Chrome Can: Integration with Android Phones

One of the things that makes using all Apple products appealing is that they work together. For example, you can unlock your computer with your iPhone. You can text from your Mac Book and transferring photos from your iPhone to your computer is a couple of clicks away.

If you have a Chromebook and an Android phone many of these great features are also available!

Unlocking your Chromebook with your Android phone.

To unlock your Chromebook with your Android phone you need to set a few things up. Before you do this you will need to make sure that your smartphone and your Chromebook both support this feature.

You will need a phone with Android 5.0+, that has Smart Lock, and Bluetooth. Your phone must have a lock screen as well, be unlocked, and be within 100 feet of your Chromebook. You will also need a Chromebook with Chrome OS version 40+ and Bluetooth. If you have all of these then you can then follow the instructions to set up your phone for automatic unlock. After you do that all you will need to do is follow these instructions taken from the Google support page.

Now you will be able to unlock your Chromebook just by having your phone next to your computer.

Texting from your Chromebook

Texting from your Chromebook is also a great feature. Imagine working on your Chromebook and having a popup show at the bottom right of your screen. It is a text message from someone. To reply you click the reply option in the notification, type your reply and hit send. It is super convenient and time-saving. You never have to pick up your phone, unlock it or even get into the message app. It is all possible from your Chromebook.

According to the blog post from Google posted back on June 18, “Today and over the next week, we’ll begin rolling out Messages for web, one of our top-requested features that lets you send and receive texts from your computer. To get started, select “Messages for web” in the menu of your Messages mobile app. On Messages for web, you can send stickers, emoji, and attach images in addition to sending text.”

To make it possible you first need to check if your devices are capable. Have a look at the requirements taken from the Google Support Site.

After ensuring that your devices are ready to work the following image also taken from the Google Support Site will tell you how to get it all working.

AirDrop Like File Transfer

Imagine being able to transfer files like in Apple’s AirDrop but not being hindered by the type of device you are using. It is is possible with this fantastic web-based application called https://snapdrop.net by @robin_linus. This application works from within a browser on any device so it will work between your Chromebook and your Android Phone. What is cool is that it also works between your Chromebook and your Mac Book and your Windows PC and your iPhone. I think you get the picture, it just works.

To use this awesome application head on over to https://snapdrop.net. You must have all of your devices on the same Wifi network to make it all play nice. To see how this all works please watch this great video below!

After you have loaded the website I suggest you install it as an app on your Chromebook. To do this, you need to click on three dots in the upper right corner, then Install SnapDrop.

Then you will be asked to install the app. To continue, click install.

After you have finished, SnapDrop will be located in your app drawer on your Chromebook.

As you can see, Chromebooks have the integration capabilities that are on Apple devices. With these all setup, your Chromebook will become even more useful to you.

Thanks for reading

Dr. Shannon H. Doak