 1: Turn on Pixel Slate

Press the power button to turn on your device.

Step 2: Choose your language & keyboard
  1. Choose your language and keyboard from the dropdowns.
  2. Tap OK.
Step 3 (optional): Choose any accessibility settings
  1. Tap the toggle next to the accessibility settings you want to enable. You can always turn these on later.
  2. Tap OK.
Step 4: Connect to Wi-Fi
  1. Use a compatible Wi-Fi network to connect your Pixel Slate to the internet.
  2. Once connected, tap Next.
Step 5: Automatically check for updates

Pixel Slate automatically checks for software updates. If an update is available, Pixel Slate will install it now.

Step 6: Review and accept terms

Review the Google Chrome OS terms and conditions, then tap Accept and Continue.

Step 7: Sign in to your Google Account.
  1. Enter the email address for your Google Account and tap Next.
  2. Enter your password and tap Next.
  3. If requested, select one of the verification methods and follow the steps.

If you're having trouble signing in with your Google Account, use the sign-in troubleshooter.

Don't have a Google Account? Tap More options and then Create account to begin.

Step 8: Set up Chrome sync & personalization
  1. Review information about Chrome sync and personalizing Google services.
  2. If you want to review or adjust your sync settings after setup, tap the box.
  3. Tap Accept & continue.
Step 9 (optional): Set up your Pixel Imprint™ fingerprint sensor

Use the fingerprint sensor to quickly and securely unlock your Pixel Slate. If you skip this step, you can always do it later.

To set up your first fingerprint:

  1. Scan your fingerprint by tapping the finger you want to use on the sensor, located on the device's power button. Make sure you are using the tip of your finger.
  2. Lift and touch again, following the on-screen instructions until you see "Fingerprint added."
  3. Once the fingerprint's added, tap Done to continue.

Tips:

  • Put your finger on your Pixel Slate's sensor (not its screen).
  • Hold your device as you'd normally hold it when unlocking, for example, with the screen facing you.
Pixel Imprint
Step 10 (optional): Set up a PIN
  1. Choose a PIN to quickly unlock your device.
  2. Tap Next.

If you skip this step, you can always do it later.

Step 11: Opt-in to Google Play

To download Android apps and digital content to your Pixel Slate, you'll need access to Google Play.

  1. Review the terms.
  2. Tap Agree to continue.

Are you using a work account?

  • You might need to ask your organization's admin to turn on settings that will allow you to download Android apps from the Google Play Store and use the Google Assistant.
  • You can also just sign in to your Pixel Slate through your personal account, rather than your work or school account. Just note that Android apps are linked to the account you used to install them, so you may have separate apps in your personal and work accounts.
Step 12 (optional): Install apps from your other devices

If you have Android apps optimized for Chrome OS on other devices connected to your Google Account, you can install them on Pixel Slate now. If you skip this step, you can always visit the Google Play Store to add them later.

  1. Choose the apps you want, then tap Install & Continue.
  2. Once the apps are installed, tap Continue setup.
Step 13 (optional): Activate the Google Assistant

The Google Assistant is integrated into Pixel Slate and can help you get more done faster and smarter. Learn more about what the Google Assistant can do on your Pixel Slate.

Using the Google Pixelbook Pen with Google Assistant is no longer supported.

To turn on the Assistant:

  1. Tap Yes, I'm in. (If you don't turn on these settings, you can still get a limited Assistant experience.)
  2. Review options for Google Partners, then tap Continue.
  3. Review additional options for "Ok Google" voice activation, and email updates about Assistant features, then tap Done.
  4. When your Assistant is ready, tap Done.

Available languages: The Google Assistant currently supports English (U.S., U.K., CA) and French (CA) for Pixel Slate. If your Pixel Slate is set to an unsupported language, you won’t be able to set up the Google Assistant.

Note for work and school accounts:
If you're using Pixel Slate through work, you might need to ask your admin to turn on Search & Assistant services and Web & App Activity to use Google Assistant. You can also just sign in to your device through your personal account, rather than your work account.

If your Google Account was set up through a K–12 school or non-profit group, or you have an .edu email address, you won't be able to use the Google Assistant.

Step 14 (optional): Connect Pixel Slate with your Android phone

If you have an Android phone associated with the Google Account you used to sign in to your device, you can seamlessly connect it to Pixel Slate to do things like:

  • Sign in to or unlock your Pixel Slate when your Android phone is nearby
  • Share your phone's internet connection (Pixel & Nexus phones only)
  • Send and receive text messages on Pixel Slate

To begin:

  1. To begin, tap Accept & continue. (If you skip this step, you can always do it later.)
  2. When completed, tap Next.

If you don't have a compatible Android phone, you won't see this step.

Using a work account? Your organization's admin might need to enable these settings first.

Step 15: Stay in the loop
  1. Tap the toggles to get the latest Pixel Slate tips and updates on Google products.
  2. Tap All set.
Optional: Attach Pixel Slate Keyboard

To attach Pixel Slate Keyboard (sold separately) to your Pixel Slate, simply align the Quick Snap Connector on the long edge of your Pixel Slate to the connector in the center of the keyboard folio. The connectors instantly attach. No charging or pairing required. Learn more about using Pixel Slate Keyboard.

Nicely done! Now, explore all the ways to get your Pixel Slate set up just the way you want it.

Key areas of your Pixel Slate

Get to your apps fast from your home screen

Find apps or search the web right from your home screen. To get there, swipe up from the bottom of your screen, or press the Launcher key if you’re using a keyboard.

From your home screen, you can see suggestions based on your activity (such as recently used apps and websites), use shortcuts to take actions in some apps (such as "Compose" in Gmail), and even see articles you started reading on your phone when both devices with the Chrome browser are signed in to the same Google Account.

Google Pixel Slate

Manage connections, updates, and settings in the status area

To open the status area, tap the time in the bottom right side of the screen.

On Pixel Slate Keyboard, you can also press the Menu key.

Get quick access to your Google Assistant

You can launch Google Assistant by saying "Ok Google" or "Hey Google."

On Pixel Slate Keyboard, you can press the Assistant Launch assistant key key.

Other external keyboards:

  • Chrome OS-compatible keyboard: Press Search + a
  • Windows or Mac keyboard: Command/Windows + a

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