Android: You can now run Android phone apps on Chromebooks without installing them – Times of India

Google allowed Chromebook users to stream Android apps on their laptops. However, to access it users had to try out the feature in its beta version. Recently, the tech giant rolled out the Chrome OS M115 update for Chromebooks and this update enables the Androidapp streaming feature for more users. Those who have the Phone Hub enabled on their Chromebooks can now run an Android app directly from their mobile device.For doing that, users also won’t need to install the app on their laptops.

Chromebook Phone Hub for Android apps
Just like its beta version, the feature is restricted to a few phones which run Android 13. These include phones from Google and Xiaomi. To use the feature, users either need to own at least the Pixel 4a or Xiaomi 12T and phones after that.

Moreover, both the smartphone and the Chromebook need to be on the same WiFi network and physically close by. If the available network doesn’t support the feature, Chromebook users can also access the Chrome OS’ Instant Tethering feature to establish a link with the phone.
Importance of this feature
This feature is developed for responding to notifications directly from the laptop and users are advised to install the app for doing more than that. Users are advised not to use the app streaming feature for running games or other heavy Android apps.

However, this feature will help Chromebook users by offering some phone integration. App streaming features are also available on other platforms like macOS and Windows.
Other features coming to Chromebooks
Apart from the Phone Hub feature, the Chrome OS M115 update also brings in other features. The latest update will allow users to sign PDF documents and save signatures for later use. With this update, Google has also redesigned the keyboard-oriented Shortcut app with a new interface and is also offering an easier in-app search.