Android Cross Device Hub Rolls Out Ahead of Google Books Integration

What is Android’s new cross device hub?

Google announced a new service that connects Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks into a seamless ecosystem. The hub lets users start an activity on one device and continue it on another without manual transfer. It builds on existing continuity features but adds a central place where tasks, notifications and files are visible across all logged in devices.

Core features and how they work

The hub displays three main categories:

Active tasks such as a web page you are reading or a video you paused.
Pending notifications that arrived on one device but can be acted upon from another.
Shared files that are stored in a cloud location and appear in the hub for quick access.

When a user opens a supported app, the hub automatically registers the activity. The next device in the user’s account list shows the same activity as a clickable entry. Selecting it launches the app at the same point, creating a fluid handoff.

How the hub integrates with Google Books

The timing of the rollout coincides with new features in Google Books. Readers can now open a book on a phone, scroll a few pages, and pick up the same spot on a tablet or Chromebook. The hub records the reading position as an active task, making the transition as simple as tapping a card.

Reading across phones, tablets and Chromebooks

Google Books has been updated to send its reading state to the hub. The process works as follows:

User opens a book on an Android phone.
The app reports the current page and location to the hub.
When the user switches to a tablet, the hub shows a card labeled with the book title and progress.
Tapping the card opens Google Books on the tablet at the exact same page.

This experience mirrors the way video streaming services allow users to continue watching on a larger screen, but it applies to any type of content that can be saved as a state.

Benefits for productivity and continuity

Beyond reading, the hub offers several productivity advantages. Users no longer need to email themselves links or copy files to a cloud folder manually. The hub acts as a visual reminder of what is waiting on other devices.

Tasks and notifications follow you

When a reminder pops up on a phone, the hub shows the same notification on a tablet. If the user is already at a desk, they can dismiss or act on the reminder without reaching for the phone. This reduces context switching and keeps focus intact.

File sharing across devices

Files saved to Google Drive or other supported cloud storage appear in the hub as shared items. Selecting a file opens it in the most appropriate app on the current device. For example, a PDF opened on a phone can be transferred to a Chromebook for editing with a single tap.

Setting up the hub on your Android device

Activation is straightforward. Follow these steps to enable the hub:

Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
Navigate to the Google section and select Device connectivity.
Turn on Cross device hub. The system may prompt you to sign in with the same Google account on other devices.
On each additional device, repeat the process to ensure they appear in the hub list.
After setup, the hub icon appears in the quick settings panel for easy access.

Once enabled, the hub updates automatically as you use compatible apps. No further configuration is required.

Privacy and security considerations

Google emphasizes that all data shown in the hub is encrypted in transit and at rest. The hub only displays information from apps that have granted permission to share state data. Users can review and revoke these permissions at any time in the app settings.

Data handling and permissions

Each entry in the hub includes a small icon indicating the source app. If a user does not wish to share a particular activity, they can hide it from the hub by long pressing the card and selecting Hide. This action removes the item from the view on all devices but does not delete the underlying data.

Early user feedback and rollout timeline

The feature began rolling out to Pixel devices in the United States last week. Early adopters report that the handoff feels natural and reduces the friction of switching between a phone and a laptop. Some users note that the hub works best with apps that have been updated to support the new API.

Availability and future updates

Google plans to expand the hub to all Android devices running version 14 and later over the next few months. Additional third‑party apps are expected to adopt the API, widening the range of tasks that can be continued across devices. The company also hinted at future integration with Wear OS, allowing smartwatches to appear in the hub as well.

For developers interested in adding support, the Android Developers guide provides detailed documentation. Official announcements can be followed on the Google Android blog. Coverage of the rollout is also available from The Verge and the Google Books site.