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On your Chromebook, select the time in the lower-right corner, open Settings, choose Connected devices, and select your paired Android phone. From that page, switch Phone Hub on or off, or change individual feature toggles without disabling the entire connection. You can also search for a setting by name in the Settings search bar.
The control path to remember
Phone Hub settings live on the Chromebook, not in a separate desktop application. Use this route:
- Select the time in the lower-right corner of the Chromebook shelf.
- Select the Settings gear.
- Open Connected devices.
- Select the Android phone shown as connected.
The connected-phone page contains a master Phone Hub switch and separate switches for supported capabilities. If you cannot find the menu, type Connected devices or Phone Hub into the search field at the top of Settings. You can also open Phone Hub from the phone icon near the system-tray clock, then follow the link to its settings.
Understand the three layers of controls
There are three related but different places to manage the connection:
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- The Phone Hub panel: the phone icon near the clock gives quick access to status and commands.
- The paired-phone settings page: this is where you enable or disable the hub and its individual features.
- Connected devices options outside Phone Hub: Smart Lock and phone setup or disconnection are managed here, but they have their own requirements.
Knowing which layer you are changing prevents a common mistake: turning off the whole hub when you only meant to stop notifications, or trying to fix Smart Lock by changing a Phone Hub switch.
Check the prerequisites before changing anything
Phone Hub depends on a paired Android phone and an active Bluetooth connection. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices before setup or troubleshooting. The Chromebook and phone should use the same Google Account; Google also recommends keeping Android and Google Play Services up to date.
Google documents two different minimum-version requirements for two related flows. Keep them separate:
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|---|---|---|
| Phone Hub setup and use | ChromeOS M89 or later | Android 5.1 or later |
| Broader Android-phone connection flow | ChromeOS 71 or later | Android 6 or later |
The first row applies specifically to Phone Hub. The second belongs to Google’s general phone-connection instructions, so it should not be treated as a replacement for the Phone Hub requirement. If your Chromebook is older than the Phone Hub requirement, update ChromeOS when an update is offered or use the general connection guidance only for the features that it supports.
A work- or school-managed Chromebook may hide or disable phone features through administrator policy. In that case, local settings changes cannot override the policy; contact the administrator.
Connect a phone that is not listed
If Connected devices does not show an Android phone, start the pairing flow from the same page.
- Open Settings > Connected devices.
- Next to Android phone, select Set up.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the phone and confirm the connection.
- Leave Bluetooth enabled while the devices pair.
During setup, check that both devices are signed in to the same Google Account. Install pending Android and Google Play Services updates if pairing repeatedly fails, then retry with Bluetooth enabled. When replacing an existing phone, disconnect the current device first, turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and then run Set up for the replacement phone.
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If you are starting from the phone icon instead, open the Phone Hub panel and use its setup link. The result is the same: the phone must be paired before its individual settings and features can be managed.
Open and change the paired-phone settings
After a phone is paired, select its name under Connected devices. The page is where you make persistent changes; the Phone Hub panel near the clock is mainly a quick way to reach phone controls.
Use the Phone Hub master switch
The Phone Hub switch controls the hub as a whole. Turn it off when you do not want the Chromebook to present the phone features. Turn it on again to restore the hub without repeating the pairing process, provided the phone remains connected.
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Use individual feature switches
Individual switches let you keep the connection while withholding a particular capability. For example, you can leave Phone Hub enabled but disable notifications or app streaming. This is the appropriate choice when you want status information or quick commands but do not want every phone feature exposed on the Chromebook.
| Control | Effect | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Hub master switch | Enables or disables the overall hub | Use when you want all Phone Hub functions available or unavailable |
| Individual feature switch | Controls one capability while leaving the hub connected | Use when you want a selective setup, such as notifications off but other phone controls on |
The exact list of individual switches depends on what your Chromebook and phone can use. Change one switch at a time so you can identify which capability is affecting your workflow.
What Phone Hub can show or control
Phone Hub brings selected phone information and actions to the Chromebook screen. The connected-phone settings determine which of these capabilities are active.
Phone status and quick commands
Phone Hub can show basic phone status such as cellular signal and battery level. It also provides quick commands that can include turning on the phone’s hotspot, silencing the phone, or locating the phone. These commands are useful when the phone is nearby but not in your hand; they do not turn the Chromebook into a replacement phone interface.
Chrome tabs
The hub can expose Chrome tabs from the connected phone so you can continue browsing on the Chromebook. If tabs are not appearing, verify that the phone is still paired and that the relevant Phone Hub feature remains enabled.
Notifications
Phone Hub can relay phone notifications to the Chromebook. Disable the notification-specific switch if you want other hub functions but do not want phone alerts appearing on the Chromebook. Notification access is also one of the permissions used during app-streaming setup.
