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Connect a Samsung Galaxy phone to a Chromebook from Settings > Connected devices > Android phone, then turn on the Phone Hub features you want. Phone Hub can surface phone status, notifications, recent photos, Chrome tabs and selected controls on the Chromebook. Use Quick Share separately when you want to transfer files. One important limit: Samsung phones are not among the devices Google currently lists for Phone Hub app streaming.
Pair your Samsung phone with your Chromebook
For Phone Hub, Google lists a Chromebook running ChromeOS M89 or later and an Android phone running Android 5.1 or later as the minimum requirements. These are Phone Hub requirements; Google’s documentation for broader phone-connection features gives different minimums, described below.
- On the Chromebook, turn on Bluetooth on both devices and connect them to the same Google Account if prompted.
- Open Settings > Connected devices.
- Next to Android phone, select Set up, then follow the on-screen prompts to choose and pair your Samsung phone. You can also start setup from the Phone Hub icon near the Chromebook’s system time.
- After pairing, return to Settings > Connected devices, select the connected phone, and turn on the individual features you want to use.
The controls are independent: pairing does not mean every available feature is enabled. A work or school administrator may restrict the setup or individual options. See Google’s Phone Hub setup and feature guide and general Android-phone connection instructions.
What Phone Hub lets you do
Phone Hub puts selected phone information and controls on the Chromebook screen. Depending on your devices and enabled settings, you can use it to:
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- Check the phone’s cell signal and battery status.
- Use quick actions such as enabling the phone’s hotspot, silencing the phone or locating it.
- View Chrome tabs from the Android phone.
- See and manage phone notifications.
- Access or download recent photos and screenshots from the phone’s Gallery.
Google says Phone Hub features can still be used while the Chromebook is offline, although verifying the connection and some capabilities may require connectivity. The Samsung phone remains the connected Android device; Phone Hub is a Chromebook control surface, not a copy of the phone’s operating system.
Phone Hub, Quick Share and Play Store apps are different
These options solve different problems. Phone Hub provides phone information and selected controls; Quick Share transfers files you choose; installing an Android app from Google Play puts an app on the Chromebook itself.
| Feature | What it is for | How you use it | Compatibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Hub | Phone status, notifications, Chrome tabs, recent photos and quick actions. | Pair the phone, then enable individual features under Connected devices. | Google lists ChromeOS M89+ and Android 5.1+ for Phone Hub. Feature availability can vary. |
| Quick Share | Sending selected files between devices. | Choose a file, open its Share menu, choose Quick Share, and select the receiving device. | Samsung documents this workflow for Galaxy Chromebook Plus. For other Chromebook models, check Connected devices settings; the cited documentation does not establish identical behavior on every device combination. |
| Google Play Store on Chromebook | Installing an Android app to run on the Chromebook. | Open the Play Store on a supported Chromebook and download the app there. | App compatibility varies, phone apps do not copy over automatically, and an administrator may disable Play Store access. |
Send files with Quick Share
Samsung’s instructions cover Galaxy Chromebook Plus. On other Chromebook models, first check whether Quick Share is available in Settings > Connected devices; its presence and behavior are not established for every Chromebook-and-phone pairing.
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Set up Quick Share on Galaxy Chromebook Plus
- On the Chromebook, open Settings > Connected devices and set up Quick Share.
- Give the Chromebook a device name, choose its visibility setting, and confirm.
Send from the Chromebook to the Galaxy phone
- Select the file on the Chromebook and choose Share > Quick Share.
- Choose the Galaxy phone from the available devices and follow the prompts.
Send from the Galaxy phone to the Chromebook
- On the phone, select a file and tap Share > Quick Share.
- Select the Chromebook and follow the prompts.
See Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook Plus feature guide for its documented setup and transfer workflow.
Can a Samsung phone stream apps to a Chromebook?
Do not assume that meeting Phone Hub’s Android version minimum enables app streaming. Google’s current listed supported devices are Pixel 4a or later running Android 13 or later; Nothing Phone (1) and Phone (2); and selected Xiaomi models—the 12T, 12T Pro, 13 and 13 Pro—running Android 13 or later. Samsung is not included in that list.
For the listed streaming devices, Google also requires the phone and Chromebook to share Wi-Fi and be near each other. Some public or private networks may not work, and DRM restrictions can limit entertainment apps. These streaming conditions do not turn Play Store installation into phone-app streaming. Check Google’s Phone Hub documentation for its current supported-device list and limitations.
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Install Android apps directly on a supported Chromebook
If your Chromebook supports Google Play, you can download compatible Android apps from the Play Store on the Chromebook. This installs an app on the Chromebook; it does not transfer or mirror the app installed on your phone. You may need to download the app again, compatibility varies, and a work or school administrator can disable Play Store access. Google’s Android app installation guide explains availability and setup.
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Use phone-based Chromebook unlock
Google’s Smart Lock instructions list these conditions: the Chromebook must have an internet connection and use the same Google Account as the phone; the phone must run Android L-MR1 or later, be unlocked, have Bluetooth enabled and have a screen lock configured. Google says Smart Lock is on by default after phone connection; you can turn it off under Settings > Connected devices. See Google’s Smart Lock setup guide.
When features are missing or unavailable
- Check the relevant version requirement. Google’s Phone Hub guide lists ChromeOS M89+ and Android 5.1+. Its separate guide to broader phone-connection features—including chat notifications, photo syncing, texting, phone-network connection and Chromebook unlock—lists ChromeOS 71+ and Android 6+. These thresholds describe different documentation scopes; do not treat the broader guide’s minimum as a guarantee that every Phone Hub feature works.
- Check the individual feature toggle. Open Settings > Connected devices, select the connected phone and review the options you want.
- Check Bluetooth, accounts and connectivity. A feature may need a connection even when other Phone Hub features remain usable offline. Smart Lock specifically requires Chromebook internet access.
- Check device and network support. Hotspot and phone-network options depend on device compatibility and settings. If a control is absent, consult the Chromebook’s phone-network connection controls; streaming also has separate supported-device and Wi-Fi conditions.
- Check device management. Work or school policies can restrict phone features or Google Play access. If settings are unavailable on a managed device, an administrator may control them.
For the broader connection workflow and its feature scope, consult Google’s Android-phone connection guide and phone-network connection instructions.
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