Touchpad and Keyboard
Tap-to-click (if it’s not already enabled, do so by clicking Chrome’s menu button, opening Settings, Device section.
Swipe down with two-fingers to scroll.
Tap two fingers down simultaneously on the bottom of the touchpad brings up a right-click-style (context) options menu (or Alt + tap).
Swipe Quickly move two fingers left or right to go backward or forward on web pages or while using apps. You can also swipe up with three fingers to see all of your open windows.
Drag and drop Click the item you want to move with one finger. With a second finger, move the item. Release both fingers to drop the item at its new location.
Chromebook Keyboard
The Chromebook has special keys on the top row to make working easier. Here are some of the most important ones:
Go to the previous page in your browser history (F1)
Go to the next page in your browser history (F2)
Reload your current page (F3)
Enter Immersive mode, which hides the tabs and launcher (F4)
Enter Overview mode, which shows all windows (F5)
Search your apps and the web at the same time. On a Chromebook, this key is located on the side, where you'd normally find the Caps Lock key. If you're using a regular keyboard, the Windows key in between Ctrl and Alt will work as the search key.
Tip: To turn Caps lock on temporarily, press Alt + the search key.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Here are some of the most commonly used shortcuts. To see all the keyboard shortcuts, click here, or type Ctrl+Alt+?, on your keyboard.
In addition to the top row of keys, here are a few handy keyboard combinations. To see a map of all shortcuts on your screen, press Ctrl+Alt+?.
Top Keyboard Shortcuts EVERY Chromebook User Should Know
Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook:
To take a screenshot of the entire screen press the Ctrl key and the Switcher key at the same time:
10. Just need a bit of the screen? Pressing the following keyboard combo will allow you to select a section of the screen to snap:
9. Open File Manager
Opening the file manager in Chrome OS is easy using a trackpad or mouse (especially if you pin it to the app shelf) but keyboard aficionados aren’t left out: just tap the following pairing.
8. Open Task Manager
Is Chrome suddenly running slow? it could be a rogue extension or webpage sucking up your resources. Identify the culprit using the task manager.
7. Launch Apps on the Shelf
Applications pinned to the Shelf (the bar at the bottom of the screen in Chrome OS) can be opened using a keyboard shortcut.
The first app in from the left – count the Chrome icon as 0 – is 1, the next 2, and so on until you reach 8.
6. Lock the Screen
If you’re going to leave your computer unattended for a short period (say, whilst you go grab a coffee refill) you may wish to lock your screen to prevent anyone else meddling with your session.
To do this just press the following key combo:
5. Open the Hotdog
Opening the Hotdog menu in Chrome isn’t exactly hard, but if you’ve hooked your device up to a huge monitor it can be a fair ol’ scroll up. Save some time and open it with the following command:
4. Toggle Caps Lock On/Off
Most Chromebooks don’t come with a dedicated Caps Lock key. Just hit the following key combo to turn it on, and turn it back off when you’re done.
3. Logout
In a rush to quit your session? Some finger gymnastics will have you out in a snap.
2. Mirror Monitor
If you plan on connecting your Chromebook to an external monitor (or TV) at some point then the ‘Mirror Monitor’ shortcut is a neat one. Rather than add an additional workspace it simply mirrors the Chromebook’s screen.
1. Show Keyboard Shortcut Overlay
It’s a little bit meta, but the ultimate keyboard shortcut is the one that reveals all keyboard shortcuts!
