X

Chromebook instant tethering now works beyond Google's laptops and phones

Keep an eye on that monthly data usage, though.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
Stephen Shankland
Instant tethering now works with more Chromebooks than Google's Pixel Slate, shown here, and Google's phones.

Instant tethering now works with more Chromebooks than Google's Pixel Slate, shown here, and Google's phones.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Lots more Chromebook owners now can quickly get online even when there's no Wi-Fi.

A feature called instant tethering previously let people with Google's own Chromebooks and phones quickly get online using their phone's mobile network. Once it's set up, it's just a matter of by tapping a notification to connect. Now instant tethering is spreading beyond Google's own devices.

It now works with some Chromebooks made by Acer, Asus, HP, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung and with some phones made by Samsung, LG, OnePlus, Motorola, Huawei and HTC, the company said Monday. More devices will get the ability in coming months.

"Before today, instant tethering was available only on a small range of devices, namely 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," Google said in a blog post.

Here are the phones and Chromebooks that now offer instant tethering. Google promises more support in coming months.

Here are the phones and Chromebooks that now offer instant tethering. Google promises more support in coming months.

Google

Tethering is handy, but it also reveals shortcomings of modern computing. It's nice to have a network, but most laptops are lost without Wi-Fi. Qualcomm and others are pushing for laptops that can tap into the much more widely available mobile networks -- 4G today and 5G soon after -- but that means a new monthly subscription payment.

Tethering is a convenient bridge. But be warned: You can quickly gobble up lots of data. Especially with laptops that fetch high-res photos and video, you can hit your monthly data cap a lot faster.