How to Unlock Your Chromebook with Your Android Phone

If you own both a Chromebook and an Android phone, you can unlock your laptop without typing your password every time. Google's Smart Lock feature does this by detecting when your unlocked phone is nearby.

The setup takes about five minutes. Here's what you need to know.

What You Need

Before you start, check that your devices meet these requirements:

• Chrome OS version 71 or later
• Android version 5.1 or later
• A password (not just a PIN) set on your Android phone

Most Chromebooks and Android phones from the last few years should work fine.

Connecting Your Phone to Your Chromebook

First, you need to link your Android phone to your Chromebook if you haven't already.

Open Settings by clicking the time in the lower right corner of your screen, then click the gear icon.

In the Settings menu, select "Connected devices" from the left sidebar.

Look at the top of this screen under "Connected devices." If your phone is already listed here, you can skip to the next section.

Adding a New Phone

If your phone isn't connected yet, select "Set up."

Make sure both your Chromebook and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. Your phone should appear under "Device detected."

Select "Accept and continue" at the bottom right.

You'll need to enter your Google account password. Type it in and select "Done."

If everything worked, you'll see a confirmation that says "All set." Click "Done" again.

Your phone is now connected. You might even see a notification that Smart Lock is enabled.

Enabling Smart Lock

Connecting your phone doesn't automatically turn on all Smart Lock features. You need to configure one more setting.

In the Connected devices menu, find your phone in the list and click the right arrow next to it.

Look for the Smart Lock option. If it's already toggled on, click the right arrow next to "Smart Lock." If it's off, make sure your phone is unlocked, then toggle it on. You'll need to enter your password again.

Once you're in the Smart Lock settings, make sure "Unlock device and sign into your Google account" is selected.

You might be asked for your Google password one more time.

First Login After Setup

There's one important thing to know about the first time you use Smart Lock after enabling it.

You'll get a pop-up asking you to enter your full Chromebook password—not your PIN. This is required for Smart Lock to work properly going forward.

After this initial login, Smart Lock will work automatically.

How It Works

Once everything is set up, your Chromebook will unlock and sign you in whenever your Android phone is nearby and unlocked.

You don't need to open any apps or do anything on your phone. Just have it with you and keep it unlocked. When you open your Chromebook, it'll detect your phone and let you in.

If your phone is locked, you'll need to enter your Chromebook password normally. This is a security feature—it prevents someone from accessing your Chromebook if they have access to your locked phone.

The Bottom Line

Smart Lock is one of those features that seems small but makes a real difference in daily use. If you regularly use both devices, it's worth the five minutes to set up.

The main limitation is that your phone needs to be unlocked for it to work. If you keep your phone locked most of the time, you won't save much time. But if your phone is usually unlocked when you're working, this feature removes one more password you have to type multiple times a day.

The setup process is straightforward, and once it's done, it just works in the background. No apps to open, no buttons to press—just sit down at your Chromebook and start working.

Watch the Video

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