Embedded Files
Written by Ms. Alyssa Soto
Published on 8/14/25, Updated on 2/11/26
How much do you know about using your school Chromebook?
Whether you're brand new to using a Chromebook or just need a refresher, knowing how to navigate your school Chromebook can make a big difference in your daily routine. Chromebooks are built to be fast, simple, and centered around Google tools – but there’s a bit of a learning curve when you're getting started. This article is here to walk you through some of the basic yet essential features and functions on your school Chromebook to make your schoolyear flow like the Chromebook was made to do!
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chromebook Anatomy
Chromebook Anatomy
All tutorials start somewhere, and this one starts with a rundown of your Chromebook's parts. The diagrams below feature Gen 2 Chromebooks, an older model than what most of the school is using. However, most of the parts and ports are the same across these older and newer models.
Every Chromebook has a built-in camera and microphone above the screen. Newer models have a privacy screen that can be slid over the camera to block the lens and a keyboard key to mute the microphone. Below the keyboard is the touchpad or mousepad that is used to move and click on things with your cursor arrow.
There are a few ports on the left and right sides of your Chromebook as well. These are:
1. Headphone jack – This round jack is used to plug in a set of headphones or ear pods. You can also use Bluetooth headphones if you have them.
2. Micro SD Card reader – This small, thin slot is for micro SD cards, which are the smaller cards you find in the larger SD cards you might have seen in stores.
3a/3b. USB-A port – This rectangular port is used to connect different technology accessories to your Chromebook or to perform data transfer with a cable or a USB stick.
4a/4b. USB-C port – This small, rounded port is mainly used to charge your Chromebook, but it can also be used to connect different technology accessories and perform data transfers.
Startup
Startup
Your Chromebook should open to a login page that asks for your username and password. To recap, your username is the text in your email before the @ symbol. For example, an email reading “sotoah1768@aguafria.org” would have the username “sotoah1786.”
Once logged in, the Chromebook will display a desktop background according to your school with notes, important event dates, QR codes for student resources, and your bell schedule. This background is managed by the school staff and changes every month to display the most relevant information. You cannot change your Chromebook's background to something else.
You will need to log in to your Chromebook every time you open it, as closing the Chromebook will automatically log you out of your session. If you wish to avoid logging in multiple times by keeping your Chromebook open between classes, be sure to carry it by supporting it from the bottom with both hands. DO NOT carry your Chromebook by the screen. This can break your Chromebook screen!
Welcome Recap
Welcome Recap
Upon initially logging in, you might get a notification asking if you’d like to enable something called a Welcome Recap. This feature allows you to reopen any browsers and tabs that you had open before you had logged out or turned off your Chromebook. The recap will also offer to open websites that you frequently visit. You can choose to open these tabs by selecting "open" or start a fresh session by selecting "no thanks."
If you ever want to disable the recap entirely, click the gear on the bottom left corner of the Welcome Recap window and select the option that says “turn off.” You can also enable or disable the Welcome Recap in your system settings.
Your Chromebook's Desktop
Your Chromebook's Desktop
The desktop refers to the screen that opens up after you log in. The desktop on a Chromebook is mostly the same as a regular computer or laptop with very few differences in orientation and function. Let's take a quick rundown of your Chromebook's desktop.
Wallpaper – Your desktop wallpaper will look different from mine. It is created and managed by Ms. Mendoza, our librarian, and contains important information for each month!
App Launcher – Used to search the web, open apps, and access files in your Google Workspace. This replaces the Start button on a computer.
Shelf – Stores shortcuts to open your apps. There are a few here by default, but you can add other apps and files to it as well!
Status Tray – Shows the current time and date, your Chromebook's battery level, and any notifications you've received.
Adding Shortcuts to the Shelf
Adding Shortcuts to the Shelf
Unlike other computers, you cannot add app or file shortcuts to the main part of your Chromebook's screen. Instead, shortcuts are added from your launcher to your shelf! The process for it is very simple:
Open the app launcher.
Hover your cursor arrow over the app you want to add to the shelf.
Using two fingers, click the app to pull up a small menu.
Note: Using two fingers to click the touchpad is the same as a "right click" on a regular mouse.
Select "Pin to shelf."
Your Chromebook’s Keyboard
Your Chromebook’s Keyboard
The Chromebook’s keyboard differs from the usual keyboard layout. The main difference is the absence of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, etc.) and caps lock key. In its place are a different set of function keys and a launcher/search key.
The Chromebook function keys focus on browser navigation and settings changing. Their specific functions are as follows:
Back – navigates to the previous page
Refresh – refreshes the current page
Full screen – toggles full-screen mode, removes the browser borders and application shelves from view
Show windows – displays all windows that are open in the session, also called Overview
Brightness down and up – adjusts screen brightness
Mute, volume down, and volume up – adjusts sound and microphone settings
The launcher/search key, highlighted as #7 on the image, allows you to open the app launcher, which pulls up a list of available applications and quick access to Google Workspace files. The app launcher is searchable, and you can use it to find websites, apps, workspace files, and other information on the web. This key is also referred to as the "everything button."
