External devices that work with Pixel Slate

Note: These accessories may require appropriate USB-C adapters.

• MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) devices, including some cameras, phones, and MP3 players
• USB keyboards, including Windows and Mac versions
• USB mice, touchpads, trackballs, and compatible pointing devices
• USB hubs
• Most Bluetooth devices
• Monitors with DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, or VGA connections
• USB, DisplayPort, and HDMI audio devices
• Headphones
• USB Webcams
• Mobile dongles

To ensure that an accessory is compatible with your device, check with the accessory manufacturer. For a list of recommended partner brands, visit our Made for Google site.

For more information on Bluetooth devices, monitors, and mobile dongles, see Related articles.

• USB hard drives and thumb drives
• USB CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives (read-only)

Note: Storage devices store files using a particular type of file system. This file system determines how data is found, read, and stored on the device. The following file systems are compatible with your device:

• FAT16, FAT32, exFAT
• HFS+ (read-only)
• ISO9660 (read-only)
• MTP
• NTFS
• UDF (read-only)

You can remove a storage device safely by clicking Eject 👁 Eject

With an appropriate USB-C adapter, you can connect most HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA monitors to your device. For more information on using external displays with your device, see Related articles.

Your device works with cloud file systems, like Google Drive, Box, or SMB. To connect to an SMB file share:

1. Laptop mode: In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher 👁 Launch icon
   👁 and then
   Up arrow 👁 Image
   
   Tablet mode: Go to the home screen. To get there, tap the Launcher 👁 Launch icon
   in the lower left corner of your screen.
2. Open Files 👁 Files
   
3. In the top right, select More 👁 Image
   
4. Select Add new service 👁 and then
   SMB Shares.
5. A window will open. Select Add File Share. Fill out your info.
6. Select Add.

To connect to other cloud file systems:

1. Laptop mode: In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher 👁 Launch icon
   👁 and then
   Up arrow 👁 Image
   .
   Tablet mode: Go to the home screen. To get there, tap the Launcher 👁 Launch icon
   in the lower left corner of your screen.
2. Open Files 👁 Files
   
3. In the top right, select More 👁 Image
   
4. Select Install new service.
5. To install a new cloud file system, choose a system and follow the onscreen steps.

Your device can connect to certain phones. You can unlock your device with an Android phone, get online with your Pixel phone, and use Messages to send and receive texts.

For more information, see Related articles.

When your device is in tablet mode, it's optimized for touchscreen-based control. Connecting accessories that allow for non-touchscreen controls, such as external keyboards and mice, prompts your device to act more like a laptop.

If you connect an external keyboard, the on-screen keyboard will be automatically hidden. If you connect a mouse, or an external keyboard with an integrated touchpad, your device will automatically switch to laptop mode.

Your device might not support the external storage device you're trying to use. See "Storage devices" above to make sure that your external storage device's file system is compatible.

If your storage device is supported, make sure your device is using the latest version of Chrome OS. For more information on updating your device's operating system, see Related articles.

If your device is using the latest version, and no updates are available, try using Google Drive to view the files:

1. Connect your storage device to another computer.
2. Upload the files from the device to a cloud file system, such as Google Drive.
3. On your device, open Google Drive to view the files.

These errors occur when you attempt to connect an external storage device that isn't using a compatible file system (see "Storage devices" above). You'll need to reformat your storage device before you can use it. Follow the steps below.

Important: These steps will erase all your files stored on the storage device. Make sure to back them up somewhere else before erasing.

In laptop mode:

1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher 👁 Launch icon
   👁 and then
   Up arrow 👁 Image
   
2. Select Files 👁 Files
   
3. On the left, select the external storage device.
4. In the window that appears, select Format.

In tablet mode:

1. Go to your Home screen. To get there, tap Launcher 👁 Launch icon
   in the corner of your screen.
2. Select Files 👁 Files
   
3. On the left, select the external storage device.
4. In the window that appears, select Format.