The handy feature that lets Chromebook users connect to a smartphone's cellular hotspot is now coming to more devices. Google announced that Chrome OS' Instant Tethering feature will now be available on more than 15 Chromebooks and more than 30 smartphone models, including handsets from HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung.

Previously, Instant Tethering was only available on a handful of Chromebooks, including the Pixelbook and the new Pixel Slate. The list of supported smartphones was similarly short, initially confined to Google-made handsets like the Pixel and Nexus. The expansion is part of Google's effort to make the experience of using a Chromebook easier and more seamless for those with Android smartphones, regardless of the handset's manufacturer.

Instant Tethering, which first came to Chromebooks in 2017, requires an initial setup process that users can complete upon setting up the Chromebook or at any time from the Settings menu. Users must be signed in to the same Google account on the Chromebook and the Android smartphone in order to use Instant Tethering features.

When the Chromebook doesn't detect a Wi-Fi network to connect to, it produces an alert that the user can accept to connect to the paired Android smartphone's cellular hotspot. Users don't have to go through the process of providing a network SSID or password, and Instant Tethering will automatically disconnect when the Chromebook detects 10 minutes of inactivity. Instant Tethering also lets users send and receive SMS messages from their Chromebook as long as they have an Internet connection and their Android smartphone is properly connected.

Expanding Instant Tethering can only help Chrome OS—it's another useful feature that will strengthen the practicality (and the reputation) of Chrome OS, particularly in the eyes of Android smartphone users. Check out the full list of newly supported devices below, which includes the new Galaxy S9 and S9+ handsets as well as the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 and a few of our other favorite Chromebooks. Google says that Instant Tethering will come to even more Chromebooks and smartphones in the coming months.

Smartphones

HTC U11, U11+

HTC U12+

Huawei Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro

Huawei Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 X

LG G7 ThinQ

LG V30, V30+, V30S ThinQ, V30S+ ThinQ

LG V35 ThinQ

LG V40 ThinQ

Motorola Moto Z

Motorola Moto Z2 Force

Motorola Z3

Nexus 5X

Nexus 6, Nexus 6P

OnePlus 5, 5T

OnePlus 6, 6T

Pixel, Pixel XL

Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL

Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL

Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Active, S7 Edge

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+

Chromebooks