Google has clarified its decision to drop support for the Find Hub app on the first-generation Googlebook, explaining that the application was designed primarily for mobile devices and isn't optimized for tracking laptops.
In a statement provided to Android Authority, the company noted that while Googlebook users can still locate other devices via the Find Hub web interface, there is currently no way to track the location of the Googlebook itself.
Why the App Was Removed
On October 12, 2026, the Google Play Services v26.40 update disabled the Find Hub app installation on Googlebooks and removed its device tracking capabilities. At the time, the release notes offered no explanation for the change, leaving users in the dark about why the feature had been pulled.
Google explained in its statement that the Find Hub app was built under the assumption of mobile devices like smartphones, where integration with the crowdsourced network works fundamentally differently than on laptops.
Laptops spend significant amounts of time closed and in a sleep state while being carried—precisely when tracking is needed most. Applying a smartphone-centric app directly to laptops failed to deliver the level of reliability and tracking functionality that Googlebook users expect, according to the company.
Consequently, Google adjusted the Google Play Store settings so that the Find Hub app is no longer pre-installed on first-generation Googlebooks and cannot be manually downloaded from the store.
Other Devices Still Supported as Usual
It's worth noting that using a Googlebook to find other devices remains unaffected. Users can still visit the Find Hub website via a web browser to locate Pixel smartphones, tablets, or compatible Bluetooth trackers.
However, with the removal of Find Hub app support for the Googlebook, there is currently no method to pinpoint the laptop's location if it gets lost.
By comparison, Apple's Find My network allows MacBooks to be located even when asleep or offline by leveraging Bluetooth signals detected by nearby Apple devices.
In its statement, Google did not address whether Googlebook will be supported as a trackable device in Find Hub in the future, or if it is developing an alternative tracking solution optimized for laptops.