Keybinds to Know
Keybinds to Know
Keybinds or Keyboard Shortcuts can help improve your workflow and allow you to do certain functions that aren’t available on a Chromebook keyboard (such as toggling Caps Lock). There are tons of keybinds you can use, but these are likely the ones you’ll use the most:
Device Keybinds
Power + Refresh – Restart your device
Browser Keybinds
Ctrl + T – Open a new tab
Ctrl + Tab – Switch to the next tab
Ctrl + Shift + Tab – Switch to the previous tab
Ctrl + n – Open a new window
Alt + Tab – Switch to the next window
Alt+ Shift + Tab – Switch to the previous window
Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen a closed tab or window (will reopen in the order they were last closed)
Ctrl + F – Find certain text in the current page
Crtl + D – Bookmark current page
Ctrl + Shift + D – Bookmark all open tabs
Typing Keybinds
Alt + Search – Toggle caps lock
Ctrl + A – Select all
Ctrl + C – Copy
Ctrl + X – Cut
Ctrl + V – Paste
Ctrl + Z – Undo
Ctrl + Y – Redo
You can find a full list of keybinds in the Key Shortcuts application. Use the launcher/search key to find it!
Overview
Overview
If you often lose track of certain windows, you might find the Overview window a very useful feature! Overview lays out all of your open windows and allows you to track down the window you need rather than maximizing and minimizing windows over and over.
You can access Overview by using the Show Windows/Overview key on your keyboard or by swiping up on your trackpad with three fingers. From there, simply click on the window you wish to access. You can also close any windows you are no longer using from this menu by clicking the "x" at the top right corner of any window.
Your Chromebook Settings
Your Chromebook Settings
Options for your Chromebook’s appearance preferences and accessibility functions are found in the settings. You can access your settings in two ways.
1) Through the app launcher
Clicking the circle on the bottom left corner of your screen or clicking the search key on your keyboard will open the app launcher menu with your available applications and files. This includes your settings.
2) Through the status tray
Clicking on the status tray on the bottom right corner of your screen will open a smaller menu. You can click on the gear symbol to open your general settings or on the Accessibility tab to open the accessibility options.
Learn more about accessibility options here.
Desktop Display Settings
Desktop Display Settings
While you can't change your Chromebook's background, there are other ways you can customize your Chromebook desktop's appearance!
Your system settings offer options to toggle night light and dark themes while the shelf can be moved to sit on the sides of your screen or toggled to hide when you aren't using it! I've outlined how to find these options below.
Night Light
Night Light
Night light is a display setting that reduces the blue light emitted by your Chromebook's screen by shifting it to a warmer color display. It's meant to reduce eye strain and help you sleep by reducing the amount of blue light exposure you get before bed. This setting is also helpful for those who find bright screens irritating to their eyes or even headache-inducing.
To access night light:
Open your settings using the launcher or the status tray.
Select Device located on the left side of the Settings window.
Click on Display located within the Device menu.
Locate the toggleable button labeled "Night Light" and toggle it to the "on" position. If your screen looks more orange or pink, you've turned it on!
You can adjust how strong the night light overlay is by using the slider that appears once you toggle the setting on. You can also set a schedule to have night light turn off and on automatically or choose to have it on all the time like I do! Just click on the dropdown menu labeled "Schedule" and select one of the following options:
Never: the setting will not change automatically.
Sunset to sunrise: the setting will change to "on" at sunset and "off" at sunrise.
Custom: the setting will change according to the times you set.
Dark Theme
Dark Theme
Dark theme is another display setting that helps reduce eye strain by darkening the display's overall color palette. This is especially helpful for when you are using your Chromebook in low-light environments or if the default light display is irritating to your eyes.
Open your settings using the launcher or the status tray.
Select Wallpaper and Style located on the left side of the Settings window.
Click on Set your wallpaper and style. This will open a new settings window.
Select Dark on the bottom left corner of the new window.
Just like the night light, dark mode has an Auto setting that will automatically toggle it "on" at sunset and "off" at sunrise. Dark theme cannot be set on a custom schedule.
Shelf Position and Autohide
Shelf Position and Autohide
You can change your shelf's display settings to move it from the bottom of your desktop to either the left or right sides and enable autohide to make the shelf move out of view when you aren't using it. This gives you a bit more viewing room on your screen and allows you to view any information hiding at the bottom of the school background.
To open your shelf's display settings menu, hover your cursor over the shelf and click it with two fingers. This will open a small window with options for Autohide and Shelf Position.
Autohide will move your shelf out of view when the arrow cursor is not hovering over it. To make the shelf reappear, simply move your cursor to the very edge of the screen where your shelf is set to display. If your shelf is set to the bottom of your screen, you will move your cursor to the very bottom of the screen. If your shelf is set to the right side of your scree, you will move your cursor to the very right of the screen.
To turn off Autohide, reopen the shelf display settings menu and select Always show shelf.
Shelf Position will change where your shelf sits on your screen. The three options for the shelf position are Left, Bottom, and Right. The Bottom position will be chosen by default. You can change the position setting at any time.
There's a lot more to explore with your Chromebook
There's a lot more to explore with your Chromebook
This article was here to serve as a quick introduction or refresher to some of the simpler functions and features of your Chromebook. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this Chromebook Computer Class series to learn about the more advanced features and really up your workflow!
Desert Edge is part of the Agua Fria High School District Family of Schools
Search organization content
Page updated
Report abuse