Chromebook Guide

Jump to: Wifi Assistance by Carrier

Tethering Chromebook to a Cell Phone

Connect to your phone's network

You can use your phone’s mobile data to connect your Chromebook to the internet. Sharing a connection this way is called tethering or using a portable hotspot.

What you need

Connect your Chromebook to your phone

  1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. Under "Connected devices," next to "Android phone," select Set up.
  4. Enter your password and follow the steps. Once completed, you’ll get a confirmation on your phone.
  5. On your Chromebook, under "Enabled," select which features you want to turn on.Tip: Learn how to connect your Android phone to your Chromebook.

Use your phone's data connection

  1. On your phone, turn on Bluetooth.
  2. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
  3. Select your Wi-Fi network or No network .
  4. Under"Mobile data," select your phone.
  5. When you see "Connected" under your phone’s name, your phone is sharing its data connection with your Chromebook.

Stop sharing your phone’s data connection

To stop tethering your phone’s data connection, find the "Sharingdata connection" notification on your phone and tap Disconnect.

Expect more battery use and possible data charges

Sharing your phone’s data connection can use a lot of your phone’s battery. We recommend:

  • Plugging in your phone while it shares its data connection
  • Turning off data connections when you're done with them

Important: Some mobile carriers limit or charge extra for tethering. We recommend that you check with your phone’s mobile carrier.

 

Available WiFi Assistance by Cell Phone Service Providers

Expanded or Unlimited Bandwidth and Tethering Services by Phone Carrier

The information below was collected as of March 28, 2020. Since then, the service providers may have change their offerings. Please continue to check with your service provider to obtain the latest information. We are providing this information to help the campus community to be aware of various offerings however, we cannot guarantee the information.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the carriers below offer the following services.

Carrier Additional bandwidth (GB) Additional days of extra bandwidth Additional tethering Days for extra tethering
Sprint  unlimited  60 20 60
Verizon 60 60 60 60
T-mobile 5 60 20 60
AT&T 10 60 0 0
Cricket Wireless 10 60 0 0
MetroPCS  n/a n/a n/a n/a
Boost Mobile  20 60 20 60
Simple Mobile unlimited 60 3 to 15 60
Mint Mobile unlimited 30 0 0
Tello x2 n/a 0 0
Twigby n/a n/a n/a n/a
US Mobile n/a n/a n/a n/a
Good2Go Mobile x2 60 0 0
Consumer Cellular up to 55 60 0 0
H2O Wireless n/a n/a n/a n/a
Reach Mobile  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Red Pocket  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Straight Talk Wireless  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Spectrum Mobile  0 0 unlimited 60
Ultra Mobile  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
TracPhone  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Total Wireless  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Gen Mobile  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Project Fi  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Wing  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Xfiniity Mobile  unlimited 60 unlimited 60
FreeUp Mobile  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Net10  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Page Plus  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Pure Talk USA  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Text Now  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Pix Wireless  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
US Cellular  0 0 15 90
Republic Wireless  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Great Call  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Credo Mobile  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
I3 Mobile  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a
Virgin Mobile  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a

Notes

  • You cannot install the Windows or Mac desktop versions of Office 365 or Office 2016 on a Chromebook.
  • The Android version of the OneDrive app is not currently supported on Chromebook (as of 03/27/2020). You should still be able to access OneDrive in the Chrome browser.