Don't just close the lid! That only puts it to sleep.
Use the Power Button:
Press and hold for 3 seconds, then select “Power off.”
Restart fixes many problems, including WiFi, sound, and performance issues.
Check for a physical switch near the camera.
If the lens shows red, it’s turned off manually.
Press the microphone mute key (usually in the top-right row).
Make sure it’s not muted in Chrome site settings:
Go to Chrome > ⋮ Menu > Settings > "Privacy and Security" > "Site Settings" > Check Microphone settings.
Click the time (bottom-right), then the gear icon (Settings).
Go to People > Manage your Google Account.
In the new tab, click Security.
Under "Signing in to Google," click Password.
Enter your current password, then a new password (8+ characters, avoid ID# or username).
Confirm it, then click Change Password.
Click the time > Gear icon (Settings).
On the left, click About ChromeOS.
Click Check for updates.
If available, ChromeOS will download the update.
Restart when prompted.
💡 Keep ChromeOS updated to avoid app glitches or compatibility problems.
Open Google Chrome.
Click the ⋮ (three dots) > History > History again.
You’ll see a list of websites visited, by date.
Open Chrome > ⋮ > Settings.
Go to Privacy and security > Clear browsing data.
Click the Advanced tab.
Choose Time range: “All time.”
Select:
✅ Cached images and files
✅ Cookies and site data
✅ Site settings
✅ Hosted app data
(Optional: Browsing & download history)
❌ DO NOT check Passwords or Autofill data!
Click Clear data.
Restart your Chromebook.
Hold down:
Power button + Refresh key (⟳)
Good if your Chromebook freezes or becomes unresponsive.
Only do this at home (must have WiFi password ready).
Sign out > On login screen, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R.
Click Restart, then Powerwash.
Follow the prompts to reset.
Reconnect to WiFi, then sign in with your school account.
Restart regularly — it helps more than you'd think.
Keep ChromeOS up to date.
Use the Powerwash only as a last resort.
Always know your WiFi password before starting Powerwash.