Recent photos and screenshots
The hub can display recent photos and screenshots from the phone. Access to photos and media is part of the permissions Google requests when setting up app streaming, so declining that permission can prevent the related content from appearing.
Streaming phone apps
Supported phone apps can be streamed to and used from the Chromebook. App streaming is the most permission-dependent feature: it requires access granted on the Android phone and the corresponding Notifications and Apps options enabled on the Chromebook. Some entertainment apps may still be unavailable because digital-rights-management policies restrict streaming.
Choose the right toggle for a common situation
| What you want | Setting to change |
|---|---|
| Stop every Phone Hub feature temporarily | Turn off the Phone Hub master switch |
| Keep status and commands but stop alerts | Leave Phone Hub on and turn off the notifications feature |
| Prevent app use from the Chromebook | Turn off the app-streaming or Apps feature while leaving other features on |
| Use a different phone | Choose Disconnect, then run Set up for the new phone |
| Stop using the pairing entirely | Choose Disconnect rather than only turning off Phone Hub |
This distinction matters when troubleshooting. If one capability is failing, changing the master switch may hide useful clues and disable functions that are working correctly.
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If app streaming is listed but does not work, complete the permission sequence rather than repeatedly toggling the master switch.
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- Open the paired phone’s page at Settings > Connected devices.
- Start the app-streaming setup shown for your phone.
- On the Android phone, grant the requested access for notifications, photos and media, and apps.
- Return to the Chromebook’s connected-phone settings.
- Turn on the Notifications and Apps options.
- Try opening a supported app from Phone Hub.
Grant only the permissions required for the features you intend to use. If an individual entertainment app refuses to stream after permissions are correct, DRM restrictions may be the reason; changing Chromebook toggles cannot remove a restriction imposed by the app or its content policy.
When testing, change one permission or switch at a time. That makes it easier to tell whether the problem is a missing Android permission, a Chromebook feature toggle, or an app that does not support streaming.
Disconnect or replace the paired phone
Disconnecting removes the current pairing from the Chromebook’s connected-device list; it is the cleanest way to stop using an old phone or prepare to pair another one.
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- Open Settings > Connected devices.
- Select the currently paired phone.
- Choose Disconnect and confirm if prompted.
- For a replacement phone, turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, then select Set up beside Android phone and follow the pairing steps.
Disconnecting is different from turning off Phone Hub. The master switch pauses the hub while leaving the pairing available; Disconnect removes the active phone connection so another phone can be paired.
Configure Smart Lock separately
Smart Lock is another option under Connected devices. It is not the Phone Hub master switch, so changing one does not automatically change the other.
For Smart Lock to work, Google lists all of these conditions:
- The phone is nearby and unlocked.
- Bluetooth is on for the phone and Chromebook connection.
- The phone has a screen lock set.
- The Chromebook and phone use the same Google Account.
- The Chromebook is connected to the internet.
If Smart Lock is unavailable, check each condition before changing Phone Hub switches. A phone that is paired for Phone Hub can still fail Smart Lock if it is locked, out of range, missing a screen lock, or signed in to a different account.
Use Instant Tethering with cost and battery limits in mind
Phone Hub can expose a hotspot command through Instant Tethering. Activating it shares the phone’s mobile data connection with the Chromebook. Some mobile carriers limit hotspot use or charge extra for it, and sharing mobile data can consume more phone battery. Check your carrier’s terms before relying on the command for extended work or travel.
If the hotspot command is missing, first verify that the phone is paired, Phone Hub is enabled, and the relevant feature switch is on. If the command appears but the Chromebook cannot get online, the phone’s mobile-data or carrier service may be the limiting factor rather than the Chromebook setting.
How offline use affects Phone Hub
Google says Phone Hub features can still be used while the Chromebook is offline. That does not mean every connected-phone operation works without a network. Initial setup, account checks, app streaming, hotspot access, and other phone-dependent functions can have separate connection requirements.
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For the most reliable setup, pair the devices while Bluetooth and the required Wi-Fi or internet connections are available. If a previously configured feature behaves differently offline, reconnect the Chromebook and phone before changing settings; otherwise you may mistake a network limitation for a disabled toggle.
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The phone does not appear under Connected devices
- Confirm Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.
- Open Settings > Connected devices and use Set up beside Android phone.
- Check that the Chromebook and phone use the same Google Account.
- Install available Android and Google Play Services updates, then retry pairing.
- Check the applicable version requirements in the table above.
- If the Chromebook is managed by an employer or school, ask the administrator whether phone connections are blocked.
Pairing fails after switching phones
Disconnect the old phone first. Then enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and start setup for the new phone. Leaving the previous pairing active can prevent the replacement flow from completing cleanly.
The hub is present but one feature is missing
Open the paired phone’s page and inspect the individual switches. A disabled feature switch can hide that capability while the master Phone Hub switch remains on. For app streaming, complete the Android permissions and enable the Chromebook’s Notifications and Apps options. For entertainment apps, account for possible DRM restrictions.
Phone notifications or recent media do not show
Check the relevant Phone Hub feature switch first. If the issue involves app streaming, revisit the phone’s notification and photos/media permissions, then confirm the Chromebook options are enabled. Do not disable the entire hub unless you intend to stop all Phone Hub functions.
Smart Lock does not unlock the Chromebook
Verify that the phone is nearby and unlocked, Bluetooth is on, a screen lock is configured on the phone, both devices use the same Google Account, and the Chromebook is online. These are Smart Lock requirements even when ordinary Phone Hub controls work.
The Chromebook is offline
Google says Phone Hub features can still be used while the Chromebook is offline. Setup and some connected-phone functions have their own network requirements, however. Pair or configure the devices while the required connections are available, and expect functions that depend on current phone data, hotspot service, or account synchronization to behave differently without a network.
An administrator has removed the controls
On a managed work or school Chromebook, the absence of a switch may be intentional. Administrative policy can prevent phone features from being used. Local updates, reconnecting Bluetooth, or repeatedly opening Settings will not override that policy; ask the organization’s administrator for the approved option.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical settings checklist
- Start at the clock, then open Settings > Connected devices.
- Select the paired Android phone rather than the general Connected devices heading.
- Use the Phone Hub master switch only when you want the whole hub on or off.
- Use individual switches to keep selected capabilities while disabling others.
- Grant notification, photos/media, and apps permissions on the phone before troubleshooting app streaming.
- Use Disconnect before pairing a different phone.
- Treat Smart Lock and Instant Tethering as separate features with their own requirements and service limits.
- Check administrator policy when options are missing on a work- or school-managed Chromebook.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn off notifications without turning off Phone Hub?
Yes. Leave the Phone Hub master switch on and turn off the individual notifications switch on the paired-phone settings page.
Does turning off Phone Hub unpair my phone?
No. Turning off the master switch disables the hub while the phone remains paired. Use Disconnect when you want to remove the active pairing.
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Why can I see Phone Hub but not app streaming?
App streaming requires the Android phone permissions for notifications, photos and media, and apps, plus the Chromebook’s Notifications and Apps options. Some entertainment apps also restrict streaming through DRM.
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Which Android version does Phone Hub require?
Google’s Phone Hub guidance specifies Android 5.1 or later with ChromeOS M89 or later. Google’s broader Android-phone connection flow lists Android 6 or later with ChromeOS 71 or later; that is a separate compatibility statement.
Why is the Set up button missing?
Check Bluetooth, the Google Account used on both devices, software updates, and administrator restrictions. An older ChromeOS version or a managed Chromebook can also prevent the normal setup flow.
Can I pair a second phone immediately?
Disconnect the currently paired phone first. Then turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and use Set up beside Android phone for the replacement.
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Does Phone Hub require the Chromebook to be online all the time?
Google says Phone Hub features can still be used offline, but setup and some connected-phone functions have separate network requirements. Reconnect when a feature depends on current phone data, hotspot service, or account synchronization.
Why does Smart Lock fail even though Phone Hub works?
Smart Lock separately requires the phone to be nearby and unlocked, Bluetooth to be on, a phone screen lock to be set, the same Google Account on both devices, and an internet connection on the Chromebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Phone Hub settings on a Chromebook?
Select the time, open Settings, choose Connected devices, and select the paired Android phone. You can also search Settings for Phone Hub.
How do I disable just one Phone Hub feature?
Open the paired phone’s Connected devices page and turn off that feature’s individual switch while leaving the Phone Hub master switch on.
How do I connect a replacement phone?
Disconnect the current phone, turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, then choose Set up beside Android phone and follow the prompts.
What permissions does app streaming need?
On Android, grant notification, photos and media, and apps access. On the Chromebook, enable the Notifications and Apps options.
Can a school Chromebook block Phone Hub?
Yes. Work or school administrators can restrict phone features. Contact the administrator if controls are missing or unavailable.
The Bottom Line
Use time > Settings > Connected devices > paired phone to manage Phone Hub. The master switch controls the whole hub, while individual switches let you keep selected features such as status, tabs, notifications, recent media, or app streaming. Keep Bluetooth, account, version, permission, network, carrier, and administrator requirements in mind, and disconnect the old phone before pairing a replacement.
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