Connect Bluetooth and USB accessories to a Chromebook

Pair Bluetooth accessories such as a keyboard, mouse, speaker or headphones with a Chromebook, use a wired USB device, and learn what to do when an accessory will not connect.

What you need

• A Chromebook with Bluetooth. Google lists keyboards, mice, speakers, headphones and audio headsets as devices a Bluetooth-capable Chromebook can use.
• An accessory that is charged or has fresh batteries, and that you can put into pairing mode. Check the accessory's manual or its maker's website for how. It is often a button you hold until a light blinks.
• For a wired device, a USB cable or plug that fits the port on your Chromebook. Many Chromebooks have USB-C ports, and some also have the larger USB-A type.

Pair a Bluetooth accessory

1. Switch the accessory on and put it in pairing mode. Keep it close to the Chromebook.
2. On the Chromebook, select the time at the bottom right of the screen.
3. Select the Bluetooth icon, and turn Bluetooth on if it is off.
4. Select Pair new device.
5. Select your accessory from the list. Names are often the model name, so a list of several unnamed items can be confusing. Turn off other nearby Bluetooth devices if you cannot tell which is yours.
6. Follow any instructions on the screen. A keyboard may ask you to type a short code and press Enter.

To check that it worked, select the time and the Bluetooth icon again. Your accessory should be listed under Currently connected.

You can also reach these settings through Settings then Bluetooth. Menu layouts change between ChromeOS releases, so if you do not see the item, open Settings and type Bluetooth in the search box.

Fast Pair accessories

Some accessories support Fast Pair. When you put one in pairing mode near the Chromebook, a notification can appear. Select Connect when it does. If that does not work, use Pair new device in Settings then Bluetooth instead. Fast Pair accessories linked to your Google Account are managed under Devices saved to your account in the same screen.

Reconnect or remove an accessory

• Reconnect: open Settings then Bluetooth, find the accessory under Previously connected, open its arrow and select Connect. Keyboards and mice usually reconnect on their own when you switch them on nearby.
• Forget: open Settings, select Bluetooth, select the device name, then select Forget. Do this before you give the accessory away or pair it with another computer.

Use a USB accessory

A wired keyboard, mouse or USB drive needs no pairing. Plug it into a USB port on the Chromebook. Check that the plug really fits the port, and push it in fully.

If the plug on your accessory does not match the port, you need an adapter or a hub. See USB-C docks, hubs and cables explained. For a drive, open the Files app from the launcher and look for the drive in the left column.

Some cables only charge and carry no data. If a device powers on but the Chromebook does not respond to it, try a different cable.

If an accessory will not connect

Try these in order, and test after each one. Google's own list is: install updates, turn Bluetooth off and on, restart, then hard reset.

1. Check that the accessory is supported, charged, and in pairing mode.
2. Move it closer to the Chromebook, and away from other wireless devices.
3. Install any available ChromeOS update. See how to update ChromeOS.
4. Turn Bluetooth off, then on again, in the Bluetooth panel.
5. Restart the Chromebook.
6. Forget the accessory, then pair it as new.
7. Try a hard reset. Save your work first. On most Chromebooks, turn it off, then press and hold Refresh, tap Power, and release Refresh when the Chromebook starts.

If none of this works, use the support page of the accessory's maker or your Chromebook's maker. For deeper Bluetooth problems, see Bluetooth will not pair or connect and how Bluetooth pairing works.

Frequently asked questions