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Connecting a drawing tablet to a ChromeOS device

Overview

Very few pen tablets and pen displays can be used with ChromeOS devices such as Chromebooks. Some do not work at all. Many cannot use features like pressure or tilt.

IN GENERAL, I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING CHROMEBOOKS WITH A DRAWING TABLET.

Compatibility

You MUST verify compatibility with your tablet manufacturer.

You MUST verify compatibility for SPECIFIC COMBINATIONS of

  • ChromeBook devices

  • Chromebook devices

  • ChromeOS versions

  • Tablet model

  • Apps

I suggest you also seek out the opinion of other users of your tablet model and see what their experience has been with Chromebooks.

Remember: Not all combinations work. And certain combinations work only partially.

Drivers

Tablets work with the built-in drivers in Chromebooks, not the manufacturer drivers. This means that some features of your tablet and pen may not work with a Chromebook.

Auxiliary inputs on the tablet

  • ChromeOS may NOT support configuring buttons on your tablet.

  • ChromeOS may NOT support configuring dials on your tablet.

Pen tablets: distorted drawing due to mismatched aspect ratios

With pen tablets, you will not be able to force the active area to match the display of the Chromebook. This means there will be distortion in your drawing. More here: Matching aspect ratios with Force Proportions.

Testing results

ChromeOS testing results

Assigning tablet and pen buttons on ChromeOS

  • Once you plug the tablet into your Chromebook, go to Settings > Device > pen tablet

  • There you should see your tablet name. Click on it.

  • Click on Customize tablet buttons

  • There you should see each ExpressKey listed, and you can modify its assignment.

Resources

Related: Using Chromebook with a stylus

Even without a drawing tablet attached, SOME Chromebooks work with a stylus on their screen.

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