Google has announced Instant Tethering will be available on more Chromebooks starting today. Meaning, you can connect to the internet via a paired Android phone’s cellular network connection, as long as tethering is enabled on your mobile data plan.
Eliminating the long lengthy procedure which usually takes for tethering, Instant Tethering lets you pair your Android phone with your Chromebook during an initial set-up process, then accessing the internet only takes a single click. When your Chromebook detects that it has no Wi-Fi access point, it provides a notification that a data connection is available through your mobile device. Instant Tethering is activated once you click the “Connect” button on that notification.
Additionally, Instant Tethering will automatically disconnect if it detects 10 minutes of no activity to save you power and data. Prior to this change, Instant Tethering was available on only a few devices, including Pixelbooks and Pixel Slates paired with either Pixel or Nexus phones. But now, Instant Tethering is available on 15 additional Chromebook models and over 30 cell phone models. The company said that it will bring Instant Tethering to even more Chromebook and phones in the coming months.
Compatible Chromebooks
- Acer Chromebook 13
- Acer Chromebook 14
- Acer Chromebook 15
- Acer Chromebook R11
- Acer Chromebook Spin 13
- ASUS Chromebook C423
- ASUS Chromebook Flip C302
- Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14
- HP Chromebook 11 G5
- HP Chromebook x2
- HP Chromebook x360 14
- Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630
- Samsung Chromebook 3
- Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
- Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 LTE
Compatible smartphones
- HTC U11, U11+
- HTC U12+
- Huawei Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro
- Huawei Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 X
- LG G7 ThinQ
- LG V30, V30+, V30S ThinQ, V30S+ ThinQ
- LG V35 ThinQ
- LG V40 ThinQ
- Motorola Moto Z
- Motorola Moto Z2 Force
- Motorola Z3
- Nexus 5X
- Nexus 6, Nexus 6P
- OnePlus 5, 5T
- OnePlus 6, 6T
- Pixel, Pixel XL
- Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL
- Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL
- Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Active, S7 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8
- Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9
- Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+