The Phone Hub control center on Chromebooks now lets users view and download recent photos captured on their connected Android smartphone.
Chromebook users have received a handy feature allowing them to access their recent photos from the Phone Hub section. Users can now view and download the recent photos taken on their Android smartphone without having to manually transfer them. Furthermore, this feature will work even when the user is offline, and the recent photos will be updated immediately after the user takes a new photo.
Phone Hub is a built-in control center that allows Android and Chromebook users to connect their two devices seamlessly. This feature enables users to reply to and manage text messages, check their phone’s battery percentage, and enable or disable tethering. Users can also silence their phone, or locate it when it’s lost. Phone Hub’s new recent photos ability comes in handy since Chromebook users don’t need to pick up their phone to share photos.
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Users with a Chromebook or Chrome OS device running Chrome 103 or later and an Android phone can benefit from the new feature through the Phone Hub. In order to use the new recent photos feature, users need to be signed into the same Google account on both devices, and be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as well. Chromebook users will notice a new section in Phone Hub that displays recent photos on their Android phone. Users can tap on any photo to enlarge it and view it in full size. Additionally, they can download the photo to their Chromebook device to edit, share, or use it anywhere else.
Easier Sharing Between Chromebooks And Android
Chromebook users can also use the built-in ‘Nearby Share’ feature to transfer files, music, and documents between other Chromebooks or Android devices. Nearby Share has also been updated, and now users can use an Android phone to connect a Chromebook device to any saved Wi-Fi network, without typing in the password. Users need to open the internet settings page on their Android phone, navigate to ‘Wi-Fi Network‘ and then tap on ‘Share.’ Now tap on ‘Nearby’ under the QR code to share the Wi-Fi credentials with the Chromebook.
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It’s worth noting that Microsoft provides Windows users with a similar solution to Chromebook’s Phone Hub, which is Phone Link. Currently, Phone Link allows users to sync and manage text messages, camera roll and screenshots, mirror the screen, and answer calls. Apple also provides a native connection between iPhones and Macs, where users can use the Photos app (with iCloud backup) to view recently captured images and videos, or share them wirelessly through AirDrop. For most users, a reliable and always-on connection between their devices is fundamental to getting work done or even for entertainment and personal use, and Chromebooks just took a big step toward making file transfers seamless.
