How to Use Instant Tethering on a Chromebook

Instant Tethering lets a Chromebook automatically use your Android phone’s mobile data connection when no Wi-Fi network is available, without you needing to manually turn on the phone’s hotspot each time. It’s built into ChromeOS and works over Bluetooth for the initial handshake, then switches to the phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot for the actual data connection.

What you need

An Android phone running Android 8.1 or later.
A Chromebook running ChromeOS 71 or later (essentially any Chromebook still receiving updates today qualifies).
Both devices signed in to the same Google Account.
Bluetooth enabled on both devices.

Check with your mobile carrier before relying on this regularly — some plans limit or charge extra for hotspot/tethering data usage separately from your regular data allowance.

A half-closed dark blue laptop on a wooden desk

How to turn on Instant Tethering

On your Chromebook, select the status area (bottom right), then click Settings.
Go to Connected devices.
Select your Android phone from the list, then select Instant Tethering.
Enter your Google Account password if prompted, and follow the on-screen setup steps.

Using it day to day

Once set up, your Chromebook shows your phone as an available network in the Wi-Fi network list whenever no other Wi-Fi is in range. Selecting it connects automatically without you needing to open the hotspot settings on your phone at all — ChromeOS handles turning the phone’s hotspot on and off as needed.

If it’s not showing up

Double-check that both devices are signed in to the same Google Account and that Bluetooth is on for both. If your specific Chromebook model is older than 2020, confirm it’s on the list of devices that support Instant Tethering, since a handful of early Chrome OS devices lack the required Bluetooth Low Energy hardware. Restarting both devices also resolves most cases where the phone doesn’t appear in the list.

If Instant Tethering isn’t available on your setup, you can still connect manually by turning on your phone’s regular Wi-Fi hotspot and joining it like any other network — see our guide on troubleshooting a Chromebook that won’t connect to a phone hotspot if that manual connection gives you trouble. And if you’re on a school or work-managed Chromebook, be aware that Instant Tethering may be disabled by an admin policy — see our guide on managed network issues for more on how those restrictions